Final Fridays

Renowned author John Barth has been deviating from his regular routine of fiction writing on Monday through Thursday mornings, dedicating his Friday mornings instead to the exploration of nonfiction. This shift in focus has resulted in the creation of his latest essay collection, Final Fridays, which serves as a follow-up to his previous works The Friday Book (1984) and Further Fridays (1995). After a span of sixteen years and the publication of six novels, Barth presents readers with a remarkable compilation of 27 insightful essays in his latest collection.

From discussions on the act of reading and writing, to reflections on the current state of the literary world and heartfelt tributes to friends and family members who are also writers, Final Fridays offers a mix of witty and engaging pieces that captivate the reader's interest. Barth's genuine love for learning and his contagious enthusiasm for intellectual exploration are evident throughout the essays, as noted by reviews from publications such as the San Francisco Examiner & Chronicle and the Washington Post. This collection may perhaps be viewed as Barth's definitive essay collection, as hinted at by the implied question mark in its title.

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