The Oxford Comma

"Curious how much you'll owe? That will depend upon your provider's bill and your benefits. You may need to pay for part or all of the cost depending on your plan's deductible, copays or benefit limits. If you have questions, please call the customer service number on your ID card so we can help you."

poets need cash, maybe more than most

She lit her next fire by writing to Sotheby’s explaining the materials she had, and they invited her to come to New York City. She went by bus, carrying the letters and postcards in a brown manila accordion file and the copy of Wallace’s undergraduate thesis in another. As she rode, she contemplated the negative publicity that might result from what she was doing. She had good reason to expect it; a piece in The Awl made the strong case that another Wallace friend from his M.F.A. days who sold his letters was “cashing in on the late writer’s legacy.”

pricing update

J.B. dropped Auggie a couple bucks down, and Lakeside Books appears to sell the lease expensive new copy with shipping included. Thanks so much for ratings, reviews, and purchases. Every little bit helps, so I'm extremely grateful for any support I receive.

Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison would want us to recognize and celebrate lesser known or even forgotten works of African American literature. One such novel would be Oreo (1974) by Fran Ross.

Maura Cheeks in The Atlantic

"Wealth is a number, sure, but it’s also a feeling. I grew up living with my mom and maternal grandparents, while my dad played and coached in the NBA. For a time, our family’s safety net was held together by my grandfather’s HVAC business, but in 2001, it nearly came apart. That year, the company worked on a project performing mechanical-contracting work at Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the Philadelphia Eagles. The timeline did not account for delays. My grandfather estimates that the company lost $4 million on the project. Our house was put on the market shortly after. I loved that house because it felt like home, but also because it made me feel at home in a predominantly white world, where I felt as if my every move was on display. The house served as a symbol of wealth to justify belonging. When we sold it, I felt exposed, as though my family was showcasing the fragility of black wealth for all to see. I told friends that my family wanted to downsize. I’m sure they saw through the lie."

Codependence by Amy Long

Codependence by Amy Long arrives on September 10, 2019