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A Truly Mad Business
From: Claire MessudTo: Mohammed Naseehu AliSubject: a place to beginDear Mohammed,It’s Claire Messud here, with a wave & a shout. It’s with great pleasure that I’ve been reading a… More
A Kind of Vast Fiction
From: Jonathan LethemTo: David GatesSubject: the old transmissionHey, David. As I was saying to my 2,472 friends the other day, these certainly are strange times in the history of… More
His Mother’s Voice
In high spirits, I waved to the waiter, and called my mother to warn her I'd be late. An urgent case, I lied. The way I sometimes lied, though… More
My Octopus Orphan and My Wolf Sister
My Octopus Orphanthinks his suction cups are radios.He presses them to his head andit’s always Ma playing on AM,Father on FM. His eyes turn inward,and he buries himself in… More
A Game
Marrell and Tom’s living room, after the dinner part of the dinner party.Tom:Jane: Tom: Jane:Marrell:Tom:Jane:Marrell:Tom & Marrell:Marrell:Tom:Marrell:Alan:Marrell & Tom:Jane:Tom & Marrell:Jane:Tom:Marrell:Tom:Jean-Pierre:Tom & Marrell:Jean-Pierre:Marrell:Tom:Jean-Pierre:Tom:Jean-Pierre:Tom:Jean-Pierre:Marrell:Jean-Pierre:Marrell:Tom:Jean-Pierre:Tom:Marrell:Tom:Marrell:Alan:Tom:Alan:Tom:Marrell:Tom:Marrell:Alan:Marrell:Tom:Marrell:Tom:Marrell:Jean-Pierre:Alan:Tom:Marrell:Tom:Jean-Pierre:Marrell:Tom:Marrell:Alan:Marrell:Tom:Alan:Tom:Marrell:Jean-Pierre:Tom:Alan:Marrell:Alan:Tom:Jean-Pierre:Tom:Alan:Marrell:Alan:Marrell:Alan:Marrell:Alan:Marrell:Alan:Marrell:Jean-Pierre:Tom:Marrell:Tom:Jean-Pierre:Jane:Tom:Alan:Tom:Marrell & Alan:Tom:Jean-Pierre:Alan:Tom:Jane:Alan:Jean-Pierre:Alan:Marrell:Alan:Marrell:Jane:Marrell:Tom:Jane:Alan:Jane:Tom:Jane:Marrell:Tom:Jane:Alan:Jane:Tom:Jane:Marrell:Jane:All Except Jane:Jane:All Except Jane:Jane:All Except Jane:Jane:All Except Jane:Jane:All… More
As the Creamed Beef Goes…
For those of you unfortunate enough to be unacquainted with this particular culinary delight, creamed beef is simply: browned ground beef, simmered in cream of mushroom soup, and served… More
Boo to a Goose
I saw that phrase again: “He wouldn’t say boo to a goose.” It gets to me every time when I read it in some book, and thank God I… More
The Pursuit of Character
Prologue If looking to the future can cause trepidation, what is this uneasiness I feel in looking back? Memory has a way of playing tricks on the mind, weaving minor… More
Shimmers of Light
Where do I go from here? That can be a tough question to answer for the 2.2 million Americans who are currently incarcerated. Nevertheless, there are serious consequences for… More
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