All Books
One was killed by a volcano. The other lived to tell the tale.Daisy Dunn's "The Shadow of Vesuvius" is a vivid history of聽Pliny the Elder, Pliny the Younger, and the volcanic eruption that defined them.
A Q&A with Rob Kapilow, author of 鈥楲istening for America鈥欙豢Rob Kapilow discusses his book, 鈥淟istening for America,鈥� and the importance of understanding the context behind music.
Merry Christmas: A reading of holiday classics by Monitor staff (audio)A dive into venerable old writings can add to the warmth of the holiday hearth. Even more so when they鈥檙e read aloud.聽聽
Q&A with Gene Weingarten, author of 鈥極ne Day鈥�Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter聽Gene Weingarten discusses his book 鈥淥ne Day鈥� and how he found the extraordinary in an ordinary 24-hour news cycle.
鈥楾he Impeachers鈥� minutely recounts the first presidential reckoningBrenda Wineapple鈥檚 deep dive into President聽Andrew Johnson鈥檚 impeachment and the landscape of Reconstruction politics is an essential Civil War read.
鈥楾he Quarter鈥� shows masterly hand of Nobel laureate Naguib MahfouzThe collection of short stories, published posthumously, gently lays bare the foibles of the denizens of a neighborhood in old Cairo.
The best nonfiction books of 2019 pull you into other livesFrom expansive biographies to incisive essays on American culture, these are the nonfiction books recommended by Monitor reviewers this year.
Eileen Gray: The modernist designer you鈥檝e never heard ofIrish-born and Paris-ensconced, Gray created iconic furnishings and homes that are now sought by the likes of Yves Saint Laurent.
The best fiction books of 2019 end the year on a high noteMonitor reviewers share the titles that stood out, including two impressive debut novels and stories centered on global themes.聽聽
鈥楳y Penguin Year鈥� tells a compelling tale of an extreme adventureLindsay McCrae missed the birth of his son to film in Antarctica. It made him appreciate the role that male penguins play in raising the chicks.
The unthinkable sinkable Titanic marked the end of a gilded eraIn 鈥淭he Ship of Dreams,鈥� Gareth Russell explores the excess and hubris that characterized the Edwardian age through the lives of six passengers.聽
鈥楾he Movie Musical!鈥� dances through the heyday of Hollywood 鈥榯uners鈥�Jeanine Basinger鈥榮 sweeping history casts an insightful, and affectionate, eye over decades of films that defined their eras.
The unheralded women of the Disney StudiosIn 鈥淭he Queens of Animation,鈥澛燦athalia Holt takes a聽fascinating look at the women behind Disney classics like 鈥淐inderella鈥� and 鈥淏ambi.鈥�
A bounty of books to spark adventures for young readersFriendship, culture, and travel enliven the best picture books of 2019. And tweens聽will be pulled into our entertaining middle-grade聽picks.
Scripture as an art form? Q&A with Karen Armstrong.Former Roman Catholic nun and religion scholar聽Karen Armstrong discusses the practical side of faith in her latest book, 鈥淭he Lost Art of Scripture.鈥�
National Book Awards 2019 celebrate the vitality of books in our cultureA diverse group of writers was recognized by the National Book Foundation for shaping the literary landscape over the past year.聽
The new canon of #MeTooSeveral new books seek聽to define the values of #MeToo. Will they change popular consciousness, or turn suffering into forgettable entertainment?
Four audiobooks to keep you companyTurn up the volume (and the heat) with this month鈥檚 selections, including a spine-tingling thriller and a complicated mystery.
10 books to get you feeling grateful for ThanksgivingWinter is a time to look back on the year and prepare for the future. Get in a thoughtful mood with the 10 best books of November 2019.
鈥楾he Boundless Sea鈥� explores centuries of ocean voyagingDavid Abulafia鈥檚 sweeping history 鈥淭he Boundless Sea鈥� touches on great explorers as well as war, trade, and migration.聽