and has worked in film, fashion, publishing, and pornography. His first novel, The Serialist, won the VCU/Cabell First Novel Award and was a finalist for an Edgar Award. His work has also appeared in The Paris Review, Purple, and Fence among other publications.Gordon's new novel is Mystery Girl.
A couple of weeks ago I asked the author about what he was reading. Gordon's reply:
My reading lists tend to be very odd, since they are usually determined by my own work, eccentric interests or the enthusiasms of equally eccentric friends and only occasionally overlap with what is newly published or being talked about in the wider world. During the school year I am pretty much reading whatever I am teaching that week, plus Proust – sinceVisit David Gordon's blog.I lead a discussion group at The Proust Society here in New York. Right now it’s summer though so here’s what I’ve got going on:
PG Wodehouse: I’ve been obsessively devouring the Wooster and Jeeves novels. So funny and so perfectly made, like watching a great magician. He has the best blurbs I’ve ever seen, endless lists of writers paying homage to his “genius.”
Richard Stark (Donald Westlake)/ The Parker novels: my summer crime spree. I literally cannot stop once I start one of these, so I have to pace myself and measure out the dose.
Never Any End to Paris by Enrique Vila-Matas: A fascinating Spanish writer whose work is finally appearing more widely in English. This book is like a long ramble through Paris with a brilliant friend, talking about books.
Where Europe Ends by Yoko Tawada: Beautiful and disturbing stories recommended by a friend.
Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell: More beautiful and disturbing stories, written by a friend.
The Page 69 Test: The Serialist.
--Marshal Zeringue
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