The Library of Lazy Thinking Podcast

• Megan Nolan on The Loves of My Life

  “A sex memoir.”“The gayest book ever written.”“Filthy.”Reading the blurbs about Edmund White’s most recent memoir, The Loves of My Life, you might think the book is going to be one thing…In reality, it’s quite another.A fascinating, tender, and ultimately universal account of life, love, and, well, yes… to top it all, there’s enough sex in there to make Hugh Hefner blush.To spare my own blushes, I’m thankful to be joined to discuss the book by a brilliant Irish writer and novelist, the quite excellent, Megan Nolan.She joined me from across the pond—where she’s currently living in New York—to explain why she loves the book and White’s writing generally, and it all makes for another great episode of the show.Indeed, welcome to The Library of Lazy Thinking Podcast, with me, your host, Glenn Fisher.As you may well know by now, in each episode, I'm joined by a guest from the world of books and culture to talk about a specific book they'd like to put in the library.There's no plan and no agenda, just two people lazily thinking about literature.If you enjoy the show and would like to help us (and get your hands on a coveted Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge), you can become a supporter of the library by upgrading your subscription.But either way, please do like and share the show—it all helps.In this episode, as I say, my very special guest is the author of Acts of Desperation and Ordinary Human Failings, Megan Nolan. We discuss her pick for the library, the 2025 memoir The Loves of My Life by Edmund White.About MeganMegan Nolan was born in 1990 in Waterford, Ireland, and is currently based in New York. Her essays and reviews have been published by the New York Times, White Review, Guardian and Frieze amongst others. For her debut novel, Acts of Desperation, Nolan was the recipient of a Betty Trask Award, shortlisted for the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award, and longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize. Ordinary Human Failings was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, and shortlisted for the Nero Book Award for Fiction, the Gordon Burn Prize, and the RSL Encore Award.About EdmundEdmund White is a gay American novelist, memoirist, playwright, biographer and essayist. He is the recipient of Lambda Literary's Visionary Award, the National Book Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award, and the PEN/Saul Bellow Award for Achievement in American Fiction. France made him Chevalier (and later Officier) de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1993. White is known as a groundbreaking writer of gay literature and a major influence on gay American literature and has been called "the first major queer novelist to champion a new generation of writers."Links to obscure (and not so obscure) things mentioned in this episode* Order The Loves of My Life by Edmund White and Megan’s novels Acts of Desperation and Ordinary Human Failings from my local independent bookshop in Sheffield here.* Ian Williams from Don Caballero (and now Battles) in a scene from High Fidelity.* Find Megan on Instagram here.* Find Glenn on Instagram here.* Find The Library of Lazy Thinking on Instagram here.About the LibraryThe Library of Lazy Thinking is a place to hang out and learn more about books. If you’d like to support the library and get access to everything here, you can become a paid member (and get an exclusive The Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge). All support goes back into the library, helping to organize live events, exclusive merchandise, and more podcasts.About GlennGlenn Fisher is a writer—wait, Glenn Fisher is me. I’m the one writing this. Let’s drop the third-person act. My writing has been published in Lunate, The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit, 3am Magazine, Dogmatika, and Litro Magazine. I write about books and interview other writers and artists here in The Library of Lazy Thinking. I live in Sheffield and work as a freelance copywriter. I have had a best-selling non-fiction book published on the subject called The Art of the Click. It was published by Harriman House and shortlisted for Business Book of the Year. It has been translated into Simplified Chinese and Korean. I also have a dog called Pablo. He is harder to translate. Indeed, most of my life revolves around trying to understand his often unreasonable demands. Meanwhile, I am currently working on my first novel about a man who accidentally kidnaps a pig. Get full access to The Library of Lazy Thinking at lazythinking.substack.com/subscribe

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  25:01
• Claire Carroll on The Doll's Alphabet

  Strange. Surreal. Smart.The uncanny world Camilla Grudova imagines across the various stories that make up The Doll’s Alphabet is one in which you’re never quite sure what’s around the corner.Thankfully, we have Claire Carroll, another brilliant short story writer—and all-round excellent egg—to hold our hand and help us begin to unpick the intricacies of this beguiling collection.Or not.Maybe we don’t need to figure everything out, and maybe we don’t need to completely understand what it all means.Who knows? But we’ll have some fun thinking about it, and some quite wonderful book chat.Indeed, welcome to The Library of Lazy Thinking Podcast, with me, your host, Glenn Fisher.As you may well know by now, in each episode, I'm joined by a guest from the world of books and culture to talk about a specific book they'd like to put in the library.There's no plan and no agenda, just two people lazily thinking about literature.If you enjoy the show and would like to help us (and get your hands on a coveted Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge), you can become a supporter of the library by upgrading your subscription.But either way, please do like and share the show—it all helps.In this episode, my very special guest is the author of The Unreliable Nature Writer, Claire Carroll. We discuss her pick for the library, the 2017 short story collection The Doll’s Alphabet by Camila Grudova.About ClaireClaire Carroll lives in Somerset, UK, and writes experimental fiction about the intersection of nature, technology, and desire. She is also a PhD researcher at Bath Spa and Exeter Universities, where she explores how experimental writing – particularly short stories and prose-poetry – can reimagine how humans relate to the natural and non-human world. Claire’s short stories and poetry have been published by journals including Gutter Magazine, perverse, Lunate Journal, The Oxonian Review, and Short Fiction Journal. In 2021, her short story My Brain is Boiling with Ideas was shortlisted for The White Review’s Short Story Prize, and her short story Cephalopod was the recipient of the Essex University & Short Fiction Journal Wild Writing Prize. Both pieces are taken from The Unreliable Nature Writer, Claire’s collection of linked short stories that examines the interconnection of climate anxiety, surviving late capitalism and dealing with personal loss.About CamilaCamilla Grudova lives in Edinburgh. She holds a degree in Art History and German from McGill University, Montreal. Her fiction has appeared in The White Review and Granta. Her critically acclaimed debut collection, The Doll's Alphabet, was published in 2017. Her first novel, Children of Paradise, was longlisted for the Women's Prize. Her most recent book is a second collection, The Coiled Serpent. In 2023 she was named one of Granta's Best of Young British Novelists, a once-in-a-decade accolade.Links to obscure (and not so obscure) things mentioned in this episode* Order The Doll's Alphabet by Camila Grudova and Claire’s The Unreliable Nature Writer from my local independent bookshop in Sheffield here.* Nick Lizard’s review I mention is available on the Guardian website here.* Find Claire on Instagram here.* Find Glenn on Instagram here.* Find The Library of Lazy Thinking on Instagram here.About the LibraryThe Library of Lazy Thinking is a place to hang out and learn more about books. If you’d like to support the library and get access to everything here, you can become a paid member (and get an exclusive The Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge). All support goes back into the library, helping to organize live events, exclusive merchandise, and more podcasts.About GlennGlenn Fisher is a writer—wait, Glenn Fisher is me. I’m the one writing this. Let’s drop the third-person act. My writing has been published in Lunate, The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit, 3am Magazine, Dogmatika, and Litro Magazine. I write about books and interview other writers and artists here in The Library of Lazy Thinking. I live in Sheffield and work as a freelance copywriter. I have had a best-selling non-fiction book published on the subject called The Art of the Click. It was published by Harriman House and shortlisted for Business Book of the Year. It has been translated into Simplified Chinese and Korean. I also have a dog called Pablo. He is harder to translate. Indeed, most of my life revolves around trying to understand his often unreasonable demands. Meanwhile, I am currently working on my first novel about a man who accidentally kidnaps a pig. Get full access to The Library of Lazy Thinking at lazythinking.substack.com/subscribe

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  32:52
• Richard Foster on Ending Up

  Find a quiet pub that hasn’t been renovated for at least twenty years, preferably longer.Order a preposterous drink, one that involves Cinzano, and a pint of ale to wash it down.Ask for a bag of crisps (or a more elaborate bar snack given a cigarette inside won’t be possible) and, once you’ve paid the tab (with cash rummaged from the lint-filled pocket of your crumpled, ill-fitting suit), take a seat in the corner.Oh, and do all of this in the middle of the afternoon, so it’s light outside, and thus you’re filled with a sense of rule-breaking freedom.Sorted?Good. You can now join me and Richard Foster to discuss the great Kingsley Amis and one of his darkly comedic later novels, Ending Up.Indeed, welcome to The Library of Lazy Thinking Podcast, with me, your host, Glenn Fisher.As you may well know by now, in each episode, I'm joined by a guest from the world of books and culture to talk about a specific book they'd like to put in the library.There's no plan and no agenda, just two people lazily thinking about literature.If you enjoy the show and would like to help us (and get your hands on a coveted Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge), you can become a supporter of the library by upgrading your subscription.But either way, please do like and share the show—it all helps.In this episode, my very special guest is the author of Flower Factory and The Punk Rock Birdwatching Club, Richard Foster. We discuss his pick for the library, the 1974 novel Ending Up by Kingsley Amis.About RichardRichard Foster is a writer and artist living in the Netherlands. Richard is best known as a writer for The Quietus and Louder than War, and for his work at the famous avant-garde cultural centre, WORM. His debut novel, Flower Factory, was published by Ortac Press in 2022, followed by The Punk Rock Birdwatching Club in 2025.About KingsleySir Kingsley William Amis CBE was an English novelist, poet, critic, and teacher. He wrote more than 20 novels, six volumes of poetry, a memoir, short stories, radio and television scripts, and works of social and literary criticism. He is best known for satirical comedies such as Lucky Jim (1954), One Fat Englishman (1963), Ending Up (1974), Jake's Thing (1978) and The Old Devils (1986). His biographer Zachary Leader called Amis "the finest English comic novelist of the second half of the twentieth century". In 2008, The Times ranked him ninth on a list of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945. He was the father of the novelist Martin Amis.Links to obscure (and not so obscure) things mentioned in this episode* Order Ending Up by Kingsley Amis and Richard’s The Punk Rock Birdwatching Club from my local independent bookshop in Sheffield here.* The BBC Documentary on Amis mentioned in the conversation can be found here.* An interview with a younger Amis can be found here.* Find Richard on Instagram here.* Find Glenn on Instagram here.* Find The Library of Lazy Thinking on Instagram here.About the LibraryThe Library of Lazy Thinking is a place to hang out and learn more about books. The library is free—like all libraries should be. But if you’d like to support the library, you can make a small monthly donation by becoming a paid member (and get an exclusive The Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge). All donations go back into the library, helping to organize live events, exclusive merchandise, and more podcasts.About GlennGlenn Fisher is a writer—wait, Glenn Fisher is me. I’m the one writing this. Let’s drop the third-person act. My writing has been published in Lunate, The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit, 3am Magazine, Dogmatika, and Litro Magazine. I write about books and interview other writers and artists here in The Library of Lazy Thinking. I live in Sheffield and work as a freelance copywriter. I have had a best-selling non-fiction book published on the subject called The Art of the Click. It was published by Harriman House and shortlisted for Business Book of the Year. It has been translated into Simplified Chinese and Korean. I also have a dog called Pablo. He is harder to translate. Indeed, most of my life revolves around trying to understand his often unreasonable demands. Meanwhile, I am currently working on my first novel about a man who accidentally kidnaps a pig. Get full access to The Library of Lazy Thinking at lazythinking.substack.com/subscribe

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  29:50
• Sophie Mackintosh on What Happens at Night

  Weird.A bit creepy.Not quite sure what’s going on.…but enough about me.Let’s talk about What Happens at Night by Peter Cameron, which is weird, a bit creepy and, though it’s a fascinating and enjoyable read, you’re never quite sure what’s going on.Thankfully, we have a fine guide to hold our hand through the twists and turns in the narrative as I’m joined by the brilliant—and Booker-nominated no less!—Sophie Mackintosh.The blurbists say this book is Wes Anderson meets David Lynch.But is it?Listen in and you’ll find out.Indeed, welcome to The Library of Lazy Thinking Podcast, with me, your host, Glenn Fisher.As you may well know by now, in each episode, I'm joined by a guest from the world of books and culture to talk about a specific book they'd like to put in the library.There's no plan and no agenda, just two people lazily thinking about literature.If you enjoy the show and would like to help us (and get your hands on a coveted Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge), you can become a supporter of the library by upgrading your subscription.But either way, please do like and share the show—it all helps.In this episode, as I say, my very special guest is the author of The Water Cure, Blue Ticket, and Cursed Bread, Sophie Mackintosh. We discuss her pick for the library, the 2020 novel What Happens at Night by Peter Cameron.About SophieSophie Mackintosh is the author of three novels: The Water Cure, Blue Ticket, and Cursed Bread. Her debut novel was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2018 and won a Betty Trask Award 2019. Cursed Bread was longlisted for the Women's Prize 2023. She has been published in Granta, The White Review, and TANK magazine among others.About PeterPeter Cameron is the author of several novels, including Andorra, The Weekend, and Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You. His short fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, Rolling Stone, and many other literary journals, and his work has been adapted for screen. Cameron divides his time between New York City and Sandgate, Vermont.Links to obscure (and not so obscure) things mentioned in this episode* Order What Happens at Night by Peter Cameron and Sophie’s most recent novel, Cursed Bread from my local independent bookshop in Sheffield here.* Find Sophie on Instagram here.* Find Glenn on Instagram here.* Find The Library of Lazy Thinking on Instagram here.About the LibraryThe Library of Lazy Thinking is a place to hang out and learn more about books. The library is free—like all libraries should be. But if you’d like to support the library, you can make a small monthly donation by becoming a paid member (and get an exclusive The Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge). All donations go back into the library, helping to organize live events, exclusive merchandise, and more podcasts.About GlennGlenn Fisher is a writer—wait, Glenn Fisher is me. I’m the one writing this. Let’s drop the third-person act. My writing has been published in online literary journals Lunate, The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit, 3am Magazine, Dogmatika, and Litro Magazine. I write about books and interview other writers and artists here in The Library of Lazy Thinking. I live in Sheffield and work as a freelance copywriter. I have had a best-selling non-fiction book published on the subject called The Art of the Click. It was published by Harriman House and shortlisted for Business Book of the Year. It has been translated into Simplified Chinese and Korean. I also have a dog called Pablo. He is harder to translate. Indeed, most of my life revolves around trying to understand his often unreasonable demands. Meanwhile, I am currently working on my first novel. Get full access to The Library of Lazy Thinking at lazythinking.substack.com/subscribe

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  24:40
• Keiran Goddard on Change

  Just who do you think you are?Stop actin' like some kind of starJust who do you think you are?Take it like a man, baby, if that's what you are'Cause I'm movin' on up, you're movin' on outMovin' on up, nothin' can stop meMovin' on up, you're movin' on outTime to break free, nothin' can stop me, yeahWhen Heather Small of the early 90s rhythm outfit M People sang those words, I wonder if she was—in some small way—protesting the oppression of a capitalist class system that requires any attempt at social mobility to be performed individually and not as a collective?Then I read the rest of the lyrics and understand she was likely bemoaning some shabby ex who sounds like a right weasel.Still, we must wonder.For certain, I know the “novel” Change by Édouard Louis is focused on social mobility and all the personal and political struggles that come with it.I know this—in a large part—thanks to the excellent chat I had about the book with the brilliant poet and author, Keiran Goddard.Indeed, welcome to The Library of Lazy Thinking Podcast, with me, your host, Glenn Fisher.As you may well know by now, in each episode, I'm joined by a guest from the world of books and culture to talk about a specific book they'd like to put in the library.There's no plan and no agenda, just two people lazily thinking about literature.If you enjoy the show and would like to help us (and get your hands on a coveted Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge), you can become a supporter of the library by upgrading your subscription.But either way, please do like and share the show—it all helps.In this episode, as I say, my very special guest is the poet and author, Keiran Goddard. We discuss his pick for the library, the 2024 novel Change by Édouard Louis.About KeiranKeiran Goddard is a writer and social commentator. He is the author Strings (2013), For The Chorus (2016) Votive (2019), Hourglass (2022) and I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning (2024).  His books and articles have been published internationally and he is writes regularly for the Guardian.  He is represented by Clare Conville at CW. About ÉdouardÉdouard Louis is the author of The End of Eddy, History of Violence, Who Killed My Father, A Woman's Battles and Transformations, and Change, and the editor of a book on the social scientist Pierre Bourdieu. His work has been translated into more than thirty languages, making him one of the most celebrated writers of his generation worldwide.Links to obscure (and not so obscure) things mentioned in this episode* Order Change by Édouard Louis and Keiran’s most recent novel, I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning from my local independent bookshop in Sheffield here.* You can find a link to Keiran’s original review of the book for the Guardian here.* Find Kerian on Instagram here.* Find Glenn on Instagram here.* Find The Library of Lazy Thinking on Instagram here.About the LibraryThe Library of Lazy Thinking is a place to hang out and learn more about books. The library is free—like all libraries should be. But if you’d like to support the library, you can make a small monthly donation by becoming a paid member (and get an exclusive The Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge). All donations go back into the library, helping to organize live events, exclusive merchandise, and more podcasts.About GlennGlenn Fisher is a writer—wait, Glenn Fisher is me. I’m the one writing this. Let’s drop the third-person act. My writing has been published in online literary journals Lunate, The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit, 3am Magazine, Dogmatika, and Litro Magazine. I write about books and interview other writers and artists here in The Library of Lazy Thinking. I live in Sheffield and work as a freelance copywriter. I have had a best-selling non-fiction book published on the subject called The Art of the Click. It was published by Harriman House and shortlisted for Business Book of the Year. It has been translated into Simplified Chinese and Korean. I also have a dog called Pablo. He is harder to translate. Indeed, most of my life revolves around trying to understand his often unreasonable demands. Meanwhile, I am currently working on my first novel. Get full access to The Library of Lazy Thinking at lazythinking.substack.com/subscribe

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  32:07

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