Thirty-third newsletter of 2026.
▶️ On the podcast: Julie Buntin’s new novel, Famous Men, is available from Random House. We had an excellent conversation about literary ambition, the gender politics of art monsterdom, and the enduring phenomenon of problematic men—among other things. Don’t miss it!
▶️ On the podcast: A flashback to Episode 381, my conversation with author and prominent literary agent Bill Clegg. Original air date: September 23, 2015.
▶️ On the podcast: A new Story Time episode, this one featuring Sophie Elmhirst reading from her bestselling book A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck (Riverhead Books). A great listen!
👉🏼 Coming up on Thursday: a brand new installment of Brad & Mira for the Culture, the podcast’s weekly hangout show and irreverent pop culture assessment. Last week’s episode: ‘Mira vs. Jonah Hill.’
🎧 Listen/subscribe via Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
1. Rachel Syme on Yesteryear author Caro Claire Burke—and how she wrote the biggest book of the year.
2. Is it shameful, or sensible, to put down a book you don’t enjoy? Eric Piepenberg on how DNF became A-OK.
3. Freya Bromley on what it means to write about (and profit from) personal tragedy.
4. Behold this list of the 50 best thrillers of the 21st century, voted on by 291 crime novelists, editors, booksellers, librarians and other book lovers.
5. Leo Lasdun reviews Ryan Murphy’s adaptation of The Shards, the metafictional thriller-slash-gay-awakening novel by Bret Easton Ellis.
6. Ella Risbridger on the new generation of poets enjoying epic success.
7. Peter C. Baker on author Jordan Harper, and how he reinvented noir for the Epstein era with his sensational crime novel A Violent Masterpiece.
8. Fans of the late Anthony Bourdain are cultlike in their devotion. But have they misunderstood his message? Aaron Timms investigates.
9. Jason Zinoman on rising star feminist comedienne Mary Beth Barone.
10. Hanif Abdurraqib remembers the late Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard.
This month the book club is reading All That is Left of Life, the sensational debut novel by Italian author Roberta Recchia.
Three generations of the Ansaldo family grapple with the aftermath of a tragic murder in this sweeping, cinematic debut set in 1980s Rome, perfect for fans of Elena Ferrante.
With more than 200,000 copies already sold in Italy, All That Is Left of Life is a deeply atmospheric and unputdownable family saga that explores love, loss, and the secrets we carry, from a riveting new voice in international fiction.
Available from Scribner.
Blueskies of the Week:
Quote of the Week:
Author photo of the week:
Clarice Lispector (1920-1977) with her dog Ulisses and some chickens.
Rio de Janeiro, 1976. Lêdo Ivo Collection / Instituto Moreira Salles.
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Thank you!
-Brad
www.otherppl.com
www.bradlisti.com
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