In our conversation, we also referenced two images, the first is of the insane military tower in Montauk:

And also, Tom’s beard:

This week’s music, which will make sense when you get to the discussion, is Semisonic’s

Finally: Tom wanted to respond to my über-pissy comments on the last podcast blog, which is only fair. So here’s his final word:

Ok, fair enough: ���Ĵ�ý�intentionally esoteric���Ĵ�ý� was an unfair gut reaction. This is not, however, a straight mea culpa. While I admit that you have done, as you said and stressed, ���Ĵ�ý�lifelong research���Ĵ�ý� on international literature, and that said research has translated (get it?) into unmatched enthusiasm for these books that definitely deserve wider audiences, I do think it���Ĵ�ý�s fair to say that it comes off a bit like two West Village record store employees geeking out over import LP���Ĵ�ý�s from obscure Next Wave bands. Which is fine. But it does���Ĵ�ý�and this is, as devout listeners know, something of a persistent issue of mine���Ĵ�ý�smack, ever-so-slightly, of elitism. I���Ĵ�ý�m not suggesting that in the act of composing the list you intentionally set out to demonstrate that your taste in translated literature is far superior to anyone else���Ĵ�ý�s, or that people who do read and love the books included in _Flavorwire_���Ĵ�ý�s list are flat-out ignorant, but there���Ĵ�ý�s a hint of that sentiment.

The only reason I made the statement in the first place is because I believe that there are tons of books that fall somewhere between the predictable ones on the first list and those on Chad and Stephen���Ĵ�ý�s on the spectrum of translated literature. Books that aren���Ĵ�ý�t in the canon (yet) but that also aren���Ĵ�ý�t so under-appreciated that the average literary reader hasn���Ĵ�ý�t heard of them.

In the end, like Chad or anyone who toils in this poorly-lit corner of publishing or book selling, all I want is for people to 1) know about good books they might like; and 2) read those books. The problem with any and all lists is exclusion; working within finite confines, you chose what include, and were thus obligated to exclude others. So it goes.