Haruki Murakami on the Boston Marathon, Granta Shutters its New York City Office, and More

by
Evan Smith Rakoff
5.3.13

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:

Following Granta editor John Freeman's departure, three more staff members are leaving the venerable publication, and London-based Granta will close its New York City office. (GalleyCat)

Haruki Murakami writes of the importance of the Boston Marathon. (New Yorker)

Concluding her tenure as United States Poet Laureate, Natasha Trethewey delivered "a deeply personal defense of poetry." (Washington Post)

The Millions has more on the childhood home of George Orwell, which is to be turned into a memorial to Gandhi.

David Sedaris spoke to Terry Gross on WHYY's Fresh Air about his new book Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls, and on the compulsion to keep a daily diary. (NPR)

Meanwhile, at the Guardian Books podcast, Mark Haddon discusses The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time—his 2003 genre-defying bestseller.

If you're near New York City this evening, Jason Diamond strongly suggests you see Fran Lebowitz speak with A. M. Homes at PEN World Voices. (Flavorwire)

Brooklyn's legendary BookCourt Bookstore has launched a fundraising effort to expand northward. It plans to purchase Bibliobarn in the Catskills and convert it into a bookshop, event space, and retreat for writers.