I Hate to Leave This Beautiful Place by Howard Norman
Howard Norman’s book, "I Hate to Leave This Beautiful Place," is a collection of five essays that cover different periods of the author's life. Rather than a neatly organized journey, the book feels...
South and West: From a Notebook by Joan Didion
During times of intense social and political upheaval, we often seek insight and solace from our most articulate journalists and commentators. In the past, luminaries like Norman Mailer, I. F. Stone, Tom Wolfe,...
Conditional Citizens by Laila Lalami
In her book "Conditional Citizens," Laila Lalami discusses the concept of being marginalized in America based on race, ethnicity, gender, or origin. She argues that systematic actions differentiate between white citizens and others,...
Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion
In a lecture at the University of California, Berkeley in 1976, Joan Didion reminisced about her college days, admitting her struggle to focus on academic topics like "Paradise Lost" and the "Hegelian dialectic."...
Kant’s Little Prussian Head & Other Reasons Why I Write by Claire Messud
In a time of uncertainty, many have pondered: where can we find hope? In the latest collection of essays titled Kant’s Little Prussian Head & Other Reasons Why I Write: An Autobiography in...
Silence by Jane Brox
In her book Silence, Jane Brox delves into the power and impact of silence, starting with the story of Charles Williams, the first prisoner at Eastern State Penitentiary in 1829. Williams was sentenced...
Home Waters by John N. Maclean
In his memoir, John N. Maclean recounts his experiences fly fishing on Montana’s Big Blackfoot River. He reflects on a conversation with his father, Norman, about why they no longer fish there, with...
Philosopher of the Heart by Clare Carlisle
Philosophers often lead quiet and introspective lives, focusing on deep reflections rather than dramatic events. The life of Søren Kierkegaard, a renowned introverted philosopher, as explored in Clare Carlisle's recent book Philosopher of...
Slight Exaggeration by Adam Zagajewski, translated by Clare Cavanagh
In the book "Slight Exaggeration," Adam Zagajewski, a renowned Polish poet, delves into the realms of literature, art, and history. His work is a unique blend that defies easy categorization - it is...
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
One recurring question in Carmen Maria Machado’s latest memoir about an abusive same-sex relationship is: How did we end up here? Followed by: Is this the breaking point?
For instance, Machado illustrates a nightmarish...
