All Book Reviews
‘Winterlust’ renders the ‘meanest season’ in benign and poetic termsBernd Brunner shapes a cultural history of the season, showing that even at its bleakest, winter can be redemptive.
Flannery O’Connor’s letters offer sharp insights into her writing“Good Things Out of Nazareth” collects the thoughts of the Georgia-born author as she confided in mentors, colleagues, and friends.
Two Hitler biographies draw eerie parallels to contemporary politicsPeter Longerich and Brendan Simms each shed light on the dictator’s role in not only Germany but also on the world stage.
Janis Joplin gave a little piece of her heart to every song she sangA biography follows the singer from her upbringing in a conservative Texas town to her (too brief) career as a raw-voiced blues and rock superstar.
‘The Peanuts Papers’: How a comic strip shaped the lives of writers and artists“Peanuts” was one of the most influential American comics. A new collection of meditative, charming essays explores the strip’s cultural impact.
Fears about robot overlords are (perhaps) prematureComputer science professor Melanie Mitchell clears up misconceptions about machine learning in “Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans.”
Yes, your dog really does understand youAlexandra Horowitz’s “Our Dogs, Ourselves” and Clive Wynne’s “Dog is Love” explore the scientific particulars behind your pooch’s adoration.
‘Condé Nast’ offers a discerning portrait of the publishing iconSusan Ronald’s biography shows Nast as a disciplined marketing genius amid the luster of the Jazz Age, and provides a history of magazine publishing.
‘The Testaments’ bears witness to oppressionMargaret Atwood considers “The Testaments,” her sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a wake-up call for this political moment.
Activist teens will love ‘The Downstairs Girl’ despite flawsStacey Lee adds an unusually long list of ingredients, including historical details, subplots, and social causes, to her novel.
Aching and perceptive, ‘The Water Dancer’ is an essential readTa-Nehisi Coates’ first foray into novel-writing deftly weaves fantasy and historical fact into a poignant tapestry of the antebellum South.
Alexander’s greatness rises again in newest biographyIn “Alexander the Great,” author Anthony Everitt crafts a lucid, readable, and compelling portrait of the celebrated general of ancient times.
‘Spin the Dawn’ is delightful, daring YA adventure“Mulan” meets “Project Runway” in Elizabeth Lim’s captivating debut. There’s no shortage of intrigue, drama, or excitement in this fantasy novel.
Voyage of the mind and body: Two books explore modern pilgrimageIn “The Road to San Donato” and “Walking to Jerusalem,” distance is not an obstacle for the body, but for the mind.
‘Cold Warriors’ is a thrilling dive into Cold War propagandaDuncan White explores the impact and manipulation of the literary elite of the Cold War era, touching on writers like Orwell, le Carré, and Pasternak.
A love letter to storytellingAlix E. Harrow’s debut novel, YA adventure “The Ten Thousand Doors of January,” is a wonderful jaunt through space and time. It’s well worth the trip.
‘Places and Names’ confronts conflict – both personal and militaryNow a journalist, Elliot Ackerman reflects on five tours of duty as a Marine in Iraq and Afghanistan with honesty and compassion.
Out of Africa: David Livingstone’s servants preserve his legacyPetina Gappah’s novel “Out of Darkness, Shining Light” imagines what the 19th-century explorer’s African servants thought of his quest.
Of moles and men: A memoir about the virtue of letting nature aloneMarc Hamer probes the essence of nature, solitude, and the accommodations we make between deeply held beliefs and our everyday behavior.
Susan Sontag’s razor-sharp intellect is captured in new biographyBenjamin Moser strikes a balance between the immersive details that fans expect and the storytelling that will appeal to more general readers.
