A Roundup Post
Because I just returned from vacation, I only have half-formed thoughts on literature + life topics, and there's lots of interesting reading to share on Substack.
Hello R&W community, and all others who’ve found your way to the R&W place. I’m glad you’re here.
If you are a regular reader, you know I was on vacation with my family last week. I’m still reorienting after that trip.
I also have a rather large reading stack—as well as writing submissions—staring me down for my MFA summer courses; actually, before mid-July when I head to Buenos Aires for a two-week summer residency. This, of course, is on top of the reading (and writing) I do for The Reader & the Writer. Needless to say, most my mental energy—beyond all life’s other things—has been focused on getting through this stack.
Have you read any of the books from my MFA stack?
Have you ever read a graphic novel?
Do you have a contemporary author/book you’re reading right now?
A Round-up of Interesting Stuff on Substack
Because of all the above, I thought this would be a great week for highlighting six Substacks—writers, essays, and even notes—that have caught my attention as of late:
Zina Gomez-Liss’s post on writing on Substack:
I love Zina’s honesty and depth of consideration when addressing the many and complex issues surrounding art-making in general, and particularly the digital (and now AI) age. I’ve recommended her Substack before: The Beauty of Things. I continue to recommend it now.
Henry Oliver’s article on the decline of the humanities and what we are to do about it:
I enjoy everything I read of Henry Oliver’s. Henry is unflinchingly honest with this thoughts, a little snarky, but always in ways that make me smile. He is clearly an expert in all things literature. His writing is intelligent without being high-minded. He makes me stop and question my own beliefs and assumptions, both about literature and culture. I like that. He recently wrote another essay on how the humanities help us find people we want to know; a great partner piece to the one above.
A couple recent posts by Matthew Long from Beyond the Bookshelf. The first one is a collection of things that have caught Matthew’s attention as of late. I love this list: it’s focus on being unplugged, on nature and noticing…. Basically, on all the everyday things that matter for eternity.
The second one is a guest essay by Kristine Neeley on building an unconventional library in one’s home. I am unfamiliar with Neeley’s Substack, but this post has me wanting to go explore her writing. I relate so much to what she shares about her childhood love of literature, especially on being a self-proclaimed “maximalist.” This is the exact word I used to describe myself in a recent MFA seminar focused on microfiction. You can imagine how well that went over with all the “minimalist” lit-lovers in the webinar room.
Shawn Smucker’s serial novel, The Funny Games We Used to Play:
Shawn explains the background of this novel and why he’s decided to release it here on Substack in serial form in the post below. It’s a move back to those novels of the 1800’s (into the early 1900’s maybe?) that were first published in serialized form. I’m excited to read a novel written like this. Especially the story Shawn is telling. I’m giving nothing away. Go read his post for yourself. Then, follow along.
Reading Revisited’s note on their upcoming Book Drop Day:
I’ve mentioned Reading Revisited before. This is another excellent slow reads book club on Substack—and in real life, too! Which is what I especially love about their format: they facilitate live book clubs across the country. I was honored to be asked by Kelsie Hartley to contribute a short essay highlighting one of their books for the upcoming year. I won’t lie, when I saw her note above, I was gobsmacked to be among such a venerable group of writers. Rhea is also a contributing writer. I’m thrilled that The Reader & the Writer was invited to be a part of Reading Revisited’s special day.
This next one is for all our War and Peace readers. It is Footnotes and Tangents latest post by Simon Haisell:
I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but this story is suddenly boiling over. I’m having a hard time putting it down (or turning it off, as I’m doing most my W&P reading by audiobook). What I love about Simon’s posts is that he gives us so much to consider behind and beyond the story. Also, he’s an excellent, deeply thoughtful writer.
Finally, something from the non-literary art front: Art Every Day by George Bothamley.
George puts an enormous amount of work into his Substack. Not only does he offer an excellent work of art to examine each day (Monday - Friday), but also gives an art lesson; something on the artist, technique, history, etc. that makes the art experience all the more rich and meaningful.
Now that I’ve shared my roundup of interesting reads, what about you?
What has piqued your interest on Substack (or elsewhere) of late?
And, while I’m asking, I’d also love to hear about your online reading habits in general:
How many online publications/writers do you follow and actually read (Substack or otherwise)?
What is your ideal essay/article length? Style? Content?
Do you gravitate toward “how to” articles? Or criticism? Or journalism? Something else that’s hard to define?
I've read several graphic novels and I have Watchmen on my book shelf. It is an interesting story. Alan Moore is quite a character in the world of comics.