Fiction

On Feminism and Sadomasochistic Sex On Feminism and Sadomasochistic Sex

Katie Roiphe's Newsweek cover story ignores the fact that in every century and decade, sadomasochistic erotica has broken into the mainstream.

Apr 16, 2012 / Blog / Dana Goldstein

Unmanageable Realities: On César Aira

Unmanageable Realities: On César Aira Unmanageable Realities: On César Aira

Varamo is the latest novel-in-translation from Argentina’s slipperiest living writer.

Apr 10, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Marcela Valdes

Putting the World Into the World: On Alighiero Boetti

Putting the World Into the World: On Alighiero Boetti Putting the World Into the World: On Alighiero Boetti

Opposites collapse in the work of the Shaman-Showman of contemporary Italian art.

Apr 3, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Barry Schwabsky

A Child of Sleepwalkers: On Gregor von Rezzori

A Child of Sleepwalkers: On Gregor von Rezzori A Child of Sleepwalkers: On Gregor von Rezzori

A novelist’s grim portrait of Central Europe between the wars.

Feb 15, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Lorna Scott Fox

Everything Except Me: On Percival Everett Everything Except Me: On Percival Everett

In Assumption a murder mystery becomes a lesson in how much we do not know.

Jan 18, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Laila Lalami

You Can’t Always Get What You Want: On Stephen King

You Can’t Always Get What You Want: On Stephen King You Can’t Always Get What You Want: On Stephen King

In 11/22/63, Stephen King conveys the horrors of American exceptionalism.

Dec 21, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Charles Taylor

Eels Über Alles: On Julio Cortázar

Eels Über Alles: On Julio Cortázar Eels Über Alles: On Julio Cortázar

A novelist’s lyrical attempt to measure the immeasurable.

Dec 6, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Ben Ehrenreich

Secret Paragraphs: On Alan Hollinghurst

Secret Paragraphs: On Alan Hollinghurst Secret Paragraphs: On Alan Hollinghurst

The Stranger's Child traces the vanishing of same-sex love through suppression and then, paradoxically, acceptance and openness.

Nov 30, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Maria Margaronis

Beattitudes: On Ann Beattie

Beattitudes: On Ann Beattie Beattitudes: On Ann Beattie

Ann Beattie is an artist of the things we don’t say, or can’t, and that find expression anyway.

Nov 22, 2011 / Books & the Arts / William Deresiewicz

Obscure Objects of Desire: On Jeffrey Eugenides

Obscure Objects of Desire: On Jeffrey Eugenides Obscure Objects of Desire: On Jeffrey Eugenides

In The Marriage Plot Jeffrey Eugenides can’t explain what happens to his characters without throwing in every last why.

Nov 22, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Alexandra Schwartz

x