FYI #14
A bookish friend recommended Western Lane, by Chetna Maroo, shortlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize. I enjoyed the book and this short video Q & A with the author. The reference to Celine Song’s wonderful film, Past Lives, struck a chord.
I’ve added Ruha Benjamin’s new book, Imagination: a manifesto, to my reading list. Interesting conversation with Panama Jackson, via Politics and Prose
Merve Emre interviews Sophie Pinkham in episode two of ‘The Critic and Her Publics’, via the New York Review. The guests are asked to close-read a text that they haven’t seen before.
‘NPR is cool!’ How Tiny Desk Concerts became a pop culture phenomenon, via AP, (h/t Kottke.org). Enjoy the archive of Tiny Desk Concerts, via NPR.
A new model for creative work: introducing Metalabel, described as ‘a new space where creative people can come together to release, sell, and exhibit creative work in groups we call labels.’ Created by co-founders from Kickstarter, The Creative Independent, Etsy, and Ampled.
Book publisher as curator, by Celine Nguyen, via the One Thing newsletter. One of the small, independent presses featured, Fitzcarraldo Editions, is a favourite. They have an edition of Sheila Heti’s new book, Alphabetical Diaries, which Nguyen has written about for ArtsReview. She shares thoughts about the pitching, researching, and writing process on her Substack, personal canon.
Restaurateur Danny Meyer in conversation with Ruthie Rogers on her podcast Ruthie’s Table 4. I’m not a big reader of business books but Meyer’s 2008 book Setting the Table is a good one.
How to Win Best Picture on a Budget, With Neon’s Tom Quinn, on The Town with Matthew Belloni. NEON’s website.
‘Nothing off limits’: Sam Mendes to direct four Beatles films – one about each member, via the Guardian. The films will all be released in 2027.