All Books
October’s 10 best books add up to a month of great readingThe 10 best books of October 2024 include a thrilling naval adventure, a novel about 19th-century New Orleans, and a history of Handel’s “Messiah.”
Romancing the tome: How romance writers surprised the publishing worldIn “Love in the Time of Self-Publishing,” researcher Christine Larson explores the strength of Romancelandia, the community of mostly women who write romance novels.
In ‘The Message,’ Ta-Nehisi Coates urges his students to see for themselves“The Message” is a collection of commentaries about African ancestry and identity, political power and polarity, and finally, a damning assessment of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The art of conversation: Books for going beyond conflictAt a time when civility in politics seems increasingly rare, these books explore how the simple art of conversation can reduce conflict in our own lives.
How to have better conversations with people across the aisleBob Stains has dedicated his life to helping transform conflicts, urging us to soften our “hearts of stone” and go beyond “simple stories” about others. In a Q&A, he offers tips on how to do it.
First LookHan Kang, author of ‘The Vegetarian,’ is first Asian woman to win Nobel in literatureThe Nobel Prize in literature has long faced criticism for its focus on European and North American men. Han Kang, the first Asian woman to win, writes “intense lyrical prose that is both tender and brutal,” said A Nobel literature committee member.
Americans are actually less divided than they think“Remaking the Space Between Us” counters the inclination to feel overwhelmed, angry, or helpless about civic life.
First LookWhat’s in Bob Woodward’s new book? Private calls, rage, and regrets of Trump and Biden.In his new book, “War,” journalist Bob Woodward reports Donald Trump privately called Vladimir Putin as many as seven times since leaving office, and that Joe Biden’s anger at Benjamin Netanyahu is boiling in private, among other revelations.
After a violent upheaval, impressionists chose beautyA war and an insurrection upended Paris in the 1800s. Then came the soothing art.
This chef is fighting a culinary battle for Ukrainian identityIn “The Authentic Ukrainian Kitchen: Recipes from a Native Chef,” Yevhen Klopotenko celebrates the foods that separate Ukraine from Russia.
His father fled China. It took years for him to talk about it.In “At the Edge of Empire: A Family’s Reckoning With China,” Edward Wong traces the roots of his father’s flight from China – and the country’s evolution.
‘Turning off the porch lights’ to reveal nature’s hidden marvelsHow often do you venture into the dark? Author Leigh Ann Henion shares her journey in ‘Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark."
Bohemian rhapsody: Two writers celebrate Greenwich Village of the ’60sGreenwich Village in the ’60s attracted musicians like Joan Baez. Novelist Sarah Seltzer (“The Singer Sisters”) and music journalist David Browne (“Talkin’ Greenwich Village”) chat about the Village’s enduring appeal.
Kick off fall with the Monitor’s 10 best books of SeptemberAs summer fades into fall, our picks for September’s best books offer the perfect contemplative page-turners for chilly autumn days.
Five mysteries to savor, from Kate Atkinson to Richard OsmanDeath takes a holiday, as a quintet of cozy mysteries transports readers to far-flung locales, including Italy, France, and the Himalayas.
‘Poetry is true to the human story’: An interview with Ajibola Tolase“In life we migrate. You leave one relationship for another,” says prize-winning poet Ajibola Tolase. His debut collection, “2000 Blacks,” tackles migration and Blackness.
‘Tell Me Everything’ listens in on the stories of the heartElizabeth Strout tenderly reminds us that each person longs to be heard, and their story is worth hearing, in “Tell Me Everything.”
‘We cannot allow the terrorists to win’: Rebuilding the World Trade CenterAfter the 9/11 attacks brought down the World Trade Center towers, developer Larry Silverstein fought 20 years to restore the site. He describes the ordeal in “The Rising.”
In Matt Haig’s ‘The Life Impossible’ an island adventure in hope awaitsLike “The Midnight Library,” Matt Haig’s novel “The Life Impossible” embraces curiosity, persistence, and the possibility of change.
For ‘The Bookshop’ author, bookstores were ‘sites of resistance’In the 1960s and ‘70s, small bookshops provided spaces where ideas and activism could flourish. Today, while indie bookstores can be considered “endangered species,” their vitality as community gathering places is thriving.
