Book Reviews
Nearing “Midnight Rambles”
Although Midnight Rambles: H. P. Lovecraft in Gotham won’t hit bookstore shelves until this November 7, 2023, my book recently enjoyed a banner week. Publishers Weekly published a stellar review, noting that “Goodwin builds his scrupulous account on a thorough reading of Lovecraft’s letters and diaries, and the unsparing portrait that emerges, while unflattering, offers…
Shadows That Never Leave Us
Losing oneself in memories always stands as a perilous exercise. Nostalgia blinkers us to the more painful or uncomfortable details of our past and convinces us to undervalue or ignore the places and people forming our present. Nonetheless, when looking backward, we often recognize a specific individual, happening, or moment that will forever haunt us,…
They Came for the Neighborhood
Although the long-term impact of the ongoing pandemic upon cities remains uncertain, one reality remains constant: housing costs continue to tick upward in desirable urban areas. This raises the twin specters of gentrification and displacement. The causes and connections of these processes have been hotly discussed and debated over the past several decades in both…
Winter Spirits and Solitude
Edith Wharton’s Ghosts demonstrate that the solitude of a winter night might still evoke dread and and wonder.
Greetings from Asbury Park
A review of Gentrification Down the Shore — a new book exploring a changing Asbury Park, New Jersey, an epicenter of creative and LBGTQ communities on the Jersey Shore.
Fall Writing Projects
The fall brings several new writing projects, including contributing to a digital non-profit and serving as a book critic.
Picks from the Hermitage
Like many Americans, my daily life has centered around my home since the pandemic began this past spring. I miss seeing friends and family and sharing traditions and moments with them. The pandemic has slowed life down for many of us, and that might be a welcome change. Rarely venturing beyond my own neighborhood provides…
A Feline Storyteller
My wife and I are unapologetic book lovers. Every birthday, anniversary, or major holiday involves an exchange of books. While browsing the shelves of Kinokuniya, a Japanese bookstore, I happened upon The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa. A novel told from the point of view of a cat? The perfect gift.