Book Review: 'Once In The West'
Tess Taylor reviews Christian Wiman's new collection of poems, "Once in the West."
Books
For Single Women, An 'Infinite Variety Of Paths'
Getting married used to mark the start of a woman's adult life. But the average age women get married has gone from about 22 to about 27. The shift, says writer Rebecca Traister, has been profound.
In A Desolate Montana, 'The Ploughmen' Unearths Dark Truths
Kim Zupan's debut novel is about the relationship between a deputy sheriff and a hardened killer. This book explores the line between good and evil in a manner that's as honest as it is unsettling.
Book News: First-Ever Kirkus Prize Picks 18 Finalists
Kirkus Reviews has been around, in varying forms, for over 80 years — but it's the new kid in town this awards season. Today, the publication announced the finalists for its inaugural Kirkus Prize.
Lena Dunham On Sex, Oversharing And Writing About Lost 'Girls'
Dunham says when she started writing HBO's Girls, she was drawn to characters with "a bit of a Zelda Fitzgerald lost, broken woman quality." Her new essay collection is called Not That Kind of Girl.
Novelist Caitlin Moran Wryly Shows 'How To Build A Girl'
Caitlin Moran's semi-autobiographical novel is an earnestly written look at a young woman's self-reinvention. How to Build a Girl tackles class, gender and sexuality with both humor and sincerity.
After Childhood Abuse, 'Times' Columnist Says He Chose Life Over Vengeance
Charles Blow says he was 7 years old when he was sexually abused by a cousin. His new memoir, Fire Shut Up In My Bones, is about what he says happened, his recovery and his bisexuality.
Book News: Listen To The First-Timers Nominated For PEN Prize
A night before the winner's declared, the writers shortlisted for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize read their works. Listen here first. Also: Thomas Pynchon might soon be coming to the big screen.
'Rooms' Is Haunted By People (And Ghosts) That Can't Let Go
YA author Lauren Oliver's debut adult novel features an old mansion occupied by dysfunctional characters, both living and dead. Oliver fits these seemingly disparate lives together like a puzzle ring.
Inaugural Poet Recalls A Closeted Childhood Of Cultural Tension
Richard Blanco, who read "One Today" at Obama's inauguration in 2013, explores the collision of sexual, artistic and cultural identity in his new memoir about his childhood in Miami.