On Brandon Taylor’s “The Late

When Seamus, a young poet in The Late Americans, reflects on the painful parts of his childhood, he thinks to himself that they were “of such a common source that it embarrassed him.” In Brandon Taylor’s latest novel, everything is embarrassing, and he reminds us of it over and over again. A student confesses to his ex that he misses him; the ensuing silence is embarrassing. Making art is embarrassing. Wanting to make art but not being able to is embarrassing. Loving someone, wanting someone to love you back, losing something, being afraid of losing something—it’s all embarrassing.