Margaret Atwood joins Deborah Treisman in a live podcast to read and discuss Mavis Gallant's 'Varieties of Exile'. They explore the emotional impact on Americans tied to Gaza, share anecdotes about meeting Mavis Gallant, discuss book condition and reading habits, explore the experiences of remittance men, reflect on Frank Cairns and his socialist beliefs, and delve into loss and forgetfulness in 'Varieties of Exile'. They also discuss Mavis Gallant's autobiographical stories and Lynette Muir's relationships with remittance men and Frank Cairns.

Donald Antrim joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “The Balloon,” by Donald Barthelme, which was published in The New Yorker in 1966. Antrim is the author of three novels and the story collection “The Emerald Light in the Air.” His memoir, “One Friday in April: A Story of Suicide and Survival,” will be published this month. “The Balloon” (c) 1966, by Donald Barthelme, performed with permission of the Wylie Agency, LLC. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Deborah Treisman reads and discusses “Good People,” by David Foster Wallace, which appeared in a 2007 issue of the magazine. David Foster Wallace, who died in 2008, was the author of three short-story collections and three novels, including “Infinite Jest,” and “The Pale King,” which was published posthumously, in 2011, and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Lydia Davis reads and discusses her father Robert Gorham Davis's story 'Then We'll Set It Right.' They explore themes of children with guns and manliness in the story, discuss the author's role as a father, analyze the controversial actions of the protagonist, and reflect on the author's regrets and writing style. They also discuss the potential use of the author's unpublished novel for biographical material.

Ben Marcus reads Kazuo Ishiguro's "A Village After Dark," and discusses it with The New Yorker's fiction editor, Deborah Treisman. "A Village After Dark" was published in the May 21, 2001, issue of The New Yorker. Ben Marcus's upcoming book, "The Flame Alphabet," will be published in 2012. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

A. M. Homes reads Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery," and discusses it with The New Yorker's fiction editor, Deborah Treisman. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Aleksandar Hemon discusses Bernard Malamud's short story "A Summer's Reading" with The New Yorker's fiction editor, Deborah Treisman. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Jonathan Lethem reads James Thurber's short story "The Wood Duck" and discusses Thurber with The New Yorker's fiction editor, Deborah Treisman. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Antonya Nelson reads Mavis Gallant's short story "When We Were Nearly Young" and discusses Gallant with The New Yorker's fiction editor, Deborah Treisman. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Paul Theroux reads Jorge Luis Borges's short story "The Gospel According to Mark" and discusses Borges with The New Yorker's fiction editor, Deborah Treisman. "The Gospel According to Mark" was published in The New Yorker on October 23, 1971. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices