Author Interviews The Incredible Story Of Chilean Miners Rescued From The 'Deep Down Dark' October 29, 2014 Hector Tobar had exclusive access to the 33 miners to report his new book detailing the claustrophobic horror they faced when they were trapped for 69 days in 2010. The result is a doozy. Listen Loading… 8:12 Download Playlist
'Slow Regard' Is A Riddle, Wrapped In A Mystery, Living In An Underground Tunnel October 28, 2014 Patrick Rothfuss' new novella is a dreamy flight of fantasy that follows a secondary character in his vast Kingkiller Chronicle: Auri, a quiet young woman living in a sprawling, secret tunnel network.
Book Review: 'Belzhar' By Meg Wolitzer October 28, 2014 Novelist Gabrielle Zelvin reviews Meg Wolitzer's new young adult book, Belzhar. Listen Loading… 2:27 Download Playlist
Locust Moon Press The Battle For Dreamland, Revisited In 'Nemo' October 28, 2014 A lavishly produced new tribute to Winsor McCay's Little Nemo comics gathers dozens of today's artists to revisit Slumberland. Critic Etelka Lehoczky says the book is beautiful but unchallenging.
Book Review: 'Nora Webster' by Colm Toibin October 27, 2014 Alan Cheuse reviews a new novel by Colm Toibin, Nora Webster. Listen Loading… 1:52 Download Playlist
This Week's Must Read After The Blackwater Convictions, A Book On Iraq's Nightmarish Reality October 26, 2014 Four former Blackwater guards were found guilty last week in connection with a fatal shooting in 2007. Author Brian Castner recommends a book on the toll violence has taken on Iraq. Listen Loading… 2:05 Download Playlist
The Freaky, Fabulous, Feminist 'Secret History' Of Wonder Woman October 26, 2014 Jill Lepore's new book about Wonder Woman reveals the unconventional life of her creator, William Moulton Marston, who invented the lie detector, championed feminism, and lived with two women at once.
'Beautiful You' Makes Sex And Death Boring October 25, 2014 Chuck Palahniuk aims for piquant social satire in his new novel, but reviewer (and longtime fan) Jason Sheehan finds his fandom severely dented by lazy characterizations and lack of actual satire.
'Heap House' Is A Treasure Of A Trash Tale October 25, 2014 Edward Carey's illustrated young adult novel about the keepers of mystical trash heaps (yes, you read that right) in an alternate Victorian London combines thrills with intelligence and compassion.
This Week's Must Read For The Midterm Elections, A Book On 'What It Takes' To Win October 24, 2014 The midterm elections are less than two weeks away. Writer Michael Schaub recommends a book that explores what it's like to run for office and live through all the dramatic ups and downs. Listen Loading… 2:12 Download Playlist
cover crop Other Press hide caption itoggle caption Other Press Pursuing The Mafia Into All 'Four Corners' Of Palermo October 24, 2014 Reporter Giuseppe di Piazza's debut novel, The Four Corners of Palermo, follows an unnamed young reporter during the brutal early days of the mafia's conflict with the Italian government in the 1980s.
'Rebellion' Charts A Tumultuous, Formative Century October 24, 2014 Historian Peter Ackroyd's new book surveys the history of England from the end of the Tudor era to the Glorious Revolution of 1688 — almost a century of war, debate and transformation.
You'll Want To Accept The Dinner Invitation To 'The Immortal Evening' October 23, 2014 On a cold evening in London in 1817, painter Benjamin Haydon hosted a dinner with the likes of Keats and Wordsworth. Critic Stanley Plumly recreates the crackling conversation about art and science. Listen Loading… 6:41 Download Playlist
'Season Of The Witch' Shines A (Black)Light On The Occult In Rock October 23, 2014 Rock 'n' roll rebellion is mainstream today, but Peter Bebergal's new book summons a more shadowed past, when artists like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin brought an occult mystique to the music.
'Republic Of Imagination' Sings The Praises Of Literature October 23, 2014 The author of Reading Lolita in Tehran returns, this time with a paean to the importance of literature in a democratic society. Reviewer Heller McAlpin says Azar Nafisi may be preaching to the choir.
Book Reviews Better Off Red: 'War Dogs' Puts Marines On Mars October 22, 2014 Greg Bear's latest space adventure goes from the Earth to Mars and back again with a grizzled group of "Skyrines" (Sky Marines, get it?) on the trail of a mysterious alien treasure.
Who Is 'Limonov'? Not Even His Biographer Really Knows October 21, 2014 A new biography of the Russian political prankster/author/revolutionary Edward Limonov asks what turns out to be an unanswerable question: What's Limonov thinking, and what does he really want?
'Lila' Sets The Stage For Marilynn Robinson's Earlier Works October 20, 2014 Alan Cheuse reviews Lila, a new novel from Marilynne Robinson that is a prequel to her earlier books and has been shortlisted for the National Book Award. Listen Loading… 1:55 Download Playlist
This Week's Must Read After A Flurry Of Literary Awards, A Book On The 'Wonder' Of Words October 19, 2014 It's literary awards season. The Nobel, the National Book Awards shortlists, and the Man Booker Prize were all recently announced. Author Jason Sheehan recommends some reading on all this reading. Listen Loading… 2:36 Download Playlist
Amid The Chaos Of Debt Collection, 'Bad Paper' Offers A Riveting Roadmap October 19, 2014 It's not often that a book can mix machetes with hedge funds. Then again, few industries are as chaotic, and compelling, as debt collection — which Jake Halpern's book reveals in alarming detail.
300,000,000 Is A Horrific, Poetic Anti-Ode To America October 18, 2014 Blake Butler's new novel, 300,000,000, is not for the squeamish. This portrait of a serial killer and the detective who hunts him will curdle the blood — and possibly the soul — of any reader.
A Collection Of Poems That Offers An Unlikely Kind Of Hope October 18, 2014 In his second poetry collection, The New Testament, Jericho Brown weaves together strains of religious invocations with his uneasy identity as a southern, gay, black man into a beguiling self myth.
This Week's Must Read Oscar Pistorius' Sentencing And The Classic True Crime Novel October 17, 2014 Oscar Pistorius, superstar athlete, was back in court this week for his sentencing hearing, after a culpable homicide conviction. Journalist Mandy Wiener says his case reminds her of a favorite book.