Book Reviews

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Arts

A Reference Guide To Reference In 'You Could Look It Up'

8:36am February 24, 2016

by Genevieve Valentine

Encyclopedias, dictionaries and directories take on a life of their own in Jack Lynch's new book — a history of reference systems that becomes an examination of the nature of lexicography itself.

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Arts

'We've Already Gone This Far' Counts The Cost Of War

7:36pm February 23, 2016

by Michael Schaub

Patrick Dacey's debut story collection follows the people of a fictional Massachusetts town hit hard by war, weather and economic turmoil. Critic Michael Schaub praises Dacey's emotional honesty.

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Arts

'Doubter's Almanac' Is A Family Saga, Plus Algebraic Equations

10:14am February 23, 2016

by Maureen Corrigan

Ethan Canin traces the complicated lives of two generations of mathematical geniuses in his new novel. Critic Maureen Corrigan calls it an "elegant and devastating novel."

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The Battle for Room 314 by Ed Boland (Grand Central Publishing)

Yet Another Teaching Memoir? A Teacher's Critique

1:01pm February 22, 2016

Recent years have seen a proliferation of books about the struggles of rookie teachers. We asked a veteran New York City teacher to review The Battle for Room 314 by Ed Boland.

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Arts

'How To Be A Tudor': Not As Stinky As You Think

12:20pm February 18, 2016

by Genevieve Valentine

Ruth Goodman — adviser to BBC productions like Wolf Hall — digs deep into the everyday life of Tudor England in her new book. Surprisingly, Elizabethan hygiene isn't as bad as you might think.

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Arts

Lies We Tell Ourselves Propel 'The Widow'

10:00am February 18, 2016

by Bethanne Patrick

Veteran reporter Fiona Barton brings a journalist's eye to her fiction debut, the story of a woman thrust into the spotlight after her husband — accused of a terrible crime — dies in an accident.

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Arts

'Furnace' Burns With Horror And Wonder

6:43pm February 17, 2016

by Jason Heller

Livia Llewellyn's new story collection is beautiful and hideous in the same breath, steeped in the traditions of H.P. Lovecraft. Critic Jason Heller calls it "bursting with blood and shadow and dust."

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Arts

Book Review: 'The Darkening Trapeze,' Larry Lewis

5:10pm February 16, 2016

Tess Taylor reviews a posthumous collection by Larry Levis, The Darkening Trapeze.

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Books
Arts

What The Sitcoms Don't Tell You About New York City Friendships

7:00am February 15, 2016

by Michael Schaub

Kristopher Jansma's novel, Why We Came to the City, explores the dynamic between a group of friends who must confront cancer, alcoholism and the mirage of contentment created by New York City.

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Arts

M.F.K. Fisher Conjured Good Times That Couldn't Last

7:00am February 14, 2016

by Jason Sheehan

In this posthumous novel beloved food writer, M.F.K. Fisher, rouses the "perfect nothingness, lightness and frivolity of the days before tragedy" as well as the "squirming aftermath."