Jack Houghteling

Jack Houghteling is an American novelist and the author of Goodman (2022) and Sunnyside (2023). His work is known for its emphasis on form, voice and language.[1][2] Writer Harold Rogers called Houghteling "one of the best living prose stylists."[1]

Early life and education

Houghteling grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York and graduated from the Hackley School in 2010 and Claremont McKenna College in 2014.[3][4] At the latter, he delivered the student commencement speech at graduation.[5] He later earned a graduate degree from the London School of Economics in 2015 before moving to New York City.[6][7]

Works

Houghteling began Goodman in 2015 but then put it aside for years.[3] It was later longlisted for the Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction.[8]

Sunnyside is about an ex-football player from Westchester County[9] and received acclaim. The podcast The Drunken Odyssey called it a "maximalist masterpiece," describing its style as "neomodernist."[2] The literary journal Socrates on the Beach published an excerpt of Sunnyside,[10] which it characterized as "sui generis” and “unlike almost any other contemporary fiction."[11]

He is currently working on a third project about pre-revolutionary New York.[12]

Personal life

In 2018, Houghteling ran for the New York State Senate as a Democrat in Brooklyn's District 18, but never made it to the primary election ballot.[13][14]

He lives in Upper Manhattan with his partner and daughter.[15]

Bibliography

Books

  • Goodman, Adelaide Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1956635867
  • Sunnyside, Alien Buddha Press, 2023, ISBN 979-8375222400

References

  1. ^ a b "ADVENTURES IN THE AVANTGARDE (2)". Substack. 2025-07-28. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  2. ^ a b King, John (23 September 2023). "The Drunken Odyssey Interview with Jack Houghteling". Apple Podcasts (Podcast). The Drunken Odyssey. Event occurs at 5:04-5:08, 10:17-10:30.
  3. ^ a b "Novel tells coming-of-age tale on two temporal planes". The Rivertowns Enterprise. 2022-04-22. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  4. ^ Sabini, Mike (5 February 2010). "Hackley's Houghteling Earns Special Honor". Patch. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  5. ^ Houghteling, Jack (Feb 24, 2015). "Claremont McKenna College Commencement 2014" (video). youtube.com. Claremont McKenna College. Event occurs at 48:26-58:50.
  6. ^ School of Economics, London (January 2024). "Alumni Books". London School of Economics. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  7. ^ Miller, Carly (29 June 2016). "Local Writer Talks First Novel And Milennial Life In Ditmas Park". BKLYNER. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Jack Houghteling '10s debut book Goodman receives high praise". The Hackley School. 2024-04-01. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  9. ^ Houghteling, Jack (6 September 2023). "Indie Spotlight: Jack Houghteling". The Next Best Book Club. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  10. ^ Houghteling, Jack (5 September 2023). "Excerpt from the novel Sunnyside". Socrates on the Beach. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  11. ^ Gerke, Greg (5 September 2023). "Socrates on the Beach Issue Nine Editor's Note". Socrates on the Beach. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  12. ^ Pizza Media, Dick's (29 September 2023). "Beyond The Zero Interview with Jack Houghteling". Apple Podcasts (Podcast). Beyond The Zero. Event occurs at 23:18-26:00.
  13. ^ Vielkind, Jimmy (6 April 2018). "The Heated LG Race". Politico. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  14. ^ "New York State Senate District 18". Ballotpedia. February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  15. ^ Nanus, Ken (29 September 2023). "Author draws from Rivertowns roots for second novel". The Rivertowns Enterprise. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2024.