Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sarah Viren @sarahviren.bsky.social · 5d

Such a fun and fascinating interview with Alex Niemi about her translation of a totally bonkers (and great!) new novel.

Lit Hub @literaryhub.bsky.social · 5d

“I found it hard to articulate the way a word could take up space in a body.” @sarahviren.bsky.social talks to Alex Niemi, translator of Laura Vazquez‘s The Endless Week.

Alex Niemi on the Process of Translation and the Rhythm of Language

I’ve known Alex Niemi since 2012, when we both started a graduate program in literary translation at the University of Iowa. We co-edited our program’s literary translation journal, Exchanges, and …

buff.ly

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Sarah Viren @sarahviren.bsky.social · 13d

Was looking for context on a remembered Benjamin quote and found this deliciously detailed substack about structure and inspiration instead. Kinda like finding your keys while looking for your misplaced socks.

Deep Dive: On (novel) problems & finding solutions
open.substack.com/pub/katemild...

Deep Dive: On (novel) problems & finding solutions

I’m deep in the problems and working-out phase of a new novel.

open.substack.com

Sarah Viren @sarahviren.bsky.social · 13d

Good in-flight choice before a writing residency….

Sarah Viren @sarahviren.bsky.social · 14d

Watching it with my 8 pm dinner here in Spain ;).

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Sarah Viren @sarahviren.bsky.social · 14d

At least Slow Horses is back.

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Reposted by Sarah Viren

Alina Stefanescu @alinaetc.bsky.social · 15d

Returning to DBQ.

www.alinastefanescuwriter.com/blog/2022/8/...

Dan Beachy-Quick whets the writing appetite. — alina Ştefănescu

The itch to write attacks me whenever I read Dan Beachy-Quick. Today, I came across an essay where he says that becoming a poet means accepting the debt of others as one’s own, and working to repay it...

www.alinastefanescuwriter.com

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Reposted by Sarah Viren

Benjamin Percy @benjaminpercy.bsky.social · 15d

Nerds of Los Angeles: This weekend, I'm headed your way -- along with a killer lineup of artists and writers -- for LA Comic Con. Come hang out. www.comicconla.com/artists-and-...

#lacomiccon2025 #lacomiccon

Benjamin Percy — L.A. Comic Con

FRI • SAT • SUN

www.comicconla.com

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Reposted by Sarah Viren

Dr Anna Hájková @ankahajkova.bsky.social · Jul 25

Three more months until People without History are Dust: Queer Desire in the Holocaust comes out @uoftpress.bsky.social and translated @williamrossjones.bsky.social
you can preorder below.
utppublishing.com/doi/book/10....

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Sarah Viren @sarahviren.bsky.social · Sep 5

It really is! One prof is even teaching an entire first year seminar with texts that are in conversation with my book. I feel pretty darn honored.

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Sarah Viren @sarahviren.bsky.social · Sep 5

TO NAME THE BIGGER LIE is the Common Read at Stockton University! Looking forward to giving the convocation lecture later this month.

stockton.edu/general-stud...

First-Year Seminar - William T. Daly School of General Studies | Stockton University

stockton.edu

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Reposted by Sarah Viren

David Naimon @davidnaimon.bsky.social · Aug 22

Well, at least they are redirecting literary grant money to "foster AI competency" (clearly lacking in this AI generated 2nd paragraph), support for the military (as all true literature should do), and disaster recovery (books as sandbags?)

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Reposted by Sarah Viren

Terri Langford @tlangford.bsky.social · Jul 7

Texas lawmakers failed to pass a bill to improve local flood warning systems this year www.texastribune.org/2025/07/06/t... via @texastribune.org

Texas lawmakers failed to pass a bill to improve local flood warning systems this year

A GOP state lawmaker who represents Kerr County says he likely would vote differently now on House Bill 13, which would have established a grant program for counties to build new emergency communicati...

www.texastribune.org

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Sarah Viren @sarahviren.bsky.social · Jul 3

And essay by my 83 year old uncle in which he writes about driving a car into Arthur Miller’ house, among other feats.

olliconnects.org/dear-nabokov/

Dear Mr. Nabokov | OLLI Connects

olliconnects.org

Sarah Viren @sarahviren.bsky.social · Jul 2

"And after all," he writes, "your pigs are far more intelligent than the other animals, therefore the best qualified to run the farm."

Sarah Viren @sarahviren.bsky.social · Jul 2

The most chilling part of T.S. Eliot's rejection of Orwell's Animal Farm come near the end, after he's said the allegory "is not the right point of view from which to criticize the political situation," but that if some other publisher "believes in what it stands for," good for them...

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Sarah Viren @sarahviren.bsky.social · Jun 28

Toni Morrison: "I do know that I don’t like it here if I don’t have something to write."

Interviewer: "Here, meaning where?"

Morrison: "Meaning out in the world."

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Reposted by Sarah Viren

Carrie Brown @brizzyc.bsky.social · Jun 9

"At the center of the chaos and fear swirling around the administration’s dismantling of the academy is the same question that animates Finkelstein’s case: Will the freedoms guaranteed to professors for generations survive?"

Sarah Viren @sarahviren.bsky.social · Jun 6

I have a new story up in the NYTimes Magazine. Thanks to @mauraf.bsky.social for talking to me so many times for this one, and to everyone else who talked to me on the record, especially students and faculty, despite the risk.

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/06/m...

A Professor Was Fired for Her Politics. Is That the Future of Academia?

www.nytimes.com

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Sarah Viren @sarahviren.bsky.social · Jun 8

Thanks!

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Reposted by Sarah Viren

Dr Anna Hájková @ankahajkova.bsky.social · May 13

Cover reveal for People without History are Dust: Queer Desire in the Holocaust, forthcoming in four months with @uoftpress.bsky.social
Beautiful design by Filip Kraus; the faces correspond with six of the chapters told in the book.

Cover design for "People without History Are Dust: Queer Desire in the Holocaust" in a rich burgundy color, with six faces on the cover, each corresponding with a chapter.

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Reposted by Sarah Viren

Matt Bell @mdbell79.bsky.social · Jun 6

My friend and colleague @sarahviren.bsky.social is one of my favorite journalists, and every story she's done for the NYT Magazine is a masterclass in investigation, research, and insight. Her latest is no different. Give it a read!

Sarah Viren @sarahviren.bsky.social · Jun 6

I have a new story up in the NYTimes Magazine. Thanks to @mauraf.bsky.social for talking to me so many times for this one, and to everyone else who talked to me on the record, especially students and faculty, despite the risk.

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/06/m...

A Professor Was Fired for Her Politics. Is That the Future of Academia?

www.nytimes.com

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Sarah Viren @sarahviren.bsky.social · Jun 6

Gift link here: www.nytimes.com/2025/06/06/m...

A Professor Was Fired for Her Politics. Is That the Future of Academia?

www.nytimes.com

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Sarah Viren @sarahviren.bsky.social · Jun 6

I have a new story up in the NYTimes Magazine. Thanks to @mauraf.bsky.social for talking to me so many times for this one, and to everyone else who talked to me on the record, especially students and faculty, despite the risk.

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/06/m...

A Professor Was Fired for Her Politics. Is That the Future of Academia?

www.nytimes.com