Books & Fiction: Victoria Chang’s Correspondence with Grief

Plus: Louise Erdrich’s spectral novel of the moment; new poetry by Linda Gregerson and Clarence Major; and the hidden advantages of pain and suffering. View in browser | Update your preferences Books Victoria Chang’s Correspondence with Grief In “Dear Memory,” Chang experiments with the grammar of loss, addressing letters to those who will never respond, and finding meaning in their silence. By Kamran Javadizadeh Essays & Criticism Page-Turner Louise Erdrich’s Spectral Novel of the Moment In “The Sentence,” Erdrich takes on COVID-19, the George Floyd protests, the effects of incarceration, and a haunted bookstore. By Katy Waldman Books Are There Hidden Advantages to Pain and Suffering? Two new books examine how we benefit from unpleasant experiences. By Meghan O’Gieblyn Books Briefly Noted “Oh William!,” “Fight Night,” “Fallen Idols,” and “The Gilded Page.” Poetry Poems “Thin Air” “As I recall, the play / was mediocre.” By Linda Gregerson Poems “The End of the World” “I look out the window / at a silent dark night.” By Clarence Major The Writer’s Voice The Writer’s Voice: Fiction from the Magazine Yiyun Li Reads “Hello, Goodbye” The author reads her story from this week’s issue of the magazine. More from The New Yorker Annals of Medicine A Doctor, a Patient, and Their Poetry In some ways, writing was the best treatment. By Ofole Mgbako Culture Desk Magic Mushrooms, a Love Story A graphic novel tells the story of the couple whose love for fungi and each other laid the foundation for the serious study of psilocybin. By Françoise Mouly and Genevieve Bormes You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for Books & Fiction from The New Yorker. Was this e-mail forwarded to you? Sign up. Unsubscribe | Manage your e-mail preferences | Send newsletter feedback | View our Privacy Policy Copyright © Condé Nast 2021. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.