A Reading by Adam Gnade

For this week’s bonus episode, Adam Gnade reads a selection from the newly released I Wish to Say Lovely Things with musical accompaniment by John Vogel, TW’s creative director. The book provides snapshots from the early 2000s through the COVID-19 pandemic in the life of Adam’s self-referential protagonist, James Bozic, and crew. The section included here describes the Portland scene in 2009.

Adam’s previous book, The Internet Newspaper, focuses on four days in 2000 while James is working at an online faction of a daily newspaper in San Diego. I Wish to Say Lovely Things picks up in 2001 with James arriving in Portland and gives small glimpses into progressive time periods, moving from Portland to vagrant recording and touring to settling in rural Kansas.

The book describes the shifting relationships between James and his group of friends, including an ongoing backdrop of James’ relationship with Byron, an indie musician who encounters initial critical and commercial success, both of which wane over time.

Purchase I Wish to Say Lovely Things from Adam’s website!