Books | Book Reviews
Civil servant or fascist spy? Hunting for the truth about her Albanian grandmother.鈥淚ndignity: A Life Reimagined鈥� charts Lea Ypi鈥檚 attempts to locate information about her grandmother, Leman Ypi, in the declassified records of communist Albania鈥檚 secret police.
A smorgasbord of books enlivens the 10 best of DecemberWhile away the darkest days of the year solving mysteries, enjoying a holiday romance, and catching up with a country-music icon.
The top 25 books for 2025From mystery and history to fiction and memoir, these are the titles that captivated Monitor reviewers this year.
Opposed to slavery, but also against a war to end it鈥淭he Boston Way,鈥� examines a group of abolitionists who believed a civil war聽would not only result in bloodshed but also set back the cause of African American rights.聽
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Four new cookbooks that will help you focus on 鈥楪ood Things鈥�In this roundup of cookbooks, authors like Jacques P茅pin and Samin Nosrat share how their personal creative processes in the kitchen can have a harmonizing, restorative effect.
鈥楢mity鈥� tells a triumphant tale set against Reconstruction鈥檚 harsh landscape鈥淎mity鈥� laces together separate tales of two Black siblings, searching for each other and for their true selves.
The leaves have turned, so turn a page. Here are November鈥檚 10 best.The 10 best books of November bring light to the shortest days, with new titles from Salman Rushdie, Sarah Hall, and Roy Wood Jr.聽
In 鈥楾he Name on the Wall,鈥� Herv茅 Le Tellier charts rise of extremism鈥淭he Name on the Wall鈥� unspools the short life of a French resistance foot soldier, whose ordinary bravery contrasted with the brutality around him.
A love of reading fuels a workingman鈥檚 desire for a better lifeBenjamin Wood鈥檚 latest novel 鈥淪eascraper鈥� recognizes the importance of reconciling practical concerns and necessities with spiritual, emotional ones.
Beyond 鈥楢lmost Famous鈥�: Cameron Crowe shows his 鈥楿ncool鈥� side in memoirFilmmaker Cameron Crowe digs into his past as a chronicler of rock 鈥榥鈥� roll idols and explores his pivot to the movies.
Children鈥檚 cookbooks stir the creativity of budding chefsFour kid-tested and -approved cookbooks yield many servings of fun in the kitchen.
A mystery wrapped in moss and buried in a bogIn Anna North鈥檚 "Bog Queen," a female forensic scientist attempts to solve the puzzle of a well-preserved body found in a peat bog.
In 鈥楬ostage,鈥� Eli Sharabi chronicles his 491 days in Hamas captivity鈥淗ostage鈥� is a frank account of Eli Sharabi鈥檚 time in captivity, our critic writes. It is both difficult to read and difficult to put down.聽
Fall is for falling in love with books. Here are October鈥檚 10 best.The midautumn crop of books includes a captivating South Seas saga and a lively history of the stock market crash that sparked the Great Depression.
Monitor's Best: Top 5
The next step was citizenship. Then these immigrants were pulled out of line.
Discovering God in Hamas tunnels, hostages led a national trend
Across the Middle East, a focus on home, healing, and restored hope
Holiday traditions that glow with meaning
Rob Reiner directed great comedies. He was also a voice for social justice.