Bring me no more reports, let them fly all.

29 bells.

In memoriam Claudia Cardinale. Reprising my appreciation of "The Leopard," in which she was perfection itself, for @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social lareviewofbooks.org/article/pass...

Interesting. Every class I teach is on a subject I often struggle with myself. Come struggle with me?

Can anyone answer for me: If an author's book is still in print or the rights have not reverted to the author, then does this mean the settlement monies go only to the publisher?

Looking at Kate Zambreno looking at a subject (which is looking!) was a heady experience. @transitbooks.bsky.social brooklynrail.org/2025/09/book...

I was so happy to get the chance to write about @joannapocock.bsky.social‬ 's profound examination of America's ailing heartland. One more in my list of proofs that it is publishers like Soft Skull putting out the most daring and accomplished writing today.

This made me laugh out loud. There, that should take care of it! We'll live in the land of make-believe when he gets someone to fabricate better numbers. Hysterical.

Whew, thank goodness we're being kept safe from chamber music. www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/l...

"Data show the majority of Medicaid enrollees are working." Push back on these craven Republicans, journalists! Don't let them get away with this b.s. www.kff.org/medicaid/iss...

. . . and the super rich. This is how you know someone's right: by the people he makes afraid.

At least something good happened today. Book mail @autofocusbooks.bsky.social

Sir, the people Must have their voices; neither will they bate One jot of ceremony.

An interesting case . . . My review of Harris Lahti's "Foreclosure Gothic" brooklynrail.org/2025/06/book...

A plot summary of Project 2025, from a practicing book critic: "The monster is in the basement! Don't go into the basement!!!" The protagonist goes into the basement. The end.

Oh, goody! Our tax dollars going to bringing the U.S. more foreign-born racists, because we didn't have enough already! But we mustn't spend a dime to help people whose lives are actually threatened in their own countries. That would be bad. wapo.st/4kb2HLw

Department of Subtle Understatement:

Add another one to the list: Reading Good Books Is Good for Us All. Thanks, Brooklyn Rail, for the opportunity to consider Aidan Ryan's inventive "I Am Here You Are Not I Love You" brooklynrail.org/2025/05/book...

Read books about art. Read imperfect books. Read books about weirdos. Just read. It's what's going to save us, pretty much. hyperallergic.com/1006783/10-a...

Every. Accusation. Is. A. Confession.

@hcrichardson.bsky.social In tiny Shokan, NY, we were about 90 strong. Just a couple of us here (me on the right).

And this movement isn't just promoting high birth rates for white people only--it's for *rich* white people only. (That's why social services for women & children are being cut simultaneously.) They want only white babies that will perpetuate the ruling class of the white nationalist plutocracy.

Remember when God used to smite evildoers? He was smiting all over the place! Everyone used to be scared of getting smited! What happened? He went into semi-retirement, or the job description got changed, what?

George Soros may ask for his money back, but anyway here's my sign.

I have tariffed the penguins that are on Heard Island and which you were probably assuming did not export goods forgive me they were taking advantage of us so cunning and so cold

A little revenant of mine . . . thanks so much to @bulbculture.bsky.social for bringing back writers' work from the dead.

Who do I call to complain?

Get off your decorous a**es and fight for America with your last breath. So it isn't ours.

Highly recommend going to an ICE training in your area: first it will make you angry as all get-out to learn about the tricks, lies, and sicko intimidation tactics they use. Then it will hearten you to see how many in your community are starting to pull together to protect others from this b.s.

State-sanctioned art is not art. #NEA #KennedyCenter

I couldn't love a book any more than Dona Ann McAdams's BLACK BOX. My review in @hyperallergic.com: hyperallergic.com/989868/black...

Stupid AND malevolent. A bad combo. wapo.st/4b5IDHh

It's not like the hypocrisy is hiding or anything.

New Substack is up . . . open.substack.com/pub/melissah...

And here's us, spectating as some painfully stupid but hatefully rapacious men blow up what others built and doesn't belong to them.

Every day I wake and think "None of this would be happening if not for Citizens United" and then I laugh and laugh.

There's a lot of this going around in corporate America.

Thanks to @hyperallergic.com for the opportunity to review the fantastic "Propagandopolis" by Bradley Davies, a book that is both history and prognostication at once. hyperallergic.com/975155/the-p...

Pretty sure when the Magic 8 Ball gave me this answer *last* New Year's Eve it really meant *this* New Year. Yeah, that's it.

The menu my mother came up with for Christmas 1965. I remember the holidays as absurdly over-the-top. And ending every 25th with a stomachache.

Issue Fourteen is wrapped! Subscribe by midnight to receive a print copy. Feat. @reproutopia.bsky.social, @gabantoniosolis.bsky.social, @ellafoxmartens.bsky.social, @izzyampil.bsky.social, @therealbradbabs.bsky.social, @careybaraka.bsky.social thedriftmag.com/subscribe

Of course I judge books by their covers. That's why they have them. This is the Year's Best list I most look forward to--and trust. Some dynamite designs this year!

A marvelous piece I'd never seen before.

Here I go again . . .

NBCC member @perfectvehicle.bsky.social reviewed "An Image of My Name Enters America" by Lucy Ives for On the Seawall:

Good morning. A political metaphor in a painting? "Right and Left," Winslow Homer, 1909.

I almost can't believe my luck in being given the opportunity to attempt an appreciation of Kevin Killian's inimitable achievement.

It's possible to write creative nonfiction that isn't a memoir.