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Books
SHELF LOVE DAVID McCLOSKEY on his five favourite spy novels
Former CIA analyst David McCloskey has shared his top five spy novels, highlighting works by Charles McCarry, Ian Fleming, Jason Matthews, and David Ignatius alongside…
Iceland’s Murder Rate Is Off the Charts (At Least, In Its Books)
Iceland reported just eight homicides in 2024, reflecting its status as one of the world's safest countries, yet crime fiction remains highly popular despite the…
Barbara Kingsolver’s magnificent ‘Partita’ sings in the key of passion, yearning, and loss
Barbara Kingsolver’s novel "Partita" follows Livia Bohusz, a gifted pianist from rural Tennessee whose life is shaped by family tragedy and her devotion to music.…
Iceland’s Murder Rate Is Off the Charts (At Least, in Its Books)
Iceland recorded eight murders in 2024, an unusual figure given its small population and typically low violent crime rates. This contrast fuels a vibrant crime…
Played in a minor key: Barbara Kingsolver’s new novel
Barbara Kingsolver has released Partita, a novel centered on Livia, a middle-aged piano teacher in eastern Tennessee who confronts personal and regional hardships after reconnecting…
Shelf Love: Dan Jones on the Best History Books
Historian Dan Jones has shared a list of influential history books that shaped his approach, highlighting works that blend rigorous scholarship with engaging storytelling across…
Imagine the Hindenburg as a murder mystery
A new book revisits the 1937 Hindenburg disaster using newly uncovered archives and personal accounts to explore its causes and broader political context. By situating…
Miss Marple makes a comeback
British author Lucy Foley has published "Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel," the first authorized Miss Marple novel in 50 years, set in the Swiss…
Revolutionary’s tale in his own words
Bobby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, is reissuing his 1970 memoir *Seize the Time* and releasing a new book, *I, Bobby*, to share…
In ‘The Birthing Tree,’ Amanda Peters returns to the stories of her people
Amanda Peters, a Mi’kmaw writer, has published her second novel, *The Birthing Tree*, which explores Indigenous birthing traditions and the challenges faced by a mixed-race…
Emma Cline takes on the end of life in Booker-longlisted ‘Switzy’
Emma Cline’s new novel *Switzy* centers on David Hastings, a man with dementia who plans to pursue euthanasia in Switzerland while confronting his troubled past…
A quiet departure into realism for renowned fantasy author R.F. Kuang
R.F. Kuang’s new novel, “Taipei story,” departs from her usual fantasy genre to explore a realistic tale about a Yale student navigating language learning, cultural…
Rose Tremain reimagines Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca
Rose Tremain has published *The Housekeeper*, a novel reimagining the origin of Mrs Danvers from Daphne du Maurier’s *Rebecca* by portraying her as a shy…
In search of Anita Brookner: Biography reveals complex life of author and art historian
Hermione Lee’s new biography reveals the complex life of British author and art historian Anita Brookner, highlighting her contrasts between private warmth and professional reserve.…
Review: 'Range' explores isolation and longing beneath the stars
Danish author Dorthe Nors’s novel "Range" follows astrophysics professor Gunn Haven as she returns to her rural childhood home to study the cosmos while grappling…
How the Queen of Crime’s Books Emerged from Hidden Turmoil
Agatha Christie, the celebrated author of classic detective novels like *Murder on the Orient Express*, drew heavily on her personal struggles—including family loss, wartime nursing,…
Writer Finds New Paths to Explore in the Journals of Lewis and Clark
Historian Craig Fehrman has published a new book, "This Vast Enterprise," that reinterprets the Lewis and Clark Expedition by incorporating perspectives from Native Americans and…
Moving images: Graphic novels' journey to mainstream recognition
Marjane Satrapi’s passing has renewed focus on her graphic novel *Persepolis*, which helped establish the medium as a powerful tool for conveying complex historical and…
A reporter in peril and the thrill of the chase
Three new espionage novels present diverse narratives spanning early MI6 operations in World War I, a near-future Russian coup, and a CIA officer’s personal mission…
A House Full Of Habsburgs: Seven Sisters
Maria Theresa’s seven daughters played crucial roles in 18th-century European diplomacy through strategically arranged marriages that reinforced Habsburg influence across multiple kingdoms. Their personal sacrifices…
Douglas Stuart Explores Family, Sexuality and Tradition in John of John
Douglas Stuart's new novel, *John of John*, follows Cal, a young man grappling with his sexuality and family secrets in a deeply religious community on…
Melissa Harrison on Nature, Class, and Rural England
Melissa Harrison has transitioned from a background in the London dance music scene to a career focused on reconnecting people with nature through her writing,…
Douglas Stuart’s Novel John of John Explores Masculinity and Queer Life
Scottish author Douglas Stuart has published *John of John*, a novel set on a rural Hebridean island that explores masculinity and queer identity through the…
Indian Press, Tagore, More: Historical Insights
Author Anjana Basu has published a memoir titled "The House At The Press Built," which chronicles the life and legacy of Chintamoni Ghosh and his…
Love in Amritsar, 1919: A Tragic Historical Fiction
A new historical novel set during the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre follows Aruna, an Anglo-Indian schoolteacher, and Ayaz, a Muslim revolutionary, as their forbidden relationship…
JG Ballard’s Traumatic Childhood Inspires Masterly Biography
A new biography reveals how JG Ballard’s childhood in wartime Shanghai and internment at Lunghua camp deeply influenced his writing, especially his novel *Empire of…