Reviews of books by Colson Whitehead and Mohsin Hamid Continue reading Book Report — The Nickel Boys; Exit West

Reviews of Tommy Orange’s second novel and Kathleen Hanna’s memoir Continue reading Book Report — Wandering Stars; Rebel Girl

Featuring: a stirring history of women journalists during World War II and a collection of precise short stories. Continue reading Book Report — The Correspondents; No One Belongs Here More Than You

Featuring: A moving novel from Clare O’Dea and a snappingly great biography by Carrie Courogen. Continue reading Book Report — Voting Day; Miss May Does Not Exist

Featuring: A colorful family saga imagined up by Karen Russell and deeply impressive historical reporting by Lawrence Wright. Continue reading Book Report — Swamplandia!; Thirteen Days in September

Featuring: A messy memoir from Jessica Valenti, and a powerful history lesson from James Reston, Jr. Continue reading Book Report — Sex Object: A Memoir; A Rift in the Earth: Art, Memory, and the Fight for a Vietnam War Memorial

A Life of Barbara Stanwyck: Steel-True 1907-1940 by Victoria Wilson Nonfiction, 2013 She had so many dogs that she had to take up carpets and get rid of various chairs. A visitor walked into her house, looked around at the … Continue reading Book Report — A Life of Barbara Stanwyck: Steel-True 1907-1940; The Phoenix and the Mirror

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett Fiction, 2001 There were deep white bathtubs with an endless supply of hot water pouring out of the curved spigots. There were stacks of soft white towels and pillows and blankets trimmed in satin and … Continue reading Book Report — Bel Canto; Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever