Reading in an Age of Depression Reading in an Age of Depression
An editor ponders the publishing industry meltdown--and the precarious future of books.
Dec 18, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Tom Engelhardt
Victim ‘Hood Victim ‘Hood
An account of the most recent installment in the nation's sick love affair with literary exhibitionists.
Mar 25, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Chris Lehmann
Terry McMillan vs. Ghetto Lit Terry McMillan vs. Ghetto Lit
Driven by a tabloid episode from her own marriage, the novelist joins the debate over the mass marketing of trashy books to young black readers.
Oct 15, 2007 / Books & the Arts / Amy Alexander
Arthur: The Little Magazine That Could Arthur: The Little Magazine That Could
You thought Arthur was gone for good? The indie magazine beloved for its music coverage and antiwar politics will resume publishing this summer.
Jul 11, 2007 / Books & the Arts / Kevin McCarthy
TNR’s New Owners TNR’s New Owners
No matter what you think of The New Republic's politics, the public sphere will suffer if the magazine becomes homogenized by its new corporate owner.
Mar 6, 2007 / Books & the Arts / Clint Hendler
Sloppy Seconds Sloppy Seconds
The plagiarism flap over Opal Mehta is essentially a story about clichés and stereotypes passing from one subliterary commercial product to another.
May 4, 2006 / Books & the Arts / Stuart Klawans
Truth, Fiction and Frey Truth, Fiction and Frey
James Frey's faux memoir exposes corporate publishing as an industry so starved for bestsellers that it is unable to protect itself from fraud.
Jan 26, 2006 / Books & the Arts / Matthew Flamm
The Cost of Integrity The Cost of Integrity
The recent controversy over false claims in James Frey's The recent controversy over false claims in James Frey's best-selling memoir "A Million Little Pieces" raises questions abo...
Jan 13, 2006 / Books & the Arts / Richard Kluger
Nancy Has Two Mommies Nancy Has Two Mommies
Nancy Drew has been a fixture in young girls' lives since 1930. But the continuing appeal of this spunky American icon--never sad, wrinkled or misunderstood--is both heartwarming a...
Nov 30, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Brenda Wineapple
Protest and Survive Protest and Survive
Thoughts on the critical role of the journal of dissent in America.
Apr 28, 2005 / Feature / Victor Navasky