Book Reviews

Books
Arts

For Fall, 4 Literary Escapes — Worldly And Otherworldly

7:00am November 01, 2020

by Lily Meyer

As fall draws in, our literature in translation specialist has rounded up two novels and two story collections that will help you take a brief vacation from this world — and return re-energized.

Books
Arts

Inks And Colors Rescue 'Blue In Green' From Plodding Plotting

7:07am October 31, 2020

by Etelka Lehoczky

Writer Ram V takes on a classic music-biz myth in his new graphic novel: The devilish crossroads deal. But it's illustrator Anand RK's loose, jazzy, clever art that really makes this book sing.

Books
Arts

'The Cold Millions' Takes On The Dented Dream Of American Social Mobility

1:44pm October 29, 2020

by Maureen Corrigan

Jess Walter's sweeping new novel, which traces the adventures of two vagabond brothers, is set against the backdrop of the free speech demonstrations that erupted in Spokane, Wash., in 1909 and 1910.

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Books
Arts

For October, 3 Romances That Give You Exactly What You Want

7:00am October 29, 2020

by Maya Rodale

Predictability isn't always a bad thing — sometimes, it's a comfort. For October, our romance columnist rounds up three reads that give you exactly what you need in a romance, happy ending and all.

Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life, by Christie Tate

'Group' Destigmatizes And Demystifies Group Therapy, Without Lessons

5:00am October 29, 2020

by Lily Meyer

In her memoir, Christie Tate sets a positive example in the telling of how group therapy saved her — and in the care she takes to never present herself as an expert.

The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X, by Les Payne and Tamara Payne

'The Dead Are Arising' Sheds Light On Malcolm X — And Those That Influenced Him

10:14am October 28, 2020

by Gabino Iglesias

This isn't only a biography of Malcolm X; Les and Tamara Payne contextualize race in America prior to Malcolm's birth, and take a nuanced, unflinching look at his life, his death — and its aftermath.

Books
Arts

'Memorial' Is A Debut Novel That Feels Like The Work Of A Master

8:08am October 28, 2020

by Michael Schaub

Bryan Washington's eagerly awaited first novel is set in Houston — just like his short stories — and follows two young gay men whose relationship is tested when one man's mother comes to visit.

Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art, Rebecca Wragg Sykes

'Kindred' Dismantles Simplistic Views Of Neanderthals

10:12am October 27, 2020

by Barbara J. King

Rebecca Wragg Sykes describes evidence showing that as innovative tool- and fire-makers, Neanderthals adapted to changing climates, adopted symbolic cultural practices and expressed profound emotions.

American Utopia, David Byrne amd Maira Kalman

'American Utopia' Book Argues For The Reincarnation Of Hope In The American Project

10:27am October 26, 2020

by Lily Meyer

The work is much more like reading a book-length poem than reading a play, though few poems or poetry collections come filled with charming illustrations of trees, dancers, and party-hatted dogs.

Books
Arts

'To Hold Up The Sky' Asks A Simple Question: What If ... ?

7:00am October 25, 2020

by Jason Sheehan

Cixin Liu's latest collection — made up of several decades' worth of stories — showcases a science fiction that harks back to the earliest days of the genre, before grimdark or galactic empires.