America's Most Critical Journal since 1999
by Casey Alexander There was no reason to reopen the door to the office–they’d made it clear that John wasn’t needed inside–but some instinct made him try anyway. The handle fell a quarter of an inch beneath the force of his wrist, then clicked... More »
by Jeffrey Meyers Rereading James Salter’s delightful Life Is Meals: A Food Lover’s Book of Days reminded me of the best meals in my life, when the food was excellent and the atmosphere and people were even more important. At their finest, these dinners ... More »
By Eric D. Lehman The hobo arrived at Mark Twain’s house at sunset. Sun rays slanted across the tumbling creek and ancient elms. The large house was reddish brick, adorned with at least four chimneys, a wraparound porch, and a steep roof. Flowers bloomed in ... More »
by Casey Alexander In between Aztec push-ups, Jim heard the delightful sound of cardboard falling onto his doorstep. He waited in the gym for ten minutes, allowing extra time in case the courier tripped or stopped to admire his tulips. Opening the front door, ... More »
By Louis Greenstein “… a [June 3, 2022 CBS and YouGov] poll shows that 44% of Republicans believe mass shootings are ‘something we have to accept as part of a free society.’” My wife Penny and I live what you could call a charmed life. We’re semi-r... More »
by Emil Draitser (Translated from the Russian by the author) “How? How?” He [Gurov] asked, clutching his head. “How?” And it seemed that a bit more – and the solution will be found, and then a new, wonderful life will begin; and it was clear to... More »
by Anna Stolley Persky Dear Dead Grandma, Maybe you think I’m a loser because I’ve lost another job, but I really wasn’t the right fit for a position investigating environmental damage when I don’t even believe in climate change. Anyway, the EPA... More »
EPISODE ONE: WAKE UP A garage poorly adapted to look like a call-in studio. There’s a second-hand table with a large telephone on it. Behind the desk is a chalkboard with “The Men’s Self-Help Line” crudely printed in red chalk. There’s two armchairs ... More »
By Sean Kenealy “My name’s Roy and I destroy!” I know, it’s a silly slogan, but it turns heads and it’s helped me get ahead in this crazy business. Need a TV destroyed? I got you. Need a couch destroyed? No problem. I even did a refrigerator once in ... More »
FADE IN In a restaurant just this side of Oslo, a middle-aged American couple sit cozy by a crackling fireplace. MADGE David, this julekake bread is marvelous. DAVID It’s correctly pronounced yul-ya-kawk-ya. And that resinous fragrance is cardamom. Tr... More »
By Casey Alexander Day 1 Lately I’ve become wayward; there’s a layer of grime on my soul. A lack of progress, a certain stagnation. An unsettling realization: I have ceased to be my own hero. Plus I have a three-day weekend coming up and no particular plan... More »
What Do You Do When You Discover You’re a Jew? By Blechner Dedicated to the work of Franz Kafka, that flickering light showing others a way. “…for human reality, to act is to be, and to cease to act is to cease to be.” Being and N... More »