Haruki Murakami discussed his new novel The City and Its Uncertain Walls with the South China Morning Post.
His stories are “by no means pessimistic”, he says. “Despite many bizarre things and a dark side, my stories are fundamentally positive. I think stories must be positive.”
Jenny Lewis discussed her new album with The Current.
eBooks on sale for $1.99 today:
Uneasy Money by P. G. Wodehouse
Wahala by Nikki May
eBooks on sale for $2.99 today:
A Carnival of Snackery by David Sedaris
The Complicities by Stacey D’Erasmo
In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O’Brien
Maurice by E. M. Forster
Terence Blanchard discussed his new boxing opera with Amplify.
Vulture recommended April’s best books.
Paste recommended music-inspired beers.
Eirinie Carson discussed her memoir The Dead Are Gods with Shondaland.
I didn’t know that I was writing a book when I first started — 75 percent of this book was written without a thought in my head about what it was going to be. And so, it didn’t feel like it was a thing that was going to be shared. A lot of it is like writing as if there was no audience. I still felt like this was for me, and these were things that I had to say.
Bandcamp Daily and Pitchfork recommended the week’s best new albums.
The New York Times profiled new comics publisher DSTLRY.
“The main drive here is to create a more sustainable and equitable future for creators,” said Chip Mosher, the other co-founder of DSTLRY and its chief creative officer. “That’s our macro goal — benefiting the creators, and in turn benefiting readers and retailers.”
Jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal has passed away.
Emily Kiernan shared a new story at Vol. 1 Brooklyn.
Stream a new song by MUNA.
The OTHERPPL podcast interviewed author J. Ryan Stradal.
Hayley Williams covered the Cranberries’ “Dreams.”
Aquarium Drunkard interviewed Brenda Sauter of the Feelies and Wild Carnation.