What I've been reading this week

I stumbled across this thread on Twitter last night, which led me to a host of wonderful essays and stories. Here’s what I’ve been reading:

• "The Fourth State of Matter" by Jo Ann Beard. I’ll be thinking about this essay for a very long time.

• “Without Inspection” by Edwidge Danticat. This story too. It reminds me of “Bullet in the Brain” by Tobias Wolff.

• “Local Economies” by Brandon Taylor. Thanks to Sam for recommending this story. And the next one too.

• “Parisian Honeymoon” by Ross Feeler

• “Thanksgiving in Mongolia” by Ariel Levy

• “To Grieve Is to Carry Another Time” by Matthew Salesses

• “In the Cemetery Where Al Jolson is Buried” by Amy Hempel. A Classic. Always guts me.

• “The Love of my Life” by Cheryl Strayed