The Foxed Page

Who ISN'T talking about the release of LIFE OF M on August 25??

Prepare for Cusk's new work by reminding yourself--or finding out for the first time--why her approach to fiction is so radical.

OUTLINE's narrative, structure and even basic description means plenty of grist for my mill. Whether you loved the book or were left wondering what the hell just happened--prepare for some super-rich edification.

(This is a REPOST of an earlier lecture.)

Yes. I'm going to read and analyze something I MYSELF WROTE.

I promise it won't be boring.

Also, it's short.

See the three question marks in the title above? Listen in to find out who would hate each one of them. We all have an impression of Stein, but Levy offers up (and problematizes) so much more.

With all its inventive, kooky, paramilitary (!) elements, Lost Lambs is delightful and wholly original. Except when it seems like a DIRECT descendent of Thomas Pynchon.

Listen in to fully appreciate the narrative stance, the postmodern elements (don't worry, I'll provide a definition), the structure, and the ways this frothy novel is crucially subversive.

And the gnats! Dive in to hear my theory for wtf is up with all the GNATs!

I picked up THE GIRLS WHO GREW BIG in the bookstore but ended up reading NIGHTCRAWLING. Wow is Mottley a talent to be watched.

Based on a true story, the novel digs deeply into police corruption, the failures of the education and employment systems, misogyny, corruption, life as a young Black woman in Oakland...to say nothing of the realities of sex work.

We explore a strong, recurring motif, figurative language, ingenious plotting (and some that doesn't work quite as well).

I get myself into pretzels to avoid any spoilers until the end, though this book is so good you would want to read it even if you knew exactly what was coming. Give this novel the attention it deserves now!