Vladimir Sorokin’s Absurdist Excess Vladimir Sorokin’s Absurdist Excess
Even the Russian author’s most sincere explorations tend toward brutal deadpan satire, cartoonish extremes of violence, comically unsexy sex, and flatulence.
Feb 4, 2016 / Books & the Arts / Ben Ehrenreich
Literature as Map to Liberty Literature as Map to Liberty
In John Keene’s ambitious new volume of stories, resistance is required because exile isn’t an option.
Oct 1, 2015 / Books & the Arts / Ben Ehrenreich
A Strange Luminescence A Strange Luminescence
W.G. Sebald’s A Place in the Country.
Apr 30, 2014 / Books & the Arts / Ben Ehrenreich
Making Strange: On Victor Shklovsky Making Strange: On Victor Shklovsky
A Russian novelist’s fight, in life and art, to see the world afresh in all its cruelty and splendor.
Feb 5, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Ben Ehrenreich
The Ravaging Nothing: On László Krasznahorkai The Ravaging Nothing: On László Krasznahorkai
Satantango will devour you, you and everything you know.
May 16, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Ben Ehrenreich
Eels Über Alles: On Julio Cortázar Eels Über Alles: On Julio Cortázar
A novelist’s lyrical attempt to measure the immeasurable.
Dec 6, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Ben Ehrenreich
An Inventory of the Missing: On Frederic Tuten An Inventory of the Missing: On Frederic Tuten
Frederic Tuten's Self Portraits is a backward glance on life that's vital, wistful and filled with sweet ache.
Dec 16, 2010 / Books & the Arts / Ben Ehrenreich
Texts for Nothing? On Tom McCarthy Texts for Nothing? On Tom McCarthy
With C, Tom McCarthy asks us to see fiction as a crafty and adventurous playmate unafraid of its mortality.
Nov 4, 2010 / Books & the Arts / Ben Ehrenreich
The Book of Amos: On Gideon Levy The Book of Amos: On Gideon Levy
Because of Gaza, "everything is tainted" in Israel, according to Gideon Levy.
Aug 25, 2010 / Books & the Arts / Ben Ehrenreich
How to Survive the Crisis (Organize!) How to Survive the Crisis (Organize!)
At the US Social Forum, activists discuss how to meet basic needs—and take on the system.
Jul 15, 2010 / Feature / Ben Ehrenreich