7 Contemporary Gothic Novels by African American Authors
A recent Electric Literature roundup spotlights seven contemporary gothic novels by African American authors, ranging from Tananarive Due’s “The Reformatory” to Victor LaValle’s “The Ballad of Black Tom.” The list highlights how these works fuse classic gothic motifs—haunted houses, cursed lineages, and oppressive institutions—with Black historical trauma, urban decay, and racial injustice. Several titles, such as “Grievers” and “When the Reckoning Comes,” also explore pandemic‑like crises and the commodification of plantation sites, reflecting current social anxieties. The article notes the genre’s growing popularity, citing box‑office success of Black Southern‑gothic film “Sinners” and rising readership.
Finding Words for the Worst Kind of Misbehavior
Norwegian author Vigdis Hjorth’s 2023 novel Repetition returns to the painful terrain first explored in her scandal‑fuelled 2016 book Will and Testament. While the new work is framed as fiction, Hjorth openly acknowledges its autobiographical roots, focusing on a teenage...
Exclusive Cover Reveal of “Nanny Nanny” By K Chiucarello
Electric Literature unveiled the cover of K Chiucarello’s debut novel Nanny Nanny, slated for publication by Ecco on November 17, 2026. The story follows a veteran nanny confronting trauma and baby fever, exploring gendered violence, queer motherhood, and the politics of domestic labor. The cover,...
9 Unique Works of Fiction That Pair Text With Photographs
Electric Literature highlights nine recent works that fuse photographs with prose, showcasing a growing literary subgenre where images and text intertwine. The list includes Michael Ondaatje’s *The Collected Works of Billy the Kid*, Justin Torres’s National Book Award‑winning *Blackouts*, and...
Help Us Write Electric Literature’s Next Chapter
Incoming Executive Director and Publisher Denne Michele Norris announced a $35,000 fundraising drive to sustain Electric Literature’s next phase. The nonprofit highlights its 17‑year legacy, including publishing its first book and securing competitive grants. Norris pledges to double down on...
9 Books About Retaking and Rebuilding Our Commonwealth
The article curates nine books that explore how to retake and rebuild America’s commonwealth through social housing, mutual aid, solidarity, and cooperative economics. It highlights the Mitchell‑Lama housing model, environmental justice, and the rise of worker‑owned platforms as alternatives to...
7 Darkly Surreal Irish Books to Read This St. Patrick’s Day
The article curates seven Irish titles that fuse dark humor with surreal imagination, ranging from Kevin Barry’s novel Beatlebone to Conor O’Callaghan’s poetry collection We Are Not in the World. Each work confronts historic and contemporary Irish traumas—such as the...
Violation Is the Connective Tissue in This Family Portrait
Karan Mahajan’s latest novel, *The Complex*, opens with a sexual assault that binds the Chopra family’s multigenerational saga. The story follows Gita, an immigrant wife, as she navigates trauma, infertility, and the pull between the United States and Delhi, while...
Author AI Scams Bingo
A humorous “Author AI Scams Bingo” highlights the surge of AI‑generated spam targeting writers. The piece showcases a bingo card filled with typical scam language such as “I recently came across your book” and promises of wider audiences. It illustrates...
Exclusive Cover Reveal of “Staying Still” By Hieu Minh Nguyen
Electric Literature unveiled the cover of Hieu Minh Nguyen’s forthcoming poetry collection Staying Still, slated for publication on September 1, 2026 by Tin House/Zando. The book follows Nguyen’s award‑winning debut Not Here and delves into anxieties of belonging, queer boyhood, and the refugee...
You Can’t Uncast a Spell
Jon M. Chu’s sequel "Wicked: For Good" retools the original Wicked narrative, replacing its bleak commentary on fascism with an optimistic, almost whimsical resolution. The film expands CGI‑driven Animal characters and adds new songs, yet it downplays the irreversible damage...
7 Poetry Books That Expand What an Elegy Can Look Like
The article surveys seven contemporary poetry collections that reimagine the elegy, showing how poets blend memoir, lyric, and experimental forms to confront personal and collective loss. It highlights works by Agha Shahid Ali, Victoria Chang, Mary Jo Bang, Diana Khoi...
Drafting the Story Until It Proves You Wrong
Bret Anthony Johnston, director of UT Austin’s Michener Center, releases his first short‑story collection in two decades, Encounters With Unexpected Animals. The book revisits his Corpus Christi roots and showcases gritty, cinematic tales that emerged from years of intensive drafting—often 20‑25 revisions...