All Book Reviews
'The Debatable Land' probes the history of a chink in the Scottish-English borderBritish historian Graham Robb explores the land that once supported the descendents of the first king of Scotland.
Lively narrators, rich context make these middle-grade books shineFrom Pakistan to Miami, these lively tales speak to readers in the 8-12 age group.
'The Word Is Murder' is Anthony Horowitz at his ambitious bestThis clever work of meta-fiction is told by a writer named Anthony Horowitz, who has been asked by a former detective to look into a most unusual murder.
10 best books of June: the Monitor's picksFrom the Tour de France to the dark side of America's economy, these new June releases cover plenty of ground.
'Life in the Garden' lovingly recalls the place of gardens in an author's lifePenelope Lively explores the garden’s place in art and literature, and in her own life.
'A View of the Empire at Sunset' uses author Jean Rhys to explore 'otherness'Novelist Caryl Phillips uses the life of author Jean Rhys to once again explore themes of racism and colonialism.
'Our Towns' finds optimism in America's smaller citiesHusband-and-wife journalism team James and Deborah Fallows spent five years traveling the US via passenger plane and returned with a refreshingly positive story to tell.
Voyages, animals, beauty for the youngest readersSix lovely picture books exemplify the joys of summer reading.
'Reporter' offers a captivating account of an entire era of journalismSeymour Hersh's memoir is full of smooth storytelling and well-turned anecdotes, but it can also be a bumpy ride.
4 delightful new books for middle-grade readersHistory, fantasy, humor, and drama mingle in these four wonderful new books for middle-grade readers – out just in time for summer reading.
'The Good Mothers' profiles the female prosecutor who took on Italy's mafiaAlessandra Cerreti took the unusual route of stalking southern Italy's Ndrangheta through the group's wives and mothers.
'Elmore Leonard: Westerns' celebrates Leonard's mastery of the genreThis collection of four shoot-em-up novels and eight short stories beautifully demonstrates Leonard’s gift for crisp dialogue, swift plotting, and flab-free storytelling.
4 audiobooks about familiesFamilies of various kinds are at the heart of four audiobooks this month.
'Rome' tells the story of the Eternal City through seven moments of defeatLike most very old and very storied cities, Rome has as many scars as trophies.
Zora Neale Hurston explores the life of a slave trade survivor in 'Barracoon'Hurston’s study of Lewis was conducted during her years as a Barnard College anthropology student under Dr. Franz Boas.
'The Wind In My Hair' is Iranian activist Masih Alinejad's gutsy storyAlinejad, creator of the My Stealthy Freedom campaign, celebrates 'the moments of small rebellion, the tiny acts of defiance that allow us to breathe, the guilty pleasure of breaking unjust rules.'
Tony Hillerman's daughter Anne on keeping her father's mysteries aliveWith new focus on a female character, Anne Hillerman is successfully reviving her dad's immensely popular novels.
'Kindest Regards' serves up the quietly subversive poetry of Ted KooserFormer US poet laureate Kooser has the gift of discovering literary vignettes where others fail to see below the surface.
'Saving Central Park' recounts a love affair with a legendary green spaceFormer Central Park Conservancy president Elizabeth Barlow Rogers blends her own story with that of the park that she loves.
'The World-Ending Fire' collects 31 essential Wendell Berry essaysWho better than Berry to explain to us 'who we are, where we are, and what we must do to live'?
