David Southard

Aug 1, 2024 | booksofsomesubstance.com | David Southard |William Faulkner |Helen DeWitt |Knut Hamsun

What are you reading currently and why? Maria Stepanova’s In Memory of Memory (trans. Sasha Dugdale). I love to read books that sort of dare me to go against my natural instincts. In this case, very somber and serious writing which takes its time. My novels all have this sort of manic, ecstatic pace, which is something I sort of aim for (and which also comes very naturally). But I’m interested lately in slowing down the prose. Same thing with Sebald, whom I love.

Jun 19, 2024 | booksofsomesubstance.com | David Southard

What are you reading currently and why? Jean-Luc Nancy, The Possibility of a World: Conversations with Pierre-Philippe Jandin, in the translation of Travis Holloway and Flor Méchain, which I am reading because I am beginning to feel Nancy’s absence. I miss the possibility of new thought that his being in the world ensured. Thankfully, I am far from reading all of his books, so his words will most likely be with me for a long time.

Apr 8, 2024 | booksofsomesubstance.com | David Southard

What are you reading currently and why? The Time of Miracles by Borislav Pekić because I love Pekić's books. What book(s) most altered your taste in literature? I would say Cèline's Journey to the End of the Night and Hamsun's Hunger. Later on, Ričardas Gavelis's Vilnius Poker. Describe the last time a work of literature affected you physically. Most works I translate nauseate me, so I face continuing agony and never-ending displeasure from my contact with some books.

Dec 6, 2023 | booksofsomesubstance.com | David Southard

What are you reading currently and why? One of the salient byproducts of having (admittedly undiagnosed) ADHD, is a width of attentional focus that — to borrow a munitions metaphor — more closely resembles birdshot than a hollow point shell. As you can imagine, I’m ping-ponging between a few books at the moment, all of which are working on my consciousness in unique and meaningful ways.

Dec 6, 2023 | shorturl.at | David Southard

What are you reading currently and why? One of the salient byproducts of having (admittedly undiagnosed) ADHD, is a width of attentional focus that — to borrow a munitions metaphor — more closely resembles birdshot than a hollow point shell. As you can imagine, I’m ping-ponging between a few books at the moment, all of which are working on my consciousness in unique and meaningful ways.