Author Archives: Daniel (@MKNN)

Reading Well: The Passenger & Stella Maris by Cormac McCarthy

There are, in my view, few–if any–greater American novelists of the late 20th century than Cormac McCarthy. His final two novels, released simultaneously in 2022, form a fitting capstone on his career. The Passenger and Stella Maris are related, but … Continue reading

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Reading Well: Philadelphia Fire by John Edgar Wideman

The bombing of MOVE in Philadelphia is something I remember in a very inarticulate way. It happened in 1985, and formed part of the backdrop of my reading things like Bobby Seale‘s Seize the Time and Samuel Yette‘s The Choice … Continue reading

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Reading Well: Before She Sleeps by Bina Shah

There are two things of note for me about Bina Shah‘s 2019 novel Before She Sleeps. First, it is a Pakistani post-apocalyptic novel. Not many of those out there, and additional voices and perspectives in that space are always welcome. … Continue reading

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Reading Well: Moon Witch, Spider King by Marlon James

I am a devotee of Marlon James, and a completist with regards to his work, so keep that in mind. Moon Witch, Spider King (2022) is a … I’m not even sure how to classify it. Let’s go with a … Continue reading

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Reading Well: Everybody’s Autobiography by Gertrude Stein

Well. I mean, who am I to comment on Gertrude Stein, right? The wildly inventive mother of modernism, the wellspring of so much of modern American poetry (and painting, and dance, and sculpture, and …). Stein’s Everybody’s Autobiography was published … Continue reading

Posted in Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Reading Well: Children of Time, Children of Ruin, & Children of Memory by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Adrian Tchaikovsky‘s hefty trilogy, totaling well over 1,500 pages, begins with Children of Time (2015), continues in Children of Ruin (2019), and concludes in Children of Memory (2023). It’s brilliant. And it ain’t for everyone. There is a tradition in … Continue reading

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Reading Well: Three Memoirs (Cicely Tyson, Stuart Braithwaite, and Dessa)

Cicely Tyson, Just As I Am, with Michelle Burford, 2021; Spaceships over Glasgow: Mogwai, Mayhem and Misspent Youth, 2022; This was not what I expected. I don’t read a lot of non-fiction, as you may have noticed. When I do … Continue reading

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reading Well: The Founders Trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett

Robert Jackson Bennett‘s Founders Trilogy begins with Foundryside (2018), continues with Shorefall (2020), and concludes with Locklands (2022). This is rollicking ride of a trilogy, animated chiefly by well drawn characters and a very intelligent twist on the question of … Continue reading

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reading Well: The Dreamblood Duology by N.K. Jemisin

The Killing Moon and The Shadowed Sun (both 2012) form a bridge between Jemisin’s Inheritance trilogy and the magnificent Broken Earth series. I mean that not in terms of its content or setting or characters, but more in how it … Continue reading

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Update on the Reading Well

I miss having a semi-current log of what I’ve read and what I’m reading. So I’m going to try to get back on the horse with Reading Well. It may take a while to catch back up. I know this … Continue reading

Posted in Culture | Tagged | Leave a comment