Dan Kubis
@dankubis.bsky.social
English teacher at University of Pittsburgh. Occasional book critic (recent: https://brooklynrail.org/2025/09/books/katharina-volckmer-calls-may-be-recorded/).
Update: I'm a Cyber Hero
October 24, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Update: I'm a Cyber Hero
Passed the quiz at the end of the training so i think i'm officially a human firewall
October 24, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Passed the quiz at the end of the training so i think i'm officially a human firewall
Was just introduced to the digital scourges of “juice jacking” and “shoulder surfing." I think I'm supposed to be scared of them but they sound fun.
October 24, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Was just introduced to the digital scourges of “juice jacking” and “shoulder surfing." I think I'm supposed to be scared of them but they sound fun.
Currently watching a work-mandated security video that promises to turn me into a "human firewall"
October 24, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Currently watching a work-mandated security video that promises to turn me into a "human firewall"
www.chronicle.com/article/the-... I worked in “the public humanities” for years at Pitt and writing for LARB or similar publications was a pretty small part of that work. For me, the term was most useful as a label for community engagement done in humanities departments. It was fun.
Opinion | Writing for ‘the Public’ Won’t Save Us
We created new venues to affirm our value. Now they’re at risk of collapsing too.
www.chronicle.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:37 PM
www.chronicle.com/article/the-... I worked in “the public humanities” for years at Pitt and writing for LARB or similar publications was a pretty small part of that work. For me, the term was most useful as a label for community engagement done in humanities departments. It was fun.
Here's my review of Katharina Volckmer's CALLS MAY BE RECORDED. Happy for thoughts if you've read it. This is not like most novels. @twodollarradio.bsky.social brooklynrail.org/2025/09/book...
Katharina Volckmer’s Calls May Be Recorded | The Brooklyn Rail
Katharina Volckmer’s Calls May Be Recorded opens with thoughts on when a person is most likely to shit themselves.
brooklynrail.org
September 3, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Here's my review of Katharina Volckmer's CALLS MAY BE RECORDED. Happy for thoughts if you've read it. This is not like most novels. @twodollarradio.bsky.social brooklynrail.org/2025/09/book...
Reposted by Dan Kubis
For The Brooklyn Rail, Dan Kubis calls Katharina Volckmer’s CALLS MAY BE RECORDED “a wildly imaginative, deeply intransigent novel"
@dankubis.bsky.social 🔗 brooklynrail.org/2025/09/book...
@dankubis.bsky.social 🔗 brooklynrail.org/2025/09/book...
Katharina Volckmer’s Calls May Be Recorded | The Brooklyn Rail
Katharina Volckmer’s Calls May Be Recorded opens with thoughts on when a person is most likely to shit themselves.
brooklynrail.org
September 3, 2025 at 3:32 PM
For The Brooklyn Rail, Dan Kubis calls Katharina Volckmer’s CALLS MAY BE RECORDED “a wildly imaginative, deeply intransigent novel"
@dankubis.bsky.social 🔗 brooklynrail.org/2025/09/book...
@dankubis.bsky.social 🔗 brooklynrail.org/2025/09/book...
Reposted by Dan Kubis
"GREYHOUND uses its ecological consciousness to direct readers’ attentions to the natural world, thoughtfully probes the boundaries of its own awareness, and honestly struggles to achieve a comfortable sense of place." — @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social
chireviewofbooks.com/2025/08/18/f...
chireviewofbooks.com/2025/08/18/f...
Finding a Home on the Road: Joanna Pocock’s “Greyhound” - Chicago Review of Books
Our review of Joanna Pocock's new memoir, "Greyhound"
chireviewofbooks.com
August 21, 2025 at 8:20 PM
"GREYHOUND uses its ecological consciousness to direct readers’ attentions to the natural world, thoughtfully probes the boundaries of its own awareness, and honestly struggles to achieve a comfortable sense of place." — @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social
chireviewofbooks.com/2025/08/18/f...
chireviewofbooks.com/2025/08/18/f...
Loved reading John Tottenham's novel SERVICE. Does it want a GenX revival? Do I want one of those? Anyway, here’s some dialogue from HENRY FOOL that will tell you what the book is about.
August 21, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Loved reading John Tottenham's novel SERVICE. Does it want a GenX revival? Do I want one of those? Anyway, here’s some dialogue from HENRY FOOL that will tell you what the book is about.
Reposted by Dan Kubis
"[The book] uses its ecological consciousness to direct readers’ attentions to the natural world, thoughtfully probes the boundaries of its own awareness."
@dankubis.bsky.social's review of "Greyhound" by Joanna Pocock (@catapultbooks.bsky.social) is out now.
chireviewofbooks.com/2025/08/18/f...
@dankubis.bsky.social's review of "Greyhound" by Joanna Pocock (@catapultbooks.bsky.social) is out now.
chireviewofbooks.com/2025/08/18/f...
Finding a Home on the Road: Joanna Pocock’s “Greyhound” - Chicago Review of Books
Our review of Joanna Pocock's new memoir, "Greyhound"
chireviewofbooks.com
August 18, 2025 at 5:42 PM
"[The book] uses its ecological consciousness to direct readers’ attentions to the natural world, thoughtfully probes the boundaries of its own awareness."
@dankubis.bsky.social's review of "Greyhound" by Joanna Pocock (@catapultbooks.bsky.social) is out now.
chireviewofbooks.com/2025/08/18/f...
@dankubis.bsky.social's review of "Greyhound" by Joanna Pocock (@catapultbooks.bsky.social) is out now.
chireviewofbooks.com/2025/08/18/f...
Happy to review Joanna Pocock's GREYHOUND for @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social. It's a great road trip book and also a great book about road trip books. Check it out! @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social chireviewofbooks.com/2025/08/18/f...
Finding a Home on the Road: Joanna Pocock’s “Greyhound” - Chicago Review of Books
Our review of Joanna Pocock's new memoir, "Greyhound"
chireviewofbooks.com
August 18, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Happy to review Joanna Pocock's GREYHOUND for @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social. It's a great road trip book and also a great book about road trip books. Check it out! @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social chireviewofbooks.com/2025/08/18/f...
My favorite scene from one of my all-time favorite films. I talked about it in a toast at my brother's wedding. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z9B...
The Straight Story (1999) - 'Laurens Walking' scene [1080p]
YouTube video by Screen Themes
www.youtube.com
January 17, 2025 at 1:07 PM
My favorite scene from one of my all-time favorite films. I talked about it in a toast at my brother's wedding. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z9B...
Learned about this film from a Best of 2024 list. It's great!! Needle drop on Unsatisfied as the credits roll was delightful.
December 22, 2024 at 3:54 AM
Learned about this film from a Best of 2024 list. It's great!! Needle drop on Unsatisfied as the credits roll was delightful.
Poe would be so happy, except that he liked short stories because they were better at scaring the shit out of you and reminding you of the festering rot that lies at the core of your soul www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/o...
Opinion | Short Books Are Perfect for Our Distracted Age
There is something special about works I can read in full on a rainy Sunday afternoon or in the lamplight hours between supper and bedtime.
www.nytimes.com
December 19, 2024 at 12:03 AM
Poe would be so happy, except that he liked short stories because they were better at scaring the shit out of you and reminding you of the festering rot that lies at the core of your soul www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/o...
lol gmail you think im worried about my storage being 97% full? wake me up when we get to 99 like usual.
December 17, 2024 at 12:30 AM
lol gmail you think im worried about my storage being 97% full? wake me up when we get to 99 like usual.
I also wrote about this book. This review is very different from mine but really great and insightful. It talks way more about fish sauce pussy.
www.clereviewofbooks.com/writing/vi-k...
www.clereviewofbooks.com/writing/vi-k...
Fish Sauce Metonymy: On Vi Khi Nao’s “The Italy Letters” — Cleveland Review of Books
We swallow love and never speak of it to others. "The Italy Letters" inverts the most private desires into a public confession and sets its impossibilities free.
www.clereviewofbooks.com
December 14, 2024 at 4:15 PM
I also wrote about this book. This review is very different from mine but really great and insightful. It talks way more about fish sauce pussy.
www.clereviewofbooks.com/writing/vi-k...
www.clereviewofbooks.com/writing/vi-k...
bruce springsteen losing his shit over santa
December 8, 2024 at 10:42 PM
bruce springsteen losing his shit over santa
Reposted by Dan Kubis
BREAKING! University of Pittsburgh grad students just voted to unionize with United Steelworkers, following the Staff doing the same in September and Faculty also doing the same two years ago. Pitt is now fully a union shop 💪 and I will this one time only allow myself to unironically say Hail 2 Pitt
November 22, 2024 at 6:37 PM
BREAKING! University of Pittsburgh grad students just voted to unionize with United Steelworkers, following the Staff doing the same in September and Faculty also doing the same two years ago. Pitt is now fully a union shop 💪 and I will this one time only allow myself to unironically say Hail 2 Pitt
Have you ever watched people who are really good with kids while they're being really good with kids? They're like magicians. It's awesome. Kiley Reid writes about those sorts of people in this book and her first, I think. chireviewofbooks.com/2024/01/29/c...
January 29, 2024 at 5:54 PM
Have you ever watched people who are really good with kids while they're being really good with kids? They're like magicians. It's awesome. Kiley Reid writes about those sorts of people in this book and her first, I think. chireviewofbooks.com/2024/01/29/c...
Can't make it tonight. If you need me I'll be with some underworld spy or the wife of a close friend.
January 23, 2024 at 3:01 PM
Can't make it tonight. If you need me I'll be with some underworld spy or the wife of a close friend.
I wrote about Anthony Veasna So's SONGS ON ENDLESS REPEAT for the Chicago Review of Books. I did not charge Greta Gerwig with misunderstanding Pavement in it.
Difference in Repetition: “Songs on Endless Repeat”
When I teach Anthony Veasna So’s Afterparties, I start with the book’s dedication, which is addressed not to So’s parents or loved ones but to “everyone who underestimated me, including myself...
chireviewofbooks.com
December 6, 2023 at 4:18 PM
I wrote about Anthony Veasna So's SONGS ON ENDLESS REPEAT for the Chicago Review of Books. I did not charge Greta Gerwig with misunderstanding Pavement in it.
My students always smile when I ask about vibes but this is not their word
December 5, 2023 at 11:34 PM
My students always smile when I ask about vibes but this is not their word
Reposted by Dan Kubis
hey, did we ever get an update on how this turned out
December 5, 2023 at 2:36 PM
hey, did we ever get an update on how this turned out
My university’s new chancellor putting on a masterclass in campus-wide announcements that only affect 1% of the campus
November 15, 2023 at 9:33 PM
My university’s new chancellor putting on a masterclass in campus-wide announcements that only affect 1% of the campus