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
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
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
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
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
The Edge of Comprehension: On Steven Millhauser The Edge of Comprehension: On Steven Millhauser
With We Others, Steven Millhauser remains the master of the inevitable ending in American fiction.
Oct 18, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Aaron Thier
Break Their Hearts: On Chris Bachelder Break Their Hearts: On Chris Bachelder
In his novel Abbott Awaits, Chris Bachelder employs his comic wackiness to great effect.
Sep 6, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Aaron Thier
The Children’s Hospital: On David Foster Wallace The Children’s Hospital: On David Foster Wallace
Vulnerability was what made David Foster Wallace so beloved, but it often led him to surrender too much in his fiction.
Jun 15, 2011 / Books & the Arts / William Deresiewicz
Shelf Life Shelf Life
Daniel Orozco, Orientation and Other Stories; Mercè Rodoreda, The Selected Stories of Mercè Rodoreda.
May 18, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Alexandra Schwartz
The Cursi Affair: On Manuel Puig The Cursi Affair: On Manuel Puig
The Latin Boom writers failed to appreciate the work of fellow novelist Manuel Puig, who wrote about housewives and homosexuals.
Apr 21, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Natasha Wimmer