The novelist and short story writer on her new book about Azrael, the angel of death, her encounters with Raymond Carver and Richard Yates, and why fiction should be uncannyJoy Williams, 80, has written five novels and four story collections and is the recipient of numerous awards. Her most recent book of short stories, Concerning the Future of Souls: 99 Stories of Azrael (Tuskar Rock), was published earlier this year. Her work ranges from the philosophical examination of being, belief and morality to urgent engagements with environmental catastrophe; James Salter wrote of her that she belongs in the company of Céline and Flannery O’Connor. Born in Massachusetts, she now lives in the Sonoran desert.An earlier collection of yours was called 99 Stories of God, and now you’ve moved on to Azrael (the angel of death and transporter of souls) as the subject. What drew you to him?I read in a WS Merwin collection his translation of Hadrian’s deathbed poem to his soul – Animula vagula blandula – so sorrowful and succinct. The soul, a worthy subject. And Azrael has always fascinated me: he was death, but not death exactly. He was more a gorgeous creation of Islam. I picture him as responsible for all the souls of this ensouled Earth. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2024-10-19 17:00:20 UTC ]
We've rounded up the 15 best fiction books published this year to gift any lover of novels or story collections in your life this holiday season. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-11-02 16:00:00 UTC ]
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Beloved creator of Fungus the Bogeyman and Father Christmas brought a distinctive strain of melancholy to the genre• The Snowman, the Bogeyman and Father Christmas: the world of Raymond Briggs – in pictures• Raymond Briggs obituary• Share your tributes and memories of Snowman author Raymond... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2022-08-10 07:20:39 UTC ]
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At the Rumpus, Xuan Juliana Wang discusses the art of the short story in a round table that includes Kimberly King Parsons, Dantiel W. Moniz, Mary South, and Ashley Wurzbacher. The panel shares their thoughts on crafting a collection, along with what draws them to short stories in the first... Continue reading at The Millions
[ The Millions | 2021-06-24 20:30:14 UTC ]
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She campaigned against female genital mutilation and wrote more than 50 novels, plays, story collections and nonfiction books. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2021-03-23 09:59:11 UTC ]
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Ho Sok Fong is without a doubt one of the most lauded Malaysian short story writers working in Chinese. Since winning her first literary prize in 2002, she has authored two story collections, namely Maze Carpet and Lake Like a Mirror, both published in Taiwan. Lake Like a Mirror is now available... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2020-04-28 11:00:09 UTC ]
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In many months this list contains five novels—but never before has it consisted of five story collections. Given the global pandemic, its effects on economies, and everyone’s anxieties, some of us are getting lost in long, complicated sagas—witness Yiyun Li’s #TolstoyTogether online book group.... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-04-21 08:47:00 UTC ]
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Raina Telgemeier and George Takei were among the creators whose stand-out books mined traumatic real-life experiences. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2019-11-21 14:08:00 UTC ]
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The debut book from Kristen Roupenian, whose New Yorker short story “Cat Person” went viral far beyond the scope of most short fiction when it was published earlier this month, has been sold to British publisher Jonathan Cape, the Guardian reports. Roupenian's short story collection, “You Know... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A new collection from Chicken Soup for the Soul, 'My Kind (of) America,' which published earlier this week, tells stories of kindnesses shared between many diverse people in America. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-08-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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