Patrick McGinley’s “Bogmail”

On this episode, Vince Francone (A Book No One Wants) finds out that Patrick McGinley wrote more than one book, and Chad posits a Shklovskian reading of Bogmail: A Tale of Murder. Vince and Chad work through the red herrings and unexpected ending of this strange book that foregrounds some questionable wordplay (“bogmailer” for “blackmailer”), and also take time to check in on the state of literary education via this WaPo article about how reading extracts has basically the same value as reading a full book.

This episode’s music is “Bog” by Be Your Own Pet.

Upcoming Open Letter Events:

Albertine Books, NYC, 9/25, 4:30pm: What French and Francophone Literature Offers the American Imagination

Scandinavia House, NYC, 10/6, 7pm: The 2026 Icelandic Translator Triptych

Milkweed Books, Minneapolis, MN, 10/10, TBD: Icelandic Translator Triptych Celebration

Scandinavia House, NYC, 10/17, 2pm: Translating Scandinavia

The Siren and the Sea, Rochester, NY, 10/23, 5pm: Boudoir Book Club

Translator Triptych (Iceland) Bundle for $35.

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