Matthew Specktor
@specktor.bsky.social
Novelist, memoirist, co-founder of The Los Angeles Review of Books
I mean, she’s as brutal as James at his toughest—which is to say, maximally. The Death of the Heart is great too!
January 29, 2026 at 11:25 PM
I mean, she’s as brutal as James at his toughest—which is to say, maximally. The Death of the Heart is great too!
That Bowen is a masterpiece. By no means her only one, but my favorite.
The last great book I read would be Elsa Morante’s La Storia (“History” in the US translation, and I would assume UK ones too.) Absolutely pulverizing WWII story, and not exactly cheerful, but really lovely
The last great book I read would be Elsa Morante’s La Storia (“History” in the US translation, and I would assume UK ones too.) Absolutely pulverizing WWII story, and not exactly cheerful, but really lovely
January 29, 2026 at 11:00 PM
That Bowen is a masterpiece. By no means her only one, but my favorite.
The last great book I read would be Elsa Morante’s La Storia (“History” in the US translation, and I would assume UK ones too.) Absolutely pulverizing WWII story, and not exactly cheerful, but really lovely
The last great book I read would be Elsa Morante’s La Storia (“History” in the US translation, and I would assume UK ones too.) Absolutely pulverizing WWII story, and not exactly cheerful, but really lovely
I’m sure ol’ Chuck’s huddling with his consultants, trying to sort out how to connect their deaths to the affordability issues that are the ones Americans *really* care about, right?
January 25, 2026 at 11:00 PM
I’m sure ol’ Chuck’s huddling with his consultants, trying to sort out how to connect their deaths to the affordability issues that are the ones Americans *really* care about, right?
What the fuck, man? Jesus
January 22, 2026 at 8:02 AM
What the fuck, man? Jesus
Counterpoint: I’m neither a prospect genius (self-appointed or otherwise) nor a Mets fan and I appreciate your excellent work on this site very much. (OK, not really a “counterpoint,” but you know what I mean. 🫡)
January 22, 2026 at 3:50 AM
Counterpoint: I’m neither a prospect genius (self-appointed or otherwise) nor a Mets fan and I appreciate your excellent work on this site very much. (OK, not really a “counterpoint,” but you know what I mean. 🫡)
This is fucking enraging, Summer. I’m so sorry! (And 💛 w/r/t the health stuff, too. Sending you all best thoughts there)
January 20, 2026 at 11:56 AM
This is fucking enraging, Summer. I’m so sorry! (And 💛 w/r/t the health stuff, too. Sending you all best thoughts there)
Alright, then. I’m in. Will delve as soon as I’m back in the States
January 19, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Alright, then. I’m in. Will delve as soon as I’m back in the States
I actually remember that! (Albeit it’s not the sort of thing one could possibly forget.) It’s ALL I remember, but there it is
January 19, 2026 at 4:33 AM
I actually remember that! (Albeit it’s not the sort of thing one could possibly forget.) It’s ALL I remember, but there it is
I believe you. Just Jay’s descriptor made me laugh
January 19, 2026 at 4:32 AM
I believe you. Just Jay’s descriptor made me laugh
Lmao. This is how I’d describe, say, Megalopolis. Yikes
January 19, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Lmao. This is how I’d describe, say, Megalopolis. Yikes
Should’ve prefaced this with “I’m not good at posting. My story really isn’t great.” Incredible
January 19, 2026 at 1:13 AM
Should’ve prefaced this with “I’m not good at posting. My story really isn’t great.” Incredible
The one acceptable AI use case might be a Muncification of that image (or, hell, why not: the whole film)
January 18, 2026 at 5:04 AM
The one acceptable AI use case might be a Muncification of that image (or, hell, why not: the whole film)
Holy Motors is up there for me
January 18, 2026 at 1:58 AM
Holy Motors is up there for me
I mean, I’ll take it from Allison and Jim, but if you chime in to make it a trifecta I might shoot this straight to the top of the watchlist
January 18, 2026 at 1:49 AM
I mean, I’ll take it from Allison and Jim, but if you chime in to make it a trifecta I might shoot this straight to the top of the watchlist
PETE: Don. Hear me out. You eat pussy. But you serve cunt.
DON: Peggy! Get in here!
DON: Peggy! Get in here!
January 17, 2026 at 1:00 AM
PETE: Don. Hear me out. You eat pussy. But you serve cunt.
DON: Peggy! Get in here!
DON: Peggy! Get in here!
Only thing that’s stopped me is having seen bits of it on the Z Channel 40 years ago and not really digging it, but maybe this isn’t a good reason. Sean?
January 16, 2026 at 10:55 PM
Only thing that’s stopped me is having seen bits of it on the Z Channel 40 years ago and not really digging it, but maybe this isn’t a good reason. Sean?
The real bet here is: will Keeks pitch in more blowout victories or losses?
January 16, 2026 at 7:29 AM
The real bet here is: will Keeks pitch in more blowout victories or losses?
How many of them is Keekay gonna pitch in?
January 16, 2026 at 6:43 AM
How many of them is Keekay gonna pitch in?
This is an insult to voids everywhere
January 16, 2026 at 4:21 AM
This is an insult to voids everywhere