A personal newsletter from writer Brandon O'Brien mixing commentary on literary controversies such as AI use in fiction, reflections on his Hugo nomination and poetry, and essays on Black art and awards history. Each issue is a conversational, opinionated essay with a warm, tea-themed framing.
Website: https://brandonobrien.xyz/
Each issue is a literary personal essay about a single Providence, Rhode Island restaurant, blending visit details with the writer's wry reflections on life, friendship and writing. Readers get an idiosyncratic guide to local dining and a well-crafted narrative voice rather than a conventional review.
An independent archive of literary criticism offering close readings of recent novels, with attention to form, narrative structure and the devices authors rely on. Issues include single-book reviews and a critical overview of the Booker shortlist.
Matt Alt's newsletter offers essays on Japanese pop culture, from manga's status as art to Haruki Murakami's Nobel hopes and the history of Japan's first man in space. Readers get well-researched cultural history and sharp commentary on how Japan's postwar and bubble-era trends shaped global pop culture.
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