Making Strange: On Victor Shklovsky Making Strange: On Victor Shklovsky
A Russian novelist’s fight, in life and art, to see the world afresh in all its cruelty and splendor.
Feb 5, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Ben Ehrenreich
Among the Blasphemers: On Salman Rushdie Among the Blasphemers: On Salman Rushdie
Joseph Anton is a tale of betrayals: of free speech, communities, religion, marriages, personal convictions, friends.
Jan 16, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Laila Lalami
Homage to a Creative Elder Homage to a Creative Elder
My Tante Rezia was a patron of the arts, one of those silent supporters that every family, every artist, has and needs but rarely acknowledges.
Jan 9, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Edwidge Danticat
Shelf Life Shelf Life
The Collected Writings of Joe Brainard.
Sep 5, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Barry Schwabsky
Fatherland: On Héctor Abad Faciolince Fatherland: On Héctor Abad Faciolince
Oblivion re-creates the life of one of the many innocent victims of the Colombian conflict.
Aug 8, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Jorge Volpi
A Vast Choir of Voices: On Claude Lanzmann A Vast Choir of Voices: On Claude Lanzmann
In his memoir, The Patagonian Hare, the Shoah director’s life upstages his masterwork.
Jun 13, 2012 / Books & the Arts / David Rieff
The Road to Marjayoun: On Anthony Shadid The Road to Marjayoun: On Anthony Shadid
Anthony Shadid was an exceedingly rare reporter in the thinning ranks of American journalism.
Apr 25, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Scott Sherman
All that Lore: On James Wolcott All that Lore: On James Wolcott
The critic James Wolcott has been gamely fighting losing battles for most of his career.
Jan 18, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Leo Robson
Shelf Life Shelf Life
Anne Rophie’s Art and Madness, Millicent Monk’s Songs of Three Islands, Maisie Houghton’s Pitch Uncertain.
Dec 14, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Elias Altman
Starting out in Seattle: On Jonathan Raban Starting out in Seattle: On Jonathan Raban
Jonathan Raban has made a persona out of the self that feels nowhere at home.
Nov 16, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Vivian Gornick