Monthly Archives: June 2009

Issue #121: Interrupted Serenade

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I first heard about James Hannaham’s work from Martha Southgate, who’d read an early galley of his first novel, God Says No. “He’s the real deal,” she said. And when I got the chance to read his writing myself, I agreed. There is a beauty and scope to James’s work that is simply classic–just like the music that turns the plot of “Interrupted Serenade.” The prose is clear, precise, and devastating–and yet James puts his own special stamp on these characters. It feels very fresh to be exploring a relationship between a stepmother and her stepson. Lopey and Erika stayed with me–I found myself thinking of her holding in that scream at the police station, and later, I began downloading Debussy and Chopin, so that I could hear the music Lopey was practicing. Whenever I become that involved with a story, I know it will be a good fit for our magazine. I hope our readers enjoy this taste of James’s work, stop by our Q&A with him to learn how he wrote it, and then go out and buy his novel, God Says No.

Mohan Sikka in Delhi Noir

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Delhi Noir coverNext week, publisher Akashic Books, our neighbors at the Old American Can Factory, will be hosting two (free!) cocktail parties to celebrate the launch of a groundbreaking anthology, Delhi Noir, featuring One Story author Mohan Sikka (Issue #94, “Uncle Musto Takes a Mistress”) and One Story author Jason Grunebaum (Issue #92, ” Maria Ximenes da Costa de Carvalho Perreira”). Delhi Noir is the latest installment in the award winning Akashic Noir Series.

The events:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Delhi Noir cocktail party and launch
Featuring editor Hirsh Sawhney, contributors Meera Nair, Mohan Sikka,
and translator Jason Grunebaum
The Mysterious Bookshop
58 Warren Street, New York, NY, 10007
6.30pm-8.00pm

Thursday, June 25, 2009
Delhi Noir cocktail and book signing
Featuring editor Hirsh Sawhney, contributors Meera Nair, Mohan Sikka,
and translator Jason Grunebaum
Idlewild Bookstore
12 West 19th Street, New York, NY, 10011
7.00pm-9:00pm

From the Trenches: Hannah Tinti & Joe Meno Reading at Powerhouse Arena

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It was an evening of giant squids, seizure-inducing clouds, and unusual adoptions at the Powerhouse Arena last night, where an eager audience packed in to hear Hannah Tinti and Joe Meno read their work and riff on the art of writing. As listeners sat on large stone steps and the two writers took their turns in the spotlight, I couldn’t help but think of a night at a comedy club. Though Joe started the evening by comparing reading events in 2009 to a 19th century chimney sweep symposium, I can’t imagine that being half as entertaining.

Joe kicked things off by reading the opening section of his new novel The Great Perhaps. Before beginning, he encouraged his audience not to hold back their laughter, and as family patriarch Jonathan, a paleontologist, grew more and more frustrated with the protestations of his teenage daughters, one an aspiring Marxist, the other newly religious, listeners responded with knowing chuckles and grins. “Enjoy what you write,” Joe later advised, citing such personal heroes as Vonnegut and Pynchon. “And your readers will enjoy it, too.”

Next up was Hannah Tinti reading, on a dare from Joe, her short story “Adoption,” published in issue 4 of the Avery Anthology. Originally written with the specifications of another magazine in mind – that it had to be short, dialogue heavy, in first person, and fall into the category of “chick lit” – the story tells the sharp and giddily sardonic tale of a single woman who adopts a grown man. I encourage any curious fans of Hannah to seek this story out, especially those who have only read The Good Thief. It’s a remarkable display of the range of Hannah’s talents.

Finally the evening ended with Joe and Hannah in conversation and taking questions. Joe marveled at the continued devotion of the scientific community to tracking down the giant squid, a creature that has never been seen and for which his main character Jonathan is desperately searching. Hannah spoke of her childhood adoration of authors like Robert Louis Stevenson and how one phrase, “resurrection men,” inspired an entire narrative. Audience members quick on the draw received gifts from Hannah, including a wishing stone (a Tinti reading tradition), a St. Anthony medal, and copies of One Story. Wrapping things up, Joe championed the continued importance of venues like Powerhouse to the literary community and implored listeners to give their support. We thank everyone who was able to come out. For photos of the event go here.

The Great Perhaps by Joe Meno

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joemeno Kate Walbert is not the only One Story author who got a great review this week in the New York Times Book Review–Joe Meno (author of the upcoming One Story issue #122 “Children Are the Only Ones Who Blush”) got a rave for his new novel, The Great Perhaps. You might remember Joe from his collection Demons in the Spring, which was a finalist for the 2008 Story Prize.

For those of you who came out last night to Powerhouse Arena, you already know what a talented writer and great reader Joe is. For those of you who didn’t, you still have a chance to see Joe and hear about his love of giant squids before he heads back to Chicago. He’ll be reading tonight at McNally Jackson bookstore at 7 pm. Come by and tell him we sent you, or stop by his website to find out where else he’ll be reading, but most important, you should head out and buy the book.

Olive Kitteridge & The Good Thief=Oprah’s “Tantalizing Beach Reads”

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In the July issue of the magazine, the writers of O, The Oprah Magazine recommend some great reads for the summer months–books you’ll want to have handy for trips to the shore and long days in the park.

One of O‘s selections, Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, just earned the author the 2009 Pulitizer Prize for Fiction. Why is this especially exciting to One Story? Strout’s book is made up of 13 short stories. Author Pam Houston calls it, “[an] unforgettable novel in stories.” and notes that these stories are “relentlessly human” and “heart-stoppingly beautiful.”

Another of O‘s recommended reads is near and dear to our hearts–The Good Thief  by our very own, very talented editor Hannah Tinti! In her write up, Cathleen Medwick calls The Good Thief, “A 21st-century novel in 19th-century drag,” compares Hannah to John Barth, and claims that The Good Thief is “one of the freshest, most beguiling narratives this side of Oliver Twist.”

So break out the sunblock, the sunglasses, the large-rimmed hats, and try to save room for some fiction in your beach bag this summer!

A Short History of Women by Kate Walbert

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shorthistorywomen2National Book Award Finalist and One Story author Kate Walbert (issue #71, “Good Luck”) recieves front page treatment and an amazing review in this week’s New York Times Book Review  for her new novel, A Short History of Women. Leah Hager Cohen calls Kate’s new book “a gorgeously wrought and ultimately wrenching work of art.”

Go here to visit Kate’s Website.
Go here to read a chapter of A Short History of Women.
Go here to find out where Kate will be reading.
Go here to buy the book!

Or click below to hear some of Kate’s very encouraging advice on being a writer.

Do Not Deny Me by Jean Thompson

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dndm One Story author Jean Thompson has just published a new short story collection, Do Not Deny Me, which includes the story she ran with us, issue # 105, “Wilderness”. In a recent review in the Chicago Tribune, Alan Cheuse said “”Move over, Alice Munro, this gifted writer now sits in my mind near the throne of the short-story queens and kings of old. [Thompson] is a master of dialogue, character, pacing and plot, and—anyone who loves the form will have to cheer about this…the dialogue—pitch perfect.”

Jean is coming to New York for two events:

The first is this coming Sunday, June 14th, and supports Girls Write Now, a fantastic organization that matches at-risk NYC high school girls with free writing classes and individual women writers who act as their personal mentors. The reading will take place at 4pm at the New School, in Tishman Auditorium (66 West 12th Street, btw 5th + 6th Aves) Note: This event features original solo works by NYC’s best teen writers. The keynote speaker is NBC Nat’l Correspondent Amy Robach. Jean Thompson is the featured reader. For more info go here.

The second reading is next Monday, June 15th at 7 pm, at our favorite NYC bookstore, Idlewild Books (12 West 19th Street).

We hope you come by one of these events or stop by Jean’s website to see where else she’ll be touring, and we encourage you to go out and buy Do Not Deny Me today!

God Says No by James Hannaham

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godsaysnoIn a few weeks, our subscribers are going to be receiving an exciting new story, “Interrupted Serenade” by James Hannaham. This month, McSweeneys has published Hannaham’s first novel, God Says No–the story of a young black Christian struggling with desire and belief, with his love for his wife and his appetite for other men, told in a singular, emotional voice. Already this book has been receiving a great deal of attention, from this interview in Time Out New York to this week’s piece in Bookslut. Steve Martin thinks that God Says No is “a tender, funny tour of a mind struggling to do the right thing. A revelatory and sympathetic guide to a misunderstood world.” And Jennifer Egan calls Hannaham “a groundbreaking new American voice…topical and ambitious, disturbing and hilarious.”

Go here to find out where James will be on tour, so that you can buy a copy of the book and also get him to sign your issue of One Story issue #121! We’re looking forward to reading more from this extraordinarily talented young author.