All Book Reviews
'The Stories of Jane Gardam' slice razor-sharp through English societyIn the short stories of novelist Jane Gardam, tragedy is is an intimate, muted affair.
'Deep' explores the extraordinary connections between humanity and the oceanJames Nestor's engaging effort to plumb the mysteries of the deep is an example of popular science writing at its best.
'The Great Glass Sea' sets an imaginative tale in a near-future ruled by oligarchsJosh Weil conjures up images of great beauty and melancholy in this original and ambitious story of brotherly love.
'Neil Armstrong' recalls the astronaut, pilot, and manJay Barbree, NBC鈥檚 longtime space correspondent, tells the story of Neil Armstrong, 45 years after his walk on the moon.
'We Were Liars' is a sharp look at how the other half livesThis young adult novel centers on the privileged Sinclair family and the bitterness and jealousy beneath their veneer of perfection.
'The Book of Unknown Americans' tells the stories of immigrants struggling to see the US as homeThis haunting but lovely novel explores the enormous sacrifice that immigration represents.
Marja Mills, author of 'The Mockingbird Next Door,' talks about her relationship with Harper Lee'The Mockingbird Next Door' author Marja Mills answers questions about her surprising friendship with Harper Lee, reclusive author of 'To Kill a Mockingbird.'
'Virtual Unreality' helps to sort the true from the false on the InternetNYU professor Charles Seife is meticulous in amassing much of what we know about the perils of the Internet.
'Operation Shakespeare' explores the shadowy transactions that allow American products to kill American troopsWith the gravity of a carefully researched expos茅 and the glamor of a spy novel, 'Operation Shakespeare' tracks the sale and shipment of American military technologies to the country's enemies.
'The Emperor Far Away' examines the ethnic groups that the Chinese government sees as a threatFrom Tibetans to Uighurs, journalist David Eimer investigates the lives of some of the 100 million members of China's 55 ethnic minorities.
''Factory Man' wonderfully recounts the David-and-Goliath story of a Virginia furniture maker fighting Chinese importsBeth Macy's new book focuses on John Bassett III, a third-generation furniture manufacturer who filed the largest anti-dumping case ever brought against the People's Republic of China.
In 'The Silkworm,' J.K. Rowling offers both a mystery and a wry send-up of the publishing industryJ.K. Rowling's second mystery published under the name of Robert Galbraith showcases her gifts as a storyteller with a first-rate imagination.
'What Is Visible' is based on the true story of Laura Bridgman who, before Helen Keller, communicated without hearing, sight, or speechThis debut novel by Kimberly Elkins tells the story of Laura Bridgman, once the celebrated face of the Perkins School for the Blind.
'A Wolf Called Romeo' tells the remarkable story of a wolf and his human friendsWriter Nick Jans discovered a wolf living near his home in Juneau, Alaska 鈥� an ambassador from the wild who appeared to delight in friendly canine company and accepted humans as well.
'Joe and Marilyn' considers the poignant, troubled love affair between Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn MonroeIt's a sad story, but in the end, Joe DiMaggio was the one man on whom Marilyn Monroe could depend.
'The New Arabs' asks: Who is remaking the Middle East?A tech-savvy and youthful population may be changing the Middle East faster than Westerners realize.
'Indonesia, Etc.' draws a skillful portrait of a complex nationIndonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation and the world's third-largest democracy, but writer Elizabeth Pisani says the country 'punches below its weight on the world stage.'
'My Struggle, Book Three: Boyhood' continues the sprawling odyssey of an unlikely Norwegian folk heroThe obscure Norwegian writer has taken the literary world by storm with his six-volume, 3,000-page epic of the quotidian.
'Independence' tells in rich detail how the American Revolution grewAmong the colonists, rebellion began early and ran deep.
'James Madison' proves the author's thesis that the Founding Father played a key role in the founding of AmericaAuthor Lynne Cheney avoids Madison's failings, but it's hard to argue with the author's position that he played an extremely important role in securing 'liberty and happiness for generations to come.'
