All Book Reviews
'The Unwomanly Face of War' records Russian women fighting in WWIISvetlana Alexievich, whose oral histories of Soviet and Russian lives earned her the Nobel Prize for Literature, collected the stories of hundreds of Soviet women World War II vets.
'Ants Among Elephants' offers a window into the complexities of IndiaSujatha Gidla's memoir of her mother and uncle is a moving, fascinating story of class struggle in India.
'Modern Gods' is an agile domestic drama, split between Ireland and Papua New GuineaIn Nick Laird's third novel, the everyday drama of a Northern Ireland family is overshadowed by a past that can't quite be left behind.
'Live from Cairo' vividly describes a world where refugees are case numbersIan Bassingthwaighte's debut novel centers on refugees and resettlement officers living in Cairo, as longtime Egyptian president Husni Mubarak steps down.
'White Man's Game' details efforts to save Mozambique's Gorongosa ParkChristian Science Monitor correspondent Stephanie Hanes profiles Boston philanthropist Greg Carr, who fell in love with Gorongosa and launched a campaign to bring its wildlife back.
'The Ministry of Utmost Happiness' is a sprawling tale in which Kashmir looms largeArundhati Roy's first novel in two decades returns to the religious divisions polarizing India.
'Jane Austen at Home' considers where and how Austen lived and why it mattersLucy Worlsey's new biography covers familiar ground but also offers some distinct angles.
'Thoreau: A Life' doesn't shy away from the man's myriad contradictionsLaura Dassow Walls's work offers a well-crafted biography of Walden’s most famous resident.
'Among The Living And The Dead' is a moving search for traces of the author's Latvian familyJournalist Inara Verzemnieks fuses world history with personal history as she travels to Latvia to trace the surviving branches of her family.
'Hannibal' relates the famous general's story with wonderful energyArcheologist and historian Patrick Hunt distills his survey of literature about the Second Punic War into a brightly dramatic story that covers virtually every anecdote connected with Hannibal.
'The Hidden Machinery' unveils the magic behind the literature we loveMargot Livesey becomes our guide into the hidden machinery behind great stories.
'Reading with Patrick' tells of a teacher's extraordinary journeyA Harvard-educated idealist takes a two-year teaching job in one of the country’s most depressed, segregated cities – then returns again when a beloved student goes to jail.
'Woolly' is a page-turning look at scientists pushing the limits of DNA researchBestselling author Ben Mezrich tells a true story of genetics research being done at the cutting edge of science, morality, conservation, and – some might argue – humankind.
'Six Encounters with Lincoln' challenges America's view of its 16th presidentIn her final book, a historian looks to take an objective measure of the administration of an American icon.
'To the New Owners' is a bittersweet ode to a Martha's Vineyard homeWhat happens when you sell a house you love this much?
'Havana' probes the mysteries and magic of the Cuban capitalMark Kurlansky takes his idiosyncratic approach on a trip to the fabled Cuban city.
'Theft By Finding' opens a window into David Sedaris's past through his diariesDavid Sedaris has made a literary career out of transforming the events of his life into mordantly comic prose. What does a look into his source material tell us?
'History of a Disappearance' tells the story of a once vibrant Polish townThis imaginative reconstruction of the life of a centuries-old town is 'a superb work of intelligence, originality, and tremendous enterprise.'
'Toscanini: Musician of Conscience' is a feast of music, culture, politicsToscanini's life intersected with the lives of a range of fascinating figures, including Puccini, Verdi, Mahler, Horowitz, the relatives of Richard Wagner, and diabolical characters like Mussolini and Hitler.
'Golden Hill' is a terrific debut historical novel, set in 1746 ManhattanA stranger bearing a large bill arrives in the small muddy town of colonial New York, and high jinks ensue.
