Plural Texts: On Rereadings

This review considers Columbia University Press's ongoing Rereadings-an ambitious series of short books that aims to rethink both individual novels and the larger question of what constitutes academic criticism. Focusing on three of the four current entries in the series-Peter Coviello's reread of Thomas Pynchon's Vineland, Ivan Kreilkamp's of Jennifer Egan's A Visit From the Goon Squad, and Kate Zambreno's of Herve Guibert's To the friend who did not save my life-many of the pressing questions that arise from these books, seen together, ultimately reflect the institutional conditions of their writing and reception.

Automated summary

This review examines Columbia University Press's ongoing Rereadings series, which is a collection of ambitious short books that aim to reevaluate individual novels and the nature of academic criticism. By analyzing three of the current entries in the series, the review reveals the close connection between these books and the institutional conditions surrounding their writing and reception.