Editor's Note
As many of you know, DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) recently targeted the National Endowment for the Humanities, and their drastic cuts to the agency include rescinding existing grants to all the state humanities councils, including Humanities Tennessee. This funding is essential to Humanities Tennessee’s many programs, including the Southern Festival of Books, the Young Writers’ Workshops, and Chapter 16. We’re asking everyone who values the work of Humanities Tennessee to speak up for the organization and its mission. Last Thursday’s action alert includes steps you can take to help get the funding restored, and we hope you’ll find a moment to do one or more of them. If you need help figuring out what to say when you call your legislators or share your support online, please read Margaret Renkl’s terrific column in today’s New York Times. She powerfully conveys just what this funding means to communities in Tennessee and all over the U.S.
Today at Chapter 16, Sean Kinch reviews Jennifer Haigh’s Rabbit Moon, which he describes as a novel that “ponders the big questions but doesn’t settle for the faux comfort of easy answers.” Last week, Linda Parsons reviewed Aristotle’s Wife, a collection of short plays by Claudia Barnett, and Edd Hurt reviewed Charlie Peacock’s memoir, Roots and Rhythm: A Life in Music. We also revisited Aram Goudsouzian’s interview with Keith B. Wood about his book The Memphis Red Sox, which the author will discuss this Saturday at the Tennessee State Museum, as well as Sarah Norris’ review of Kelsey Norris’ 2023 debut story collection, House Gone Quiet.
News Roundup
- Tiana Clark was interviewed for The Stacks podcast.
- Steve Stern’s A Fool’s Kabbalah was featured in The New York Times‘ roundup of new historical fiction.
- Alan Gratz has two new novels for young readers coming this fall.
- Rosecrans Baldwin dropped some facts on sperm in GQ.
