Isabel Wilkerson’s ‘Caste’ Reveals the Other Kind of American Exceptionalism
Comparing the American race-based class system to that of India and Nazi Germany, Isabel Wilkerson makes us see a familiar evil in a different light with Caste.
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Halle Butler’s ‘Jillian’ Is a Frank Account of Discontent
Evoking both sarcasm and empathy, Butler paints Jillian and Megan as harbingers of a relatable alienation.
‘Conjure Women’ Brings Forth Racism and Reproductive Rights
It is Afia Atakora's reiteration of the current calls for racial justice that positions Conjure Women as an unadulterated masterpiece.
Music and Mind-Bending in David Mitchell’s ‘Utopia Avenue’
Woven into Utopia Avenue David Mitchell stitches a subtle critique of the impacts of the pot-heavy, lysergic-immersed, and heady music’s ambitions on pop culture, moral choices, and even tripping itself.
‘The Penguin Book of Italian Short Stories’
Jhumpa Lahiri's picks for The Penguin Book of Italian Short Stories may betray her sympathies. She has no problem with this.
Esi Edugyan’s ‘Washington Black’ Fails to Problematize Critical Race Issues
In her latest revisionist history, Washington Black, Esi Edugyan points toward colonial theory without critically addressing affirmations of white power.
Speculation and Responsibility in ‘A People’s Future of the United States’
Speculative futures should go beyond merely reflecting the fears peddled by news and social media. Anthology A People's Future of the United States at times pushes those boundaries.
‘Bitwise’ and Our Fluid Interactions with Technology
David Auerbach offers a unique perspective on the fascinations of technology as well as how it can often blight our sensibilities when thinking about our fellow human beings.
‘Alone Time’ and the Joys of Solitary, Mindful Travel
Rosenbloom's book is a companion guide for the solo traveler. Covering four cities over four seasons, she proves that solo travel can provide enriching joys, sensual pleasures, and rewarding adventures.
Nowhere Is a Place in Tatyana Tolstaya’s ‘Aetherial Worlds’
The short stories in Aetherial Worlds poignantly merge past, present, and fantasy through auto-fiction, essayistic pieces, and allegorical tales.
Is a Wasted Day the Same as a Lost Opportunity?
Patricia Hampl explores the intersection between wandering, leisure, and the power of the imagination in this thoughtful memoir.
We Go to William Trevor’s Works to Look for Ourselves and to Understand Others
Posthumous collection Last Stories proves that Trevor, as a short story writer, was a master in command of his craft and will remain in a class of his own.