The Amphibium, pt. 13
This is Vol. 13 of the Amphibium.
In other news
Some non-novel writing to plug: an essay about Soren Kierkegaard–more specifically, about a biography of Kierkegaard by the British scholar Claire Carlisle–in the new issue of Harper’s Magazine. In it, I consider what Kierkegaard might have to teach out present age:
It is almost a truism now that we are each called to take up our own life as a creative project, to make of it what we will, but our culture treats this project as a kind of performance, to be judged by others according to appearances. Kierkegaard’s concept of inwardness gives us this task in a very different form. No amount of likes or clicks can tell us whether we are living the life to which we have actually been called. In fact, the process of submitting our lives for public approval can only ever undermine our efforts. So much about contemporary society—not just the public curation of social media, but the consumer culture that presents us an endless stream of choices, none of which ultimately matter—is designed to distract from the truth of our existential situation. Kierkegaard tells us to hold this truth always in mind, to move toward, not away from, the anxiety and despair that must naturally follow from recognizing it.
More here.
Now back to our regular programming
Tomorrow is the official publication date for The Index of Self-Destructive Acts, which admittedly doesn’t mean much in a world without brick-and-mortar stores, where online outlets deliver books whenever they feel like it. But I do have some book news. The novel got another “starred” pre-publication review, from Library Journal:
Harper’s Magazine editor Beha (Arts & Entertainments) brings to messy life a post-9/11 New York City in a character-rich novel that’s funny, poignant, prescient, and somehow sweetly deft in the willing suspension of disbelief as a syzygy of coincidences careens toward a perfect storm.
Also, I’ll be doing a virtual Q&A about the book with Craig Finn on May 11 at 7:30 pm, hosted by Greenlight Books. Craig is best known as the frontman for The Hold Steady but has also put out a series of remarkable solo albums in the past few years. He is a great songwriter, and one of the all-time great storytelling songwriters, so I’m incredibly excited to talk with him about the book. The event will take place over Zoom, and you have to register to be included.
In case any subscribers don’t already know, more information about the book (including links to buy it!) can be found here.