
- Penguin Random House
Here’s a book you don’t have to feel morally bankrupt to write about: Ta-Nehisi Coates’ much-anticipated Between the World and Me, originally slated for publication in September, is ready for prime time today! While you gear up to read it (you’re already gearing up to read it, right?), here’s a recent appearance from Coates, discussing the book, among other urgent topics, on NPR. Below, his tweet about it:
In which @michele_norris almost—ALMOST—makes me cry. #BTWAM http://t.co/moZGK5L15O
— Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) July 10, 2015
Speaking of great book news this week, the Tin House Workshop Summer Readings are in full swing! David Shields, Lan Samantha Chang, and Benjamin Percy read yesterday, and Charles D’Ambrosio reads tomorrow. Here’s Joshua James Amberson on D’Ambrosio:
Seattle-raised writer Charles D’Ambrosio’s 2014 essay collection, Loitering, was an instant classic of the genre. It questioned both progress and nostalgia, considered low and high culture equally, was haggard and kind, and lingered in “our kindred doubts” long enough to convince anyone of the beauty in not being sure. Many of its essays started as pieces for the Mercury‘s sister paper The Stranger, and its portraits of a scrappier, pre-Amazon Seattle are a must-read for any Northwesterner.
Oh yeah, and these readings—despite not being part of the usual book-tour rigamarole—are free. Go see ’em. Full lineup here.
Meanwhile, I got a really weird thing in the mail today. It’s the latest Archie comic. Archie, what happened to you? Here’s what new Archie looks like:

Whatever happened to your bouffant and vaguely evil cartoon expression*? Can someone clear this up for me? I don’t read comics that aren’t by Kelly Sue DeConnick.
*I always thought old Archie looked sort of evil. This might be why?

Excuse you, those Archie comics are drawn by Fiona Staples, so you should care on that principle alone.