An Interview with Justin Torres

The “Blackouts” author on his art of exposure and concealment. Plus: reads to ring in the New Year; and new poetry from this week’s issue. View in browser | Update your preferences Sunday, December 31, 2023 The New Yorker Interview Justin Torres’s Art of Exposure and Concealment The author, whose novel “Blackouts” won the National Book Award last month, talks about sex in fiction, censorship, and the pleasure of what goes on in the shadows. By Katy Waldman Editor’s Picks Annals of Technology Why We Make Resolutions (and Why They Fail) From 2013: Against the odds, we keep telling ourselves that we can lose weight, save money, and go to the gym. By Maria Konnikova Annals of Inquiry Why Are We So Bad at Getting Better? Convalescence used to be central to medicine. We don’t talk about it anymore. By Dhruv Khullar Culture Desk “Auld Lang Syne” and Four Generations of My Family From 2015: Americans expect to hear this song every New Year, but few know what the Scottish lyrics actually mean. By Allyson Hobbs Trivia Break: Which singer’s lyric “Got a long list of ex-lovers,” from one of her No. 1 hits, is often misheard as “All the lonely Starbucks lovers”? Play our Names of 2023 quiz pack » Culture Dept. Poems “Federico García Lorca, Coney Island, 1929” “For the moment a wave will make a splash.” By Paul Muldoon Poems “Leaving” “Not the pleasure of lovers but the pleasure of letters, / a pleasure like weather, delayed and prepared for.” By Madeleine Cravens Winter Items in The New Yorker Store! Stay warm all season with hats, hoodies, sweatshirts, and more. Browse and buy » Fun & Games Dept. Cryptic Crossword The Cryptic Puzzle Pair of kissers discussed flowers: six letters. By Paolo Pasco Daily Shouts New Year’s Plans? From 2015: We’re going to do dinner at that place near grandma’s beforehand, the one she likes with the chicken pot pie. Maybe around five-fifteen or so. By Matt Passet Cartoons from the Issue Cartoons from the Issue Funny drawings from this week’s magazine. Thanks for reading. Let us know your thoughts about today’s edition. Plus, browse more newsletters and invite a friend to sign up. You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for the daily newsletter from The New Yorker. Manage your preferences | View our Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2023. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.