I Confess (Sort of) I Confess (Sort of)
A confession is, by definition, a declaration of guilt.
Mar 11, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Kate Levin
The Pleasures of Crime The Pleasures of Crime
Despite their indifference to genre fiction, American publishers of literary novels have consistently made exceptions for homegrown crime writers.
Feb 26, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Hillary Frey
A Near Perfect Spy Novelist A Near Perfect Spy Novelist
A year ago now, when the Bush Administration was preparing the world for an American invasion of Iraq, John le Carré wrote a column of scathing, sharp-toothed commentary f...
Jan 8, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Patrick Smith
Not Beloved Not Beloved
Toni Morrison's slim new novel, Love, may seem, at first glance, to fit within a group of books one could crudely call Morrison Lite, not requiring any heavy lifting from the rea...
Nov 26, 2003 / Books & the Arts / Thulani Davis
Growing Up All Wrong Growing Up All Wrong
Martin Amis is the most condescended-to novelist of his time. He is also one of the most literate, funny, quotable and (this the condescenders never neglect to mention) talente...
Nov 20, 2003 / Books & the Arts / Keith Gessen
The Name of Love The Name of Love
In January 1948 Dutton brought out the third novel of a promising young writer named Gore Vidal. The publishing house was nervous.
Nov 20, 2003 / Books & the Arts / Adam Haslett
Murder, She Wrote Murder, She Wrote
On the page, Patricia Highsmith could inspire a law-abiding citizen to become a willing accomplice to murder, at least within the realm of the imagination.
Nov 20, 2003 / Books & the Arts / Kera Bolonik
About Begley About Begley
Louis Begley is perhaps currently best known as the author of About Schmidt, the novel from which the recent acclaimed film starring Jack Nicholson was adapted.
Oct 30, 2003 / Books & the Arts / Claire Messud
What Are They Reading? What Are They Reading?
Kingdom of Shadows, the sixth of Alan Furst's novels of historical espionage fiction, was hard for me to put down--and when I did, I couldn't wait to pick it up again.
Oct 25, 2003 / Books & the Arts / Peter I. Fifield
Man’s Best Friend Man’s Best Friend
As Stevie Smith once wrote, while impersonating God, "I will forgive you everything,/But what you have done to my Dogs/I will not forgive." About Dan Rhodes's novel Timoleon Vi...
Oct 16, 2003 / Books & the Arts / Caleb Crain