June 21, 2023: Beach Reads: Ian Williams’ Latest

[Thearrival of summer means a lot of good things, but high on the list for thisAmericanStudier is the chance to read for pleasure, preferably on a beachblanket with a view of the crashing surf. For this year’s annualBeach Reads series, I’ll highlight recent or forthcoming books bycolleagues and friends. Add your Beach Read ideas and nominations for acrowd-sourced weekend post that’ll always keep toes in the sand!]

I wroteabout my then-FSU colleague Ian Williamsand his inspiring teaching in a state prison in one of myearliest posts, and have gone on to feature twodifferent books of his (one poetry and one fiction, because as I mentionedin Monday’s post Ian is another creative writer who truly excels in bothgenres) in priorBeach Reads series. But as long as Ian continues to put out excellent newbooks in his still-blossoming (and already hugely successful)career, I’ll continue to share them here, and this time I’ve got two recentpublications to nominate for your beach bag: his most recent poetry collection,2021’s Word Problems;and another 2021 release (what can I say, the man is prolific), the essaycollection Disorientation: BeingBlack in the World. I’m truly honored to call this man a formercolleague and a lifelong friend, and to be able to read each and every piece ofthat evolving and deepening literary career—on the beach and everywhere else!

Next BeachReads tomorrow,

Ben

PS. Whatdo you think? Beach Reads you’d nominate?