Reading Roundup: January - March 2026 On Mark Z. Danielewski, Morris Collins, Avner Landes, Lauren Groff, Camille Bordas, and Brock Clarke

On Mark Z. Danielewski, @morriscollins.bsky.social, @avnerlandes.bsky.social, @legroff.bsky.social, Camille Bordas, and Brock Clarke.
open.substack.com/pub/calebmsa...

I'm regularly trampled by the suddenness of Lauren's writing. All seems calm, then you quickly realize how wrong you are.

Really gratifying to be read so well, by such a good writer, in such great company. I esp. appreciate the mention of the book's prose--it's what I care most about...and what seems to get mentioned least in reviews. Thank you, Caleb!

Reading Roundup: January - March 2026 On Mark Z. Danielewski, Morris Collins, Avner Landes, Lauren Groff, Camille Bordas, and Brock Clarke

On Mark Z. Danielewski, @morriscollins.bsky.social, @avnerlandes.bsky.social, @legroff.bsky.social, Camille Bordas, and Brock Clarke.
open.substack.com/pub/calebmsa...

Been thinking about the UCONN shot for 12 hours straight. Madness rules.

Three months in, 2026 has been a great reading year. All published in the last 12 months too. Makes the next book feel all the more precious. Can I keep the streak of zero duds alive?

Reading a book by a former MFA instructor (and this is the 4th book of theirs I've read), and they are never bad... but they're also never great. And I'm just left feeling a little perplexed with how they keep getting away with it.

Iowa knocked out them devils Clemson and Florida. Give them the key to Tallahassee!

Paul Thomas Anderson: The Definitive, Subjective Ranking Given it's the year of One Battle After Another, I watched/rewatched and ranked all of PTA's films.

I ranked all of Paul Thomas Anderson's films because what else is Substack good for.
open.substack.com/pub/calebmsa...

Just put my wife down for a nap. Anniversary was a success.

A few announcements to come to Bridge Eight Press.

Now reading One Sun Only by Camille Bordas #BookSky

Lauren Groff, man ...

Now reading the new one from @legroff.bsky.social

Finished The Delegation by @avnerlandes.bsky.social last night.

This lopsided triptych of a novel is a great time. It's brilliantly constructed, refreshingly funny, and emotionally resonant all at once.

AND... Avner writes a wonderful sentence. To accomplish all in one book is a rare feat.

100 Words Per Mile: An Old Sense of Accomplishment, A New Sense of Fear With only a couple weeks to go in my wife's pregnancy, I raced again, but I also started to feel something new.

With only a couple of weeks to go in my wife's pregnancy, I raced again.
open.substack.com/pub/100words...

Now reading this one from @avnerlandes.bsky.social

##booksky

Tanking Is a Marathon. Is the Pain Worth it? The Orioles are racing. The Wizards are still training. Will either cross the finish line?

The Wizards are on the verge of something new—hope.

The Orioles have moved beyond hope. They now carry the burden of expectation.

open.substack.com/pub/calebmsa...

Tanking Is a Marathon. Is the Pain Worth it? The Orioles are racing. The Wizards are still training. Will either cross the finish line?

I wrote about tanking, and living through it as both an #Orioles fan and a #Wizards fan.
open.substack.com/pub/calebmsa...

Now reading this one from @morriscollins.bsky.social

Actually what I said to my beefy five layer before dripping some of it onto the pages of Tom's Crossing

It's Time for a Full Washington Wizards Rebrand When the Wizards retire John Wall's jersey, they should say goodbye to the entire brand, too.

Next season will be the start of a new era in Washington basketball. I wrote why it's time to rebrand from the ground up. #ForTheDistrict

open.substack.com/pub/calebmsa...

No spoilers from me! I started at the beginning of the year and have been going about 25 pages a day (though today I read closer to 60).

It's nice to sit with a book, but I am ready to get to the rest of my to-read list

100% is Tom's Crossing.

I've reached the 1000-page mark of the 1200-page book I'm reading, but I'm taking a break to say ...

I'd absolutely still take Darryn Peterson #1 in the draft.

100 Words Per Mile: September 16, 2021

I've surprised myself and have managed to stay on top of this project of mine.
open.substack.com/pub/100words...

On Grantland, The Ringer, and the Decade That's Passed Me By Ten years after The Ringer's launch, I'm no closer to accomplishing my dream of writing for them. So now what?

It's almost March, which means the @ringer
is almost ten years old, so I wrote about what that means to me as a Grantland and @BillSimmons disciple. open.substack.com/pub/calebmsa...

Unrivaled's 1-v-1 tournament is one of the best inventions in sports. Quick games, single elimination, and the players put on a show.

On Grantland, The Ringer, and the Decade That's Passed Me By Ten years after The Ringer's launch, I'm no closer to accomplishing my dream of writing for them. So now what?

Next month, The Ringer turns 10 and so does my marriage. I wrote about Grantland, following Bill Simmons, and reclaiming my propensity to dream.

open.substack.com/pub/calebmsa...

Pitchers and catchers report this week, which is as good a time as any to share this little baseball piece I had published at Hobart.

This would eventually become a novel I'm still trying to find a home for.

But in the meantime, enjoy this preview.

www.hobartpulp.com/web_features...