The Blindboy Podcast
A fascinating conversation with Jon Ronson about his new book, The Castle: Adventures in a World of Unravelling Men.
The Book Club
A discussion of American Psycho (1991) by Bret Easton Ellis, very much not an A-level banger, though I did once have a student who chose it for his coursework. It is a novel of sparkling dialogue but/and is so graphically vile as to be genuinely upsetting. I do, however, remain grateful to Patrick Bateman for recommending the excellent Sports (1983) by Huey Lewis and the News, via one of his earnest little essays.
The Common Reader
This is a joy – Henry Oliver and Philip Hensher are well matched.
The Lit Path
A discussion between Jack Aldane and James Bloodworth of Orwell’s Keep the Aspidistra Flying (1936). On the same day as listening to this I watched a new film called Materialists, and the relationship there, and the impact on it of money, reminded me of Orwell’s novel: ‘the finger of the money-god intruding!’
The LRB Podcast
My favourite lecturer from university defends his trade.
New Books in Literature
My second favourite lecturer from university (for the purposes of this round-up) discusses his new edition of Gulliver’s Travels.
Novara
Ash Sarkar asks Patricia Nilsson questions around her new book, published earlier this week, Guilty Pleasure: The Pornification of the Internet, the Economy, and Everything Else.
Until next month.