Matthew Olshan

I tend to think about stories in terms of the energy they release. Some stories are a long slow burn of pathos; others flash before your eyes in a burst of delirium or delight. Still others seem to detonate inside of you, clearing the way for a new understanding.A few exceedingly rare stories somehow manage to catalyze all of these reactions. Those are the most mysterious of all.As a reader, I’m interested in all of these strange forms of combustion. A brilliant kids’ book is just as dazzling to me as a heartbreaking literary novel. I can’t imagine being fascinated by fireworks but somehow ignoring the subtle pleasure of the Northern Lights.Unfortunately, we live in an era of specialization. The publishing world depends, like any business,

I tend to think about stories in terms of the energy they release. Some stories are a long slow burn of pathos; others flash before your eyes in a burst of delirium or delight. Still others seem to detonate inside of you, clearing the way for a new understanding.A few exceedingly rare stories somehow manage to catalyze all of these reactions. Those are the most mysterious of all.As a reader, I’m interested in all of these strange forms of combustion. A brilliant kids’ book is just as dazzling to me as a heartbreaking literary novel. I can’t imagine being fascinated by fireworks but somehow ignoring the subtle pleasure of the Northern Lights.Unfortunately, we live in an era of specialization. The publishing world depends, like any business,