A scholar of Wittgenstein and a poet for the ages, John Koethe has a new collection out, "Cemeteries and Galaxies," and I write about his poems--their cemeteries and galaxies, their rollicking parties with John Ashbery and Jasper Johns, and their meditations on privacy and fame--@lareviewofbooks.

Thank you, Jane! Such a pleasure to consider Virginia Konchan's new collection, Requiem, at Plume.

On Tuesday, poet, critic, scholar Vidyan Ravinthiran has an event for Asian / Other at the Silver Unicorn. I *highly* recommend his work. Come if you can (or just buy his books -- he's an insta-buy for me). Review by the also brilliant @htreseler.bsky.social here: www.ronslate.com/on-asian-oth...

Every time you don't buy a book from Amazon, but use a good indie store who actually values the sale & treats you & your purchase with respect, the sun shines brighter, floofy puppies gambol in fresher grass, & Jeff Bezos's piles sting for just a biiiit longer. Sounds GREAT to me. Buy independent.

Thanks, @bookcritics.bsky.social, for the shout-out for this vital book, an "anti-memoir" and valentine to language and the grit of survival, by @poems-not-opinions.bsky.social.

"Vidyan Ravinthiran offers us another metaphor of selfhood & a new kind of autobiography, one for a late capitalist world in which we must think of global priorities & of selves that exceed national borders": @htreseler.bsky.social on ASIAN/OTHER bit.ly/42ltmjb via ON THE SEAWALL

We're excited to announce the longlist for the 2024 NBCC Award for Criticism! Congratulations to all of the nominees. www.bookcritics.org/2024/12/16/2...

Anthony Walton & I were honored to guest edit the fall edition of Lily Poetry Review and to invite a dazzling roster of poets & essayists to contribute. EIC Eileen Cleary generously gave us free rein, and it's a thrill to see this 208-page edition in the wild. lilypoetryreview.blog/subscribe/

Our culture needs critical voices, and we need your help. Founded in 1974, the National Book Critics Circle supports the art of literary criticism and honors outstanding literature. Please consider supporting the NBCC’s work with an annual or one-time donation. bookcritics.org/donate #GivingTuesday

So Bluesky is the social media equivalent of the kitchen at parties?

My heartfelt thanks to Doug Holder for this interview in the Somerville Times about "Auguries & Divinations" in which we got to talk about David Lynch, the psychic landscape of the suburbs, and auguries in everyday life. www.thesomervilletimes.com/archives/137...

The NBCC is still accepting submissions for the NBCC Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing! Submissions must be entered at Submittable before midnight Pacific on Monday, Dec. 2.

Thrilled to host Eileen Cleary at Worcester State tomorrow (Monday, Dec. 2) at 2:30 for a poetry reading generously sponsored by alumna Judith Hoyer. Cleary, author of three acclaimed collections, will read at 2:30 pm in the Sheehan Hall Multi-Purpose Room (fully accessible). All are welcome!

Does everyone know about Project Gutenberg? E-books for free. The world’s great literature here, with focus on older works for free. Digitized and diligently proofread by thousands of volunteers. Please share.

don't order books (or anything) from Amazon today! Instead, order from a small press, Bookshop, a local bookstore, or request a book from your local library. Yes, Amazon is "easy," but it's continuing to kill local businesses and concentrate wealth.

(I dunno who made this image but I looooooove it)

Relatedly, everyone should know about the @bombmag.bsky.social list of residencies they put out seasonally! bombmagazine.org/discover/fel...

I'm always a day (or a week) behind reading the New Yorker, but I love this poem by Lisa Russ Spaar. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

Word of the day is ‘librocubicularist’: one who loves nothing better than reading in bed. (Not easy to say, but I’m glad to know it exists).

I have updated this starter pack with more critics, and the @bookcritics.bsky.social account. Are you a book critic or responsible for the care and feeding of one? Let me know and I’ll add their handle. go.bsky.app/aSiQqh

Can we do a POET Roll Call to see who's all here? #poetrycommunity Drop a note, reshare, etc.--let's see who's here!