The Believer, Issue 112

The Believer’s mission is to introduce readers to the best and most interesting work in the world of art, culture, and thoughtwhether that means literature, painting, wrestling, philosophy, or cookingin an attractive vehicle that’s free from the bugbears of condescension, mustiness, and jargony obfuscation. Its content (including essays, interviews, comics, poetry, and reviews) offers fresh perspectives from editors Heidi Julavits, Vendela Vida, and Karolina Waclawiak. Each issue includes the popular columns Stuff I’ve Been Reading,” by Nick Hornby and What the Swedes Read” (a look at Nobel Prize-winners), by Daniel HandlerThe Summer Issue features new work by Nell Zink, Álvaro Enrigue, and Gary Greenberg; interviews with Robert Coover, Amber Tamblyn, and the New York Public Library’s Paul Holdengräber; and new poetry by Rae Armantrout. Also in these pages, and among many other delights, you’ll find a special section on the theme of wildlife, essays on the man after whom Jim Jones patterned himself and what it’s like to be named after a sibling who died before you were born, examinations of the work of the artists Ray Johnson and Jimmy Robert, and the editors’ short lists for the eleventh annual Believer Book Award and the fifth annual Believer Poetry Award.Table of Contents:Pockets of ResistanceCatherine FoulkrodHow to Send Things to GermanyNell ZinkThe Divine Inspiration of Jim JonesAdam MorrisAbstract Expressionism”: a new poemAndrew NurkinThe Confidence ManGary GreenbergShooting Possums from the Back Porch of Roger’s Bar”: a new poemMichael McGriffWhat’s in a Necronym?Jeannie VanascoA Common LanguageKristina ShevoryDescending NightElisabeth Donnelly(Untitled)Mary MannComics” edited by Alvin BuenaventuraEl Vocho: A Familiar SubjectÁlvaro EnrigueWhat the Swedes ReadDaniel HandlerThe Eleventh Annual Believer Book Award: Short ListRobert Coover interviewed by Aaron ShulmanCanary”: a new poemRae ArmantroutSchema: Top 100 US Drug Brand NamesShoshana AkabasThe Fifth Annual Believer Poetry Award: Short ListPaul Holdengräber interviewed by Lane KoivuJimmy Robert interviewed by Jude StewartSymposium: A discussion on (mostly) books as they relate to the theme of wildlife.Tim Sheedy on the orangutan, Donna Kozloskie on the rising floodwaters, Megan Pugh on a poetic doomsday prophecy, Monica Westin on vegetal being, and Bijan Stephen on spillover.Elizabeth LeCompte interviewed by Hillar LiitojaAmber Tamblyn interviewed by Rachel MatlowCharles Yu interviewed by Lev Grossman