Jonathan Franzen’s favourite opening line to a novel: “The very first impulse of the narrator”
“The method of the whole novel is here in a nutshell.”
Books
‘The Bark Tree’: How Rowland S Howard’s favourite book reflects his mysterious artistic footprint
An early existential classic.
“An impossible scene in the real past”: Vladimir Nabokov’s enlightening dream diary
Who says recounting a dream has to be dull?
“Angrier each time”: When Jack Kerouac waged war against the publishing industry
A lesson in determination.
Anthony Bourdain’s ultimate food book reading list: “An absolute timeless classic”
A foodie reading list.
The day Ernest Hemingway decreed that he had “never been happier”
What makes a complicated man happy?
“The reign of beasts”: Albert Camus’ chilling diary entry on the brink of World War II
May you be cursed to live in interesting times.
