Literary Scene: 4 Bookish Questions for 4 book lovers

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

Esty Loveing-Downes

Ringling College of Art and Design student

What are you reading now?
Right now, all my reading (that isn’t coronavirus-related) is either required for coursework or mentioned by someone at school. If I had my way, I’d own the Audible, Kindle, and physical copies of everything I read, since I snatch books on-the-go in my life as a mom, wife, and full-time student. 

This semester I’m reading The Art of X-Ray Reading by Roy Peter Clark, The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, and Carmen Maria Machado’s Her Body and Other Parties. Although I’m squeezing in time to read Untamed by Glennon Doyle, too, which is just as fantastic as her first two books. Next up is Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking. 

What’s the last great book you read?
God, I’ve read so many amazing books lately. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson was spine-crawling goodness. Totally different from the recent Netflix series. And The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath—I’d never read it before, and she grabbed me quick and won’t let go. I also devoured the first two books in Tomi Adeyemi’s magical YA series, Children of Blood and Bone and Children of Virtue and Vengeance, which were captivating.

It’s time to play mini-golf at Smuggler’s Cove with a few of your favorite literary heroines. Which three help round out your putt-tastic foursome?
Lucy Maud Montgomery is there. She chooses a green golf ball for Anne Shirley’s Green Gables. Then there’s Emily Brontë, whose golf ball is bluer than Heathcliff was when Catherine died. And I drag Rainbow Rowell along since we’re best friends even though she doesn’t know it. Her golf ball is flaming red like Eleanor Douglas’ hair. Naturally. 

My golf ball’s pink. I lose track of the score and pitch the pencil in the pond. We laugh till our cheeks ache and then go out for coffee and share lemon cake four ways.

Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, or Virginia Woolf?
Jane Austen. All the time, every time. 

Austin McKinley

Swiss Army Knife of Artistic Possibilities

What are you reading now?
Kama Sutra. Seriously, it’s not a book about sex positions. I had no idea what a rich touchstone it is, and that familiarity with it was on par with the Bible, Shakespeare, or Greek philosophy in terms of cultural literacy. To be sure, there’s plenty of it that’s dated and patriarchal, but for a writer, it’s still an invaluable trove for understanding life and relationships. Additionally, the translation I have comes with multiple commentators, each contradicting the other while attempting to elaborate, so it’s an interesting exercise in critical reading and character perspectives. 

Also have been enjoying Murray Leinster, my current golden age sci-fi deep dive.

What’s the comic to get people who don’t love comics to finally come around?
Jeff Smith’s Bone, hands down. If a person can’t appreciate the significance of that work, they’re a lost cause. It’s funny, it’s epic, it’s full of heart and imagination, looks great in Black and White or color. Much as I’d love to see it as animation, I don’t even know if that will be better. It’s a perfect comic book.

So, you’re inviting four characters from books (real or imagined, living or dead) to join you for some Sunday-night drumming on Siesta Key Beach. Who do you hand drumsticks to?
Medic Tau from Andre Norton’s Solar Queen series, Menolly from Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern, Tenth Engineer Harrison from Eric Frank Russell’s The Great Explosion, and Chani from Frank Hebert’s Dune. 

I don’t know what that would sound like, but it would be weird and original and probably arrhythmic. 

Hardcovers, softcovers, or e-readers?
Here’s the paradox: on the one hand, all that matters is what’s inside. But unless you spend some time looking at the outside, you tend to forget what’s inside. So, I like hardbacks for their beauty, paperbacks for their affordability, print of any kind for comics until resolution and screen size are comparable, and e-readers for their capacity and searchability. 

Brad Nichols

Former Army Combat Medic

What are you reading now?
Presently, I’m reading the memoir Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots by Deborah Feldman. It’s the true story of a woman who escapes the confines of her oppressive religious community in New York by fleeing to Berlin. I binged the series on Netflix and just had to read it afterward.

What’s the biggest literary yum/yuck, where the book was as great as the movie was disappointing?The biggest yum/yuck for me has to be every attempt to put Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights onto the big screen. I feel like they always try to turn it into some kind of tragic love story and that’s not what that novel is. There’s stuff in there that makes Chuck Palahniuk look like Nicholas Sparks in comparison. Seriously, that book is dark.

You’re a man of the wider book world. Who are four non-US writers we should all have on our shelves?
Definitely anything by the Italian historian Enzo Traverso. His comprehensive research writing has made him one of the foremost authorities on the mechanisms and pitfalls of fascism, nationalism, and totalitarianism. Next, would be Yuval Noah Harari. Another historian, his books Sapiens, Homo Deus, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century details the vast expanse of human history, speculates on the far future of humanity, and postulates many viable strategies for dealing with the problems of modern society. I also recommend reading Voltaire’s Candide when you need a good laugh, as I’m pretty sure it’s the precursor to Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Finally, I’d recommend the works of Kobayashi Issa because there’s something extremely grounding about reading relatable haiku from the 16th century.

Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, or Percy Jackson?
I’ll probably lose some friends over this, but I’d choose Harry Potter every time. Percy Jackson just came too late for me. Plus, I have four kids. Have you ever tried to sell The Lord of the Rings to this generation of kids? I’d rather watch Wuthering Heights.

Julieanna Blackwell

Flash Fiction Editor of 805 Lit + Art journal

What are you reading now?
I’m a huge fan of literary journals. During the shutdown, I’ve parked myself in front of my laptop (I also have a Twitter account where I only follow journals), looking for links to cool short stories and flash fiction. My favorite online journals are Wigleaf, Electric Literature-Recommended Reading, SmokeLong Quarterly, New Flash Fiction Review, Little Fiction-Big Truths.

Gosh, there are too many good ones to list.

What’s next on your To-Read list?
I have a long list. I’m a big reader of short story collections, and I’m on the final pages of Sing to It by Amy Hempel. Florida by Lauren Groff is next on the list. As far as a novel, I’ve been paging through Henry Himself by Stewart O’Nan. Yet, I’m excited to finally get my hands on a copy of Essays One from Lydia Davis.

Let’s dream big. Which four writers—living or dead—would you most want to submit a fresh, previously unpublished story to 805?
It has taken me days to narrow the list—Carmen Maria Machado (dream), George Saunders (big dream), Alice Munro (okay, I’m screaming). But the writer I would love to jet back to the living would be Jean Shepherd (The Christmas Story). I want to read more of his beautiful voice of nostalgia. Anything about Schwartz would be fine. Of course, after sending Mr. Shepherd the acceptance letter for publication to 805, I’d give him a call just to chat. I have questions. Perhaps he’d suggest meeting for a cup of coffee, maybe Starbucks. 

A girl can dream. 

Biographies, how-tos, or historical fiction?
Certainly, How-Tos. But do Lydia Davis’ essays on writing count? It’s no secret—I read a lot of books and essays on writing and short fiction. I also love reading the how-to vignettes currently popular in flash fiction. However, as of late, my quarantine buddies are big on mixology. How to make the best daiquiri with wilted strawberries. How to make a chocolate martini without chocolate liqueur. How to infuse a simple syrup to make it more complex. All good questions when stuck at home! I also love reading old cookbooks, which are filled with sweet anecdotes and stories.