Witnessing the Witnesses: On Hanif Abdurraqib’s “There’s Always This Year”
Running through “There’s Always This Year” is a strong biblical motif. God (sometimes capitalized, sometimes not), savior, prayer, mercy, miracles, redemption, salvation, and eternity all permeate the book.
Nothing But Net: On Thomas Beller’s “Lost in the Game”
But what’s most gratifying about the book is its articulation and understanding of those ambiguous feelings one may have about over-caring about basketball later in one’s life. The time it takes to get your body right. The effort to stay on the court. The sweaty laundry.