Book reviews and author interviews that read between the lines.
I’ve worked in editorial at Simon & Schuster, as a reader for various literary journals, and helped Paramount decide which books would make good films. Now I review books and interview authors in a monthly column for the Brooklyn neighborhood newspaper The Red Hook Star-Revue, The Gay & Lesbian Review, and various literary journals.
A member of the National Books Critic Circle, I served on the judging committee for the 2023 John Leonard Prize for the best first book in any genre.
Book Reviews and Author Interviews for The Red Hook Star-Revue
I’ve had a monthly newspaper column, “Quinn on Books,” since 2020. I gravitate toward New York-centric titles, traditionally marginalized writers, and books from small presses and independent bookstores. I also interview local authors.
This Brooklyn neighborhood paper prints 9,000 copies monthly to serve readers in Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, the Columbia Waterfront District, and the Gowanus. Check out my latest column below, then dig through back issues.
Review of Countée Cullen's Harlem Renaissance, by Kevin Brown
Published by The Red Hook Star-Revue (November 2024)
I interviewed New York Times-bestselling author and bookseller Emma Straub about her novel, This Time Tomorrow, and her Brooklyn bookstore Books Are Magic—I took all the photographs, too!
Book Reviews for The Gay & Lesbian Review
This bimonthly magazine of history, culture, and politics targets an educated LGBTQ+ reader. I’ve reviewed books on art, design, and drag, as well as essay collections, memoirs, and poetry. Check out my latest review below, then explore past issues.
Review of My Body Is Paper, by Gil Cuadros
Published by The G&LR (November–December 2024)
Book Reviews for Literary Journals
Fiction
“Turn, Turn, Turn”: Review of Marcovaldo, by Italo Calvino (The Common, December 2020)
“The River Was Deep”: Review of Lava Falls, by Lucy Jane Bledsoe (Gertrude Press, September 2018)
Nonfiction
“Mending History”: Review of A Quilt for David, by Steven Reigns (Gertrude Press, September 2021)
“The Spiritual Forebear of Lana Del Rey”: Review of A Voice of the Warm, by Barry Alfonso (Gertrude Press, May 2020)
“Gals and Gales”: Review of Zephyrian Spools, by Dalia Neis (Gertrude Press, January 2020)
“Many Voices, One Song”: Review of Transcending, edited by Kevin Manders and Elizabeth Marston (Gertrude Press, October 2019)
“Master Class in American History”: Review of I Like to Watch, by Emily Nussbaum (The Adroit Journal, August 2019)
Memoir
“The Girl from Josephina”: Review of Big Freedia, by Big Freedia, with Nicole Balin (Gertrude Press, January 2021)
“Just Dandy”: Review of I’ve Seen the Future, and I’m Not Going, by Peter McGough (Drizzle Review, August 2020)
“Time Passages”: Review of Year of the Monkey, by Patti Smith (The Adroit Journal, January 2020)
“Dial-Up Access—to the Past”: Review of People I’ve Met from the Internet, by Stephen Van Dyck (Gertrude Press, October 2019)
“Deathbed Revelations”: Review of All We Knew But Couldn’t Say, by Joanne Vannicola (Gertrude Press, August 2019)
“Autumn Closing In”: Review of Night Moves, by Jessica Hopper (The Adroit Journal, April 2019)
“It’s Her Story Now”: Review of Self-ish, by Chloe Schwenke (Gertrude Press, April 2018)
Poetry
Review of Live in Suspense, by David Groff (Colorado Review, February 2024)
“Into Every Life, a Little Rain Must Fall”: Review of Come Thunder, by Barbara Helfgott Hyett (Heavy Feather Review, April 2023)
“I Drive, Therefore I Am”: Review of Today in the Taxi, by Sean Singer (Heavy Feather Review, August 2022)
“Midlife Crisis”: Review of Ghost Hour, by Laura Cronk (The Literary Review, April 2021)
“Disappeared, Disregarded, Dead”: Review of Rest of US, by Richard Hamilton (Gertrude Press, October 2021)
“What the Living Do”: Review of One Illuminated Letter of Being, by Donald Platt (Green Mountains Review, January 2021)
“Live Through This”: Review of Girls Like Us, by Elizabeth Hazen (The Literary Review, June 2020)
“Great Plains Evenings”: Review of Prairie Architecture, by Monica Barron (Gertrude Press, March 2020)
“How to Live”: Review of Flourish, by Dora Malech (The Literary Review, March 2020)
“A Serious Piece of American Music”: Review of The Miracles, by Amy Lemmon (Green Mountains Review, January 2020)
“Within You, Without You”: Review of Hard Some, by Hailey Higdon (Gertrude Press, June 2019)
“All Mixed Up, for a Reason”: Review of For Every Girl, by Kate Gray (Gertrude Press, April 2019)
“Michael has been a truly invaluable team member...giving thoughtful feedback on at least a dozen stories and essays weekly. He meets a piece where it’s at and sees its merit while evaluating weaknesses and possible improvements that the editing process might address. He produces a high volume of work without slacking on care and quality.”
Book Reviews and Author Interviews for Publishers Weekly
This weekly trade publication focuses on the book publishing business for an audience of publishers, booksellers, librarians, literary agents, and authors. From 2018–2023, I wrote reviews (without bylines) that reflect expertise in three areas: gardening, LGBTQ+ topics (gender studies, history, memoir), and literary nonfiction. I also interviewed authors.
Interview with Svenja O’Donnell, author of Inge’s War
Published by Publishers Weekly (February 2020)
Interview with Walt Odets, author of Out of the Shadows
Published by Publishers Weekly (April 2019)
“Michael’s friendly, professional, and diligent attitude makes him a pleasure to work with, and his stylish and thoughtful submissions are a pleasure both to edit and read—I always look forward to getting back [submissions] from him, knowing that their clean prose style and careful organization will make my job exceptionally easy, and also that I’ll encounter lively and original insights and turns of phrase.”