PHILLIP LOPATE | I have always resisted this scenario about the death of New York, or the idea that it had lost its soul, or any of that. … New York is too complex, too various, to die or to lose its soul.

SOFIA BELIMOVA
Welcome to the June round of Friday Reads! Are you hoping to read more this summer? Do you have a favorite shady spot in a backyard or park, but no book to share it with? Read on for exciting recommendations from our contributors. Find stories that reach beyond the scope of normative human experience, essays about writing and writers, and hybrid memoir on music and survival. 

It seems only fitting to give one last nod to the fantastic pieces that we brought out in 2017. Below is a list of our most-read pieces of the year: the poems, essays, interviews, and art that made 2017 our biggest year yet for web traffic from around the world! We hope you’ll have a look, if you haven’t already, and see why this work struck a chord with readers this year.

Why Teach The Common? Teach The Common in your classroom and receive discounted subscriptions, a free desk copy, and lesson plans. A classroom subscription includes two issues for every student, and an in-person or Skype visit from Editor in Chief Jennifer Acker or a participating author. Learn more about teaching The Common or contact us for more options. Supplementary materials for

Why Teach The Common? Teach The Common in your classroom and receive discounted subscriptions, a free desk copy, and lesson plans. A classroom subscription includes two issues for every student, and an in-person or Skype visit from Editor in Chief Jennifer Acker or a participating author. Learn more about teaching The Common or contact us for more options. Supplementary materials for

Why Teach The Common? Teach The Common in your classroom and receive discounted subscriptions, a free desk copy, and lesson plans. A classroom subscription includes two issues for every student, and an in-person or Skype visit from Editor in Chief Jennifer Acker or a participating author. Learn more about teaching The Common or contact us for more options. Supplementary materials for

Why Teach The Common? Teach The Common in your classroom and receive discounted subscriptions, a free desk copy, and lesson plans. A classroom subscription includes two issues for every student, and an in-person or Skype visit from Editor in Chief Jennifer Acker or a participating author. Learn more about teaching The Common or contact us for more options. Supplementary materials for

Why Teach The Common? Teach The Common in your classroom and receive discounted subscriptions, a free desk copy, and lesson plans. A classroom subscription includes two issues for every student, and an in-person or Skype visit from Editor in Chief Jennifer Acker or a participating author. Learn more about teaching The Common or contact us for more options. Supplementary materials for

Why Teach The Common? Teach The Common in your classroom and receive discounted subscriptions, a free desk copy, and lesson plans. A classroom subscription includes two issues for every student, and an in-person or Skype visit from Editor in Chief Jennifer Acker or a participating author. Learn more about teaching The Common or contact us for more options. Supplementary materials for

Why Teach The Common? Teach The Common in your classroom and receive discounted subscriptions, a free desk copy, and lesson plans. A classroom subscription includes two issues for every student, and an in-person or Skype visit from Editor in Chief Jennifer Acker or a participating author. Learn more about teaching The Common or contact us for more options. Supplementary materials for