Damn I miss him. music.apple.com/us/album/jon...

I just saw NATCHEZ. Holy shit. This is the Great American Documentary of the Decade. Maybe The century.

Loved that movie. Need to rewatch.

Loved Goobers.

Both out of Cox’s letters to Kleinzahler, who says he “received well over a hundred . . . written over the course of about fifteen years.” Cox’s writing seemingly looser, less chiseled, “friendlier” than in the essays. The prospect wider, too, the observations with a feeling of the ex tempore.

Rereading Kenneth Cox’s _The Art of Language: Selected Essays_, (Flood Editions, 2016), edited with an introduction by Jenny Penberthy, with an afterword by August Kleinzahler. Both Penberthy and Kleinzahler include wonderful snatches of Cox’s letters. Would love to see an edition of such.

On my blog I'm starting a series where I translate sections of Calvino's masterpiece Invisible Cities, a random city at a time. Here's Zemrude. www.joelcalahan.com/translation-...

I'll say more before too long, but for now: Thanks to anyone who has ever read and supported the Post's books coverage.

Ok fine let‘s gather together the existing remnants of professional book reviewing and figure out how to support what still survives/expand options.

This brings to mind the important book Incognegro by Mat Johnson en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incogne...

"When It's Darkness on the Delta": @wralpheubanks.bsky.social and Vann Newkirk at Politics and Prose: www.youtube.com/watch?v=R23U...

Ok I think I’m gonna break down and finally listen to a Beyoncé album. Huge fan of Solange’s “A Seat at Table.” Where do I start?

Michael Thomas on his memoir "The Broken King": www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wBS... @cunytv.bsky.social

My profile of the ubiquitous and indefatigable Adam Tooze is up at The Guardian Long Read today: www.theguardian.com/business/202...

RIP John Forte: youtube.com/watch?v=KPV1...

now listening to what is truly a stone cold masterpiece

Definitely better than The Lottery

Except Prince from 81-87*

Just like Whitney.

Having public officials swear an oath o a religious text is a dumb vestige of a different era. That said, if you’re going to to do it, demanding that Mamdani swear on a Bible is like demanding that I swear on a stack of back issues of City Journal.

A perennial to start the new year (w/ one addition - avoid AI if you can)!

Last year, I let bygones be bygones and made contact with an old situation; in addition, I downloaded not one but TWO Madonna albums. I just figured when you get to be a man of a certain age, it’s time to just let some shit go.

my 2025 year in review

Joni Mitchell never lies: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNCX...

The evening and the morning were the first day.

One of my admins wrote in a class observation that I was both kind and smart—like “C.S. Lewis” 🤔

RIP to the incredible Richard Smallwood, who passed away today. Richard once called Aretha his "dream duet," and went on to compose "Faithful" Aretha's 2011 duet with Karen Clark-Sheard. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S9u...

Dang I really am old.

Is Bone Sandals having a performance review? A quota they need to reach? What the hell?

RIP Isiah Whitlock: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcZI...

RIP Richard Smallwood: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uoxm...

Now I've seen his Elvis film I wish the rest of reality was also directed by Baz Luhrmann. ie. Clear and simple plot and everything explained in a slow and obvious way.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

♫Remember the needy when you nyam your Christmas pie/ Emperor Selassie I will be standing by♫

Good morning, friends, from the twice-failed utopia of New Harmony, Indiana!

Today‘s the first half-birthday of THE NIMBUS! As good as any time to suggest that it would make an excellent holiday gift for the discerning fiction reader in your life. Order here or at your local indie, and DM me if you’d like a personalized bookplate to go with it: bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

My new favorite podcast! : www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoBE...

Been rewatching Season One of Transformers (G1) and I'm now realising Wheeljack is probably my favorite character and thinking back, the way they did him in the movie doesn't sit right with my spirit.

Yesterday would have been my brother's 41st birthday. Still hurts. Always will. verydistantlands.substack.com/p/the-phanto...

🙌🏾

RIP youtu.be/-Gy0OGj6KpY?...