Concavity Show

In Adam's second appearance on the show, we discuss his brand new novel, Mount Chicago, which follows a handful of characters living in the shadow of a "terrestrial anomaly" that befalls Chicago's downtown. Both hilarious and tragic, the book shows off Levin's great versatility as a storyteller, metafictionist, humorist, and, maybe to some extent, autobiographer. We also talk about birds (again). ...

In Episode 67, we welcome Christian TeBordo back to the show to discuss his new novel, The Apology, as well as get a rundown of the recent David Foster Wallace conference in Austin, with overall reflections from Matt.  Christian on Twitter - https://twitter.com/xtebordo Buy The Apology here - https://www.astrophilpress.com/the-apology   Contact Dave & Matt:  Email -  concavityshow@gmail.com Twitte...

In Episode 66, we welcome Dario Diofebi, the mind behind one of our favorite books of 2021, Paradise, Nevada, from Bloomsbury Publishing.  You can buy the book here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/ca/paradise-nevada-9781635576207/ Stay tuned for the bonus episode, dropping about two weeks from this launch. Check out our Patreon for access details: https://www.patreon.com/concavityshow   Contact Matt a...

In Episode 65, we bear witness to the glorious return of Kyle Beachy to the show, to discuss his new book on skateboarding (and marriage, architecture, literature, etc.), The Most Fun Thing: Dispatches from a Skateboard Life, out now from Grand Central Publishing! You can buy the book from your friendly local book store, or online, here: https://bookshop.org/books/the-most-fun-thing-dispatches-fro...

In Episode 64, we recount our year in reading, noting our highlights along the way. Stay tuned for Film, TV, and Music in the Patreon bonus episode! Apple Music Year End Playlist - https://music.apple.com/ca/playlist/concavity-show-best-of-2021/pl.u-r2yBJmEIPj5rYl Spotify Year End Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/39OGzFZKMCQGSoZIQGudL6?si=366545dd4e93492d   Show Notes: Robyn O'Neil Car...

In Episode 63, Matt and Dave talk to Deb Olin Unferth—author of the fantastic novels Barn 8 and Vacation, short story collections Wait Till You See Me Dance and Minor Robberies, and the memoir Revolution—about her writing, research, and creative writing teaching.    Contact Deb about Pen-City - pencitywriters@gmail.com Deb's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/debolinunferth Deb's Shipman Agency...

In Episode 62, Dave and Matt talk to the author and illustrator of the cryptic meganovel sensation, America and the Cult of the Cactus Boots: A Diagnostic, out now from Corona/Samizdat Press. Audio recording featuring thunder!   Show Notes: Buy the book: 20€ + Shipping, Send email to (rick.harsch@gmail.com), pay through PayPal (same email address) Leaf by Leaf video review by Chris Via: https://ww...

In Episode 61, we welcome the highly celebrated, multi award-winning American writer Steve Erickson, author of Shadowbahn, Tours of the Black Clock, These Dreams of You, and a host of other novels and non-fiction. To help celebrate the release of Conversations with Steve Erickson, out now from University of Mississippi Press, we're joined by the book's editors, familiar faces on the show, Matt Lut...

In Episode 60, Dave and Matt are joined by National Book Award Finalist, Brandon Hobson, to discuss his brand new novel, The Removed, as well as his other tremendous fiction.  Notable links:  Order The Removed - https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-removed-brandon-hobson?variant=32126575837218 Healer of the Water Monster by Brian Young (Heartdrum imprint) - htthttps://www.harpercollins.com/p...

In Episode 59, Dave and Matt make a special announcement about the podcast, and outline a host of exciting changes!    There is also a Jessica Anthony Enter the Aardvark giveaway contest, so hang in til the end. You have until the end of July 15th to email us your entry!    Check out our Patreon page with a fresh $5 per month tier, offering an exciting new reward: https://www.patreon.com/concavity...

In Episode 58, Dave and Matt are joined by YouTube creator Chris Via of the Leaf by Leaf book review/discussion channel. A special surprise guest also makes an appearance that was about impossible to seamlessly edit out!  We discuss Chris' excellent book channel's origins, primary preoccupations, Chris' recent re-read of Infinite Jest, the joy of reading, and a host of other great books and author...

In the third and final installment of our 2020 Year in Review episode, Dr. Grace Chipperfield joins us to talk about her Ph. D. thesis on Wallace, and the music and board/video games that stood out this year.    Show Notes: TGC's Best of 2020 Music Playlist:  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/54cVYaPoAuOOCRFygJjYH9?si=_JT7ZtK6Su63rd_2DOMYoQ Apple - https://music.apple.com/ca/playlist/bes...

In Part 2 of our 2020 Year in Review, we talk to old friend of the show, Chris Ayers, our resident film and TV specialist, about the year in screen-based entertainment.    Part 3 with Grace Chipperfield coming soon!    Find Chris' amazing Wallace-related and design work here:  Poor Yorick - https://pooryorickentertainment.tumblr.com/ Professional - http://www.chrisayerscreative.com/ Redbubble - ht...

Given our Year of Collective Quarantine, we had so much to talk about w/r/t our literary and pop-cultural consumption, that we have a three-parter for our 2020 recap. In Part 1 here, we talk to old friend and recurring guest of the show, Matt Luter, about his productive year in reading, and ours. We hope you find a slew of new books to add to your stack. Part 2 coming in January. Happy New Year to...

In Episode 56, we have the great pleasure of talking to Jessica Anthony about her exceptional new book, Enter the Aardvark, as well as our classic favorite, The Convalescent, which you've no doubt heard us mention over the years. Jess unpacks for us her views on the imaginate power of fiction, 19th century British taxidermy, and some of the most expensive luxury goods on the planet.    Show Notes:...

In Episode 55, we're joined by writer Christian TeBordo, author of the recent short story collection Ghost Engine, and novel Toughlahoma. He's the director of the creative writing program at Roosevelt University in Chicago, and a colleague and friend of recent guests Adam Levin and Kyle Beachy.    You can buy his excellent books here:    Ghost Engine - bookshop.org/books/ghost-engine-stories/97817...

In Episode 54, we talk to Martina Testa, Editor at Edizioni SUR, and one of Wallace's Italian translators and interpreters. The conversation explores her background with discovering Wallace's writing, getting contracts to translate his work, the Italian fervour surrounding him, and her friendship with Wallace.    You can find Martina online in these places: Twitter:  https://twitter.com/martinates...

In Episode 53, we're joined by the writer Adam Levin, author of The Instructions, Hot Pink, and the incredible forthcoming novel Bubblegum, which releases April 14, 2020. In our conversation, we talk a good deal about the new novel, Adam's experience reading/thinking about Wallace, swearing, parrots, swearing & parrots, metafiction, and other fun topics. Show notes: Adam's website:  https://www.ad...

In Episode 52, we talk to Jon Baskin, author of the exciting new book Ordinary Unhappiness: The Therapeutic Fiction of David Foster Wallace. Topics of exploration in the conversation include Freud, Wittgenstein, and hating Ben Lerner (or not).    You can find out more details and buy Jon's book here, through Stanford University Press:  https://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=29316 Jon’s Twitter:  http...

In Episode 51, we bring on our resident film expert and Episode 38 guest Mike Miley to talk about our year in books, movies, music, TV, and games.  Show Notes:  Link to Jeff Tweedy & George Saunders interview:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWlKCB1JCG0 2019 Playlist (iTunes):  https://music.apple.com/ca/playlist/the-great-concavitys-best-of-2019/pl.u-yZyVVY3tYq2akv 2019 Playlist (Spotify):  http...

In Episode 50, we talk to Michael McGowan and Martin Brick, the editors of David Foster Wallace and Religion: Essays on Faith and Fiction, out now from Bloomsbury Academic:  https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/david-foster-wallace-and-religion-9781501345289/ Contact our guests:  Michael McGowan:  prof.mcgowan@gmail.com Martin Brick:  brickm@ohiodominican.edu   Contact Dave & Matt Twitter -  https://twit...

This is the second and final episode covering Wallace and DeLillo's correspondence, housed at the Ransom Center Archive in Austin, Texas.  Show notes:  1996 Leonard Lopate interview:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ4AeIRKbfw https://www.wnyc.org/story/56878-david-foster-wallace/ 1996 David Streitfeld piece:  https://craigfehrman.com/2010/05/05/details-1996-profile-of-david-foster-wallace/ Robyn...

After a very busy summer, Dave and Matt reconvene to discuss the Wallace/DeLillo correspondence housed at the Ransom Center in Austin, Texas. This will be the first instalment of a several-part episode, as there's a lot here to cover! Five Dials, David Foster Wallace Memorial -  https://fivedials.com/files/fivedials_no10.pdf   Contact Dave and Matt: Twitter -  https://twitter.com/ConcavityShow Ins...

In Episode 48, we're joined by Yonina Hoffman. Yonina is PhD student at the Ohio State University. Her work centers around, you guessed it, David Foster Wallace. In this discussion, we cover a range of topics around DFW's work and Yonina's dissertation. We discuss voice, narrative, voice, humor and other issues that track across Wallace's career. Yonina has also presented on Updike and New Sinceri...

In Episode 47, we're joined by Jim Gauer, author of the excellent Novel Explosives, a book you've no doubt heard us mention in recent conversations. Jim is a mathematician, published poet, and self-described as the world's only Marxist venture capitalist.  In this discussion, we cover a range of topics around Jim's book, it's relation to Wallace's sensibilities and Infinite Jest, the dangers of hy...