In ‘If It Bleeds’ Novella Collection, Stephen King Goes Soft
The venerable master of horror’s new book, ‘If It Bleeds,’ is a dispiriting collection of mostly uninspired novellas.
‘The Testaments’ Further Explores Margaret Atwood’s Feminist Dystopia
In Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Testaments,’ she expands upon the dystopian vision created by ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ and reveals political complexities that many ardent fans overlook.
In ‘Blue Moon,’ Jack Reacher Is Back
In Lee Child’s ‘Blue Moon,’ the popular and indomitable action hero Jack Reacher is back, and the results are typically satisfying.
Boy Whisperer Michael Gurian’s First Novel Delves Into The Roots Of Male Trauma
‘The Stone Boys’ is an intense journey depicting alternate paths for traumatized youth and the choices that ultimately lead to redemption or defeat.
Leigh Bardugo’s Fantasy Novel Set In The Ivy League Is Exactly What You’d Expect
The setting for Leigh Bardugo’s acclaimed new fantasy novel ‘Ninth House’ is Yale, and it’s an unintentionally revealing look at the lies our elites tell themselves to maintain their power.
How Jane Austen Pulled Off A Feat Of Genius In ‘Northanger Abbey’
In her satirical take on Gothic fiction, Austen pokes fun at some of the overwrought conventions prevalent at the time, but is careful not to condemn the genre as a whole.
Reconsidering The Astonishing Literary Legacy Of James Michener
The bestselling author of historical fiction got a bad rap in literary circles, but his rejection of postmodernism has given rise to jaded and unfair judgments of his epic storytelling.
The Latest Political Thriller From Brad Thor Doesn’t Disappoint
‘Spymaster,’ the latest entry in Brad Thor’s wildly popular thriller series, has a ripped-from-the-headlines plot about Russia undermining NATO.
America’s Best Satirical Novelist Embraces Historical Fiction With Hilarious Results
Political humorist Christopher Buckley, having decided that the Trump era has made contemporary satire impossible, turns back the clock and finds plenty of laughs in a novel about seventeenth-century America in ‘The Judge Hunter.’
How Tom Wolfe Reinvented Journalism And The Great American Novel
Tom Wolfe set a new standard in both the world of fiction and nonfiction, and with his passing, all we’re left with are pipsqueak visionaries.
‘The Hellfire Club’ Burns Up Readers’ Patience
CNN host Jake Tapper’s new novel, ‘The Hellfire Club,’ is a regrettable Washington thriller full of cardboard characters, absurd plotting, and relentless historical exposition.
A Master Of Historical Fiction Takes On Shakespeare
In ‘Fools and Mortals,’ Bernard Cornwell brings a lighter version of the grit and contention of his military historical fiction to Shakespeare’s theater.
Pulitzer Prize-Winner Claims ‘Super-White’ Children’s Books Ruined His Youth
Looking back, it turns out that no book I ever read was about me. None of that matters when reading fiction. But celebrated author Junot Díaz just doesn’t get it.
How Never-Satisfied Social Justice Mobs Are Ruining YA Book Publishing
As we’ve seen in Hollywood, television, and comics, young adult fiction audiences have been tuning out of the traditional platforms and seeking independent entertainment.
John Le Carré’s Latest Depicts A Spy Who Should Have Stayed In The Cold
‘A Legacy of Spies,’ the new novel by John Le Carré, is an anti-climactic mess eclipsed by the espionage master’s inability to grapple with contemporary political realities.
Reading Jules Verne This Summer Could Introduce Children To Endless Worlds Of Adventure
As vacation begins, decades of K-12 education research tells us that summertime is when the academic paths of higher- and lower-performing students most radically diverge.
Promoting ‘Captain Underpants’ To Reluctant Readers Doesn’t Help Them
Kids don’t need potty humor and malicious pranks to start reading books. They just need a good, interesting story.
How A City Councilman Reinvented Himself And His City
His parents? Dead. His favorite goat, Taog? Even more dead. His home? Burned dead to the ground. John G. McNamara had only one thing left: a taste for vengeance.
Why It’s A Problem That Reading Is At 30-Year Lows, And How ‘Digital Temperance’ Can Help
Americans’ interest in literature has dropped to a three-decade low. The fact is, many don’t know what they are missing—and they don’t care.
Young Adult Fiction Like Harry Potter Taught Millennials Stupid Ways To View Politics
J.K. Rowling may have an army of grown-up children to pile on her Twitter enemies, but she’s still a bad writer. Her adult fans like it because they don’t want to think too hard.
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