Hi folks. Here's what we've been up to at Necessary Fiction this week:

Brianna Thompson reviewed We Were Forbidden by Jacqueline Harpman, translated by Ros Schwartz for Transit Books. 

And this week's story, continuing our summer flash fiction series, was "Family Estate" by Ashley W. Cundiff. 

I asked what people are reading this summer, and contributor David Rose writes,

I'm now a third of the way through the 760 pages of Guillermo Stitch's The Coast of Everything (Sagging Meniscus) — a modern 1001 Nights, nested-narrative examination and celebration (and defence?) of fiction in the modern world. Great fun, too, with a ghostly Charles Dickens ghost-writing one of the narratives!

David also shared his "potted history of America" in Exacting Clam's latest online edition.

Thanks to David, and I'd be glad to hear from other readers about what books you have in hand this summer whether for research or a project or for fun. As for me, I've spent a fair amount of time on trains, planes, and busses lately and have enjoyed the good company of Judgment Day by Penelope Lively, and The Fortnight in September by RC Sherriff. And don't forget that Necessary Fiction's editor recently shared a list of reading suggestions.

Thanks for reading,

Steve Himmer