The Poetry of Fatherhood, Reading and Attraction, and More

by
Staff
6.17.16

Every day Poets & Writers Magazine scans the headlines—from publishing reports to academic announcements to literary dispatches—for all the news that creative writers need to know. Here are today's stories:

Happy (almost) Father’s Day! At the Boston Review, poet and critic Stephen Burt examines how contemporary poets approach and represent fatherhood in their work. Burt takes a closer look at recent books by Chris Martin, Maggie Nelson, Terrance Hayes, and more.

James Patterson’s new book series, BookShots, which is designed to attract readers and nonreaders alike with short, action-packed novels, is doing well after its first week in business. The first two titles of the series, Cross Kill and Zoo 2, have already sold a combined thirty thousand copies. To learn more about BookShots and Patterson’s literary endeavors, read Jonathan Vatner’s latest article for Poets & Writers Magazine, “James Patterson’s Innovative Instinct.” (Publishers Weekly)

Poet and beloved teacher Bill Berkson has died at age-seventy six. Berkson, who was associated with the New York School, published more than twenty collections of poetry, as well as numerous critical writings and art reviews for journals including Art News and ArtForum. (SFGate)

Flavorwire has launched a monthly review column for new poetry collections, with the first installment listing notable books from the first half of 2016. The “must-read” list includes titles by Bernadette Mayer, Robert Fernandez, and Eleanor Chai, among others.

Comedian Tig Notaro speaks with NPR’s Kelly McEvers about her memoir, I’m Just a Person, which recounts the year she discovered she had cancer and her mother died. Notaro’s memoir is included in Page One of the July/August issue of Poets & Writers Magazine.  

In a rare collision of the popular sports and poetry worlds, Goldin Auctions will sell a poem written by NBA legend Michael Jordan. The famed basketball player supposedly wrote the poem, “Only You,” to a girl when he was in grade school. (ESPN.com)

The modern dating environment is ever-changing, but single bookworms might take comfort in a recent survey conducted by the app MyBae, which proclaims that reading books makes you “more attractive” to potential partners. (Electric Literature)