Book Reviews

Books
Arts

Purple Spirit Ninjas And Mohawked Foxes: 'Shutter' Is A New Adventure

10:41am December 01, 2014

by Etelka Lehoczky

The first six issues of Shutter have been released as a trade paperback, and critic Etelka Lehoczky praises the comic's decidedly pointed take on classic exploration and adventure narratives.

Books
Arts

An Aging Rake, An Ingenue, And A Strapping Young Painter In 'Tristana'

5:44am November 30, 2014

by Juan Vidal

NYRB Classics has just reissued Tristana, an 1892 novel by the great Spanish author Benito Pérez Galdós. Critic Juan Vidal says Tristana's intelligence and emotional richness is comparable to Dickens.

After The Ferguson Decision, A Poem That Gives Name To The Hurt

6:22pm November 28, 2014

by Syreeta McFadden

This week, a Missouri grand jury decided not to indict Darren Wilson, the officer who killed Michael Brown. Writer Syreeta McFadden turns to Audre Lorde's poetry to make sense of this decision.

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Books
Arts

North-Of-The-Border Horror In 'Go Down Together'

2:41pm November 26, 2014

by Jason Heller

Cold, dark winter nights are the perfect time to dip into Gemma Files' chilling new story collection, We Will All Go Down Together. Critic Jason Heller praises Files' "ghostly, magical storytelling."

Books
Arts

Book Review: 'All The Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid'

3:53pm November 25, 2014

by Ted Koppel

The new book by Matt Bai explores the political resonance of Gary Hart, whose presidential ambitions were dashed when he revealed he had an affair.

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Arts

Book Review: 'Lunch Poems' Reissue

10:15am November 25, 2014

by Tess Taylor

In honor of the 50th anniversary of "Lunch Poems" by Frank O'Hara, City Lights Books has reissued an expanded version of the collection.

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Books
Arts

These Tales Of Transformation Are Both 'Rich And Strange'

2:28pm November 24, 2014

by Alan Cheuse

Ron Rash's latest collects 34 of his best short stories; critic Alan Cheuse says they're searingly beautiful, "as if someone has taken a stick from a blazing fire and pressed it into your hand."

These 'True Tales' Add Nuance To The Immigration Discussion

6:36pm November 21, 2014

by Gustavo Arellano

President Obama announced an executive action on immigration this week. For an in-depth look at the issue, author Gustavo Arellano recommends two nonfiction collections about Mexican immigrants.

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Books
Arts

There's More To Asking Than Just Art

10:20am November 21, 2014

by Annalisa Quinn

Amanda Palmer's new The Art of Asking outlines a well-intentioned but hazy philosophy of asking for help. Critic Annalisa Quinn says Palmer glosses over societal realities of who has access to help.

Books

Book Review: 'Citizen: An American Lyric'

6:30pm November 20, 2014

by Tess Taylor

Poet Tess Taylor reviews "Citizen: An American Lyric" by Claudia Rankine. It's been nominated for a National Book Award.

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