“I hope to become someone who uses a pen filled with the blood of reality and the moralistic spittle of the masses to create his own literary tomb.” Yan Lianke on state censorship, artistic integrity, and the market forces behind publishing. | Lit Hub Criticism
It took nine years to write a novel. Or, depending on how you look at it, a month. Justin Taylor on the value of restarting, again and again. | Lit Hub Craft
Gabrielle Bellot on the failures of America’s two-party system: “America’s current political binary can’t last much longer as it is. It’s straining at the seams.” | Lit Hub Politics
Judi Dench and Brendan O’Hea discuss a lifetime of performing Shakespeare: “Then they heard an American voice say: ‘Bartender, give these two Shakespearean cats a drink.’ They looked up and it was Frank Sinatra.” | Lit Hub In Conversation
Jane Smiley, Judi Dench, Amy Tan, and more! These 24 new books are out this week. | Lit Hub Reading Lists
“My grandmother, who survived the Nazi occupation of Ukraine, never thought she’d live to see another war, especially started by Russia.” Sasha Vasilyuk on growing up in both Russia and Ukraine. | Lit Hub In Conversation
“Lilacs, rain, a hint of bitter chocolate: Stella sniffed the air as she entered the small shop, enjoying the soft golden light that enfolded her.” Read from Ruth Reichl’s new book, The Paris Novel. | Lit Hub Fiction