literary book review

Advertisement

Supported by

Book Review

Rare editions of pushkin are vanishing from libraries around europe.

Dozens of books have disappeared from Warsaw to Paris. The police are looking into who is taking them, and why — a tale of money, geopolitics, crafty forgers and lackluster library security.

  By Rachel Donadio

Robert Kagan Takes the Long View on Trumpism

His essay warning that dictatorship was a real threat went viral, which prompted the early release of “Rebellion: How Antiliberalism Is Tearing America Apart — Again.” To relax, he reads the sports pages.

His Book Was Repeatedly Banned. Fighting For It Shaped His Life.

“The Chocolate War,” published 50 years ago, became one of the country’s most challenged books. Its author, Robert Cormier, spent years fighting attempts to ban it — like many authors today.

  By Brian Raftery

Young, Cool, Coddled and Raised on the Internet

The best stories in Honor Levy’s “My First Book” capture the quiet desperation of today’s smart set. But there is such a thing as publishing too soon.

  By Dwight Garner

17 New Books Coming in May

New novels from R.O. Kwon, Kevin Kwan and Miranda July; a reappraisal of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy; memoirs from Brittney Griner and Kathleen Hanna — and more.

Let Us Help You Find Your Next Book

Reading picks from Book Review editors, guaranteed to suit any mood.

  By The New York Times Books Staff

17 Works of Nonfiction Coming This Spring

Memoirs from Brittney Griner and Salman Rushdie, a look at pioneering Black ballerinas, a new historical account from Erik Larson — and plenty more.

  By Cody Delistraty

27 Works of Fiction Coming This Spring

Stories by Amor Towles, a sequel to Colm Toibin’s “Brooklyn,” a new thriller by Tana French and more.

  By Kate Dwyer

Best-Seller Lists: May 12, 2024

All the lists: print, e-books, fiction, nonfiction, children’s books and more.

Books of The Times

She Wrote ‘The History of White People.’ She Has a Lot More to Say.

“I Just Keep Talking,” a collection of essays and artwork by the historian Nell Irvin Painter, captures her wide-ranging interests and original mind.

  By Jennifer Szalai

Inside MAGA’s Plan to Take Over America

“Finish What We Started,” by the journalist Isaac Arnsdorf, reports from the front lines of the right-wing movement’s strategy to gain power, from the local level on up.

Anne Lamott Has Written Classics. This Is Not One of Them.

Slim and precious, “Somehow: Thoughts on Love” doesn’t measure up to her best nonfiction.

  By Alexandra Jacobs

Long Before Trump, Immigrant Detention Was Arbitrary and Cruel

“In the Shadow of Liberty,” by the historian Ana Raquel Minian, chronicles America’s often brutal treatment of noncitizens, including locking them up without charge.

Salman Rushdie Reflects on His Stabbing in a New Memoir

“Knife” is an account of the writer’s brush with death in 2022, and the long recovery that followed.

Record Number of Writers Were Jailed Globally in 2023, PEN America Says

For the first time, China has more than 100 incarcerated writers, and Israel and Russia entered the list of the 10 countries with the most imprisoned writers.

By Claire Moses

Paul Auster’s Best Books: A Guide

The novelist played with reality and chance in tales of solitary narrators and mutable identities. Here’s an overview of his work.

By Wilson Wong

2 Books Go Behind Bars With Palestinians

These authors investigate the interior lives of Palestinians charged with violence and probe the confines of Israeli prisons.

By Robyn Creswell

Paul Auster’s New York Tragedy

A complicated, generous life yielded a body of work of staggering scope and variety.

By Lucy Sante

Paul Auster, the Patron Saint of Literary Brooklyn, Dies at 77

With critically lauded works like “The New York Trilogy,” the charismatic author drew inspiration from his adopted borough and won worldwide acclaim.

By Alex Williams

Maybe Erik Larson Should Have Left the Civil War Alone

In “The Demon of Unrest,” present-day political strife inspires a dramatic portrait of the run-up to the deadliest war on American soil.

By Alexis Coe

Alien Terrors, Vampire Conspiracies and More in 4 New Horror Books

Our columnist reviews this month’s latest scary releases.

By Gabino Iglesias

Singing for the Dead, a Woman Finds Her Purpose

Wenyan Lu’s novel, “The Funeral Cryer,” explores a Chinese tradition through a modern, more personal lens.

By Connie Wang

A Gripping Family Saga Asks, What Makes for ‘Real Americans’?

Rachel Khong’s new novel follows three generations of Chinese Americans as they all fight for self-determination in their own way.

Where in the West Do These Books Take Place?

Try this short quiz on novels, geography and history of the American West.

By J. D. Biersdorfer

• Biggest New Books

Non-Fiction

• All Categories
• First Readers Club Daily Giveaway
• How It Works

Your browser is ancient! Upgrade to a different browser or install Google Chrome Frame to experience this site.

• Subscribe Today!

Literary Review

The current issue, march 2012 issue - out now.

In This Issue: John Gray on Tony Judt’s Thinking the Twentieth Century • Elaine Showalter on the first Pop Age • Donald Rayfield on Belarus • Praveen Swami on Sharia law • A C Grayling: What are Universities For? • The Letters of Joseph Roth • Jane Ridley on the Queen • Seamus Perry on the poetry of translation • Jonathan Fenby on Mao • Richard Holloway on religion for atheists • John Sutherland on growing old • Frances Wilson on cruelty and laughter and much, much more…

View Contents Table

‘This magazine is flush with tight, smart writing.’ Washington Post

Literary Review covers the most important and interesting books published each month, from history and biography to fiction and travel. The magazine was founded in 1979 and is based in central London.

Literary Review covers the most important and interesting books published each month, from history and biography to fiction and travel. The magazine was founded in 1979 and is based in London.

Highlights from the Current Issue

May 2024, Issue 529 Antony Spawforth on Cleopatra * Margaret Reynolds on ancient women * Dennis Duncan on jigsaws * Miranda Seymour on early feminists * Rosamund Bartlett on Wassily Kandinsky * Georgina Adam on art world fraud * Daisy Syme-Taylor on ancient poetry * Richard Vinen on labour’s lefties * Richard Davenport-Hines on queer London * Felicity Brown on Shakespeare and war * Morten Høi Jensen on Franz Kafka * Fergus Butler-Gallie on Salman Rushdie * Andrew Martin on Paris * Carl Miller on AI * James Le Fanu on diet pill dangers * Zoe Guttenplan on musical Dickens * Stevie Davies on Claire Messud * David Anderson on Hari Kunzru * Rhodri Lewis on Shakespearian fiction * Ed Cumming on Kaliane Bradley *  and much, much more…

Margaret Reynolds

The face that felled a tyrant king.

From Chaucer’s Wife of Bath to Jane Austen’s Anne Elliot, women have known that men tell their own stories. As Anne (or Austen) puts it, ‘the pen has been in their hands’. But very often, men are also the ones who come to tell the stories that, strictly, belong to women.  In The Missing Thread, Daisy Dunn tries to address this problem with respect to the women of classical antiquity. To be sure, she knows that a modern-day historian is still forced to rely on older, prejudicial narratives. Here is the Central Asian ruler Tomyris in around 530 BC speaking out against the advance on her kingdom by – and the marital advances of – Cyrus II of Persia: ‘King of the Medes, stop striving after what you’re striving after...  read more

More Articles from this Issue

Antony spawforth, the cleopatras: the forgotten queens of egypt, by lloyd llewellyn-jones.

In 1983, the BBC broadcast an eight-part dramatisation called The Cleopatras. I dimly remember the actor Richard Griffiths commanding the small screen as a shaven-headed Ptolemy VIII (‘Potbelly’). The series posed as a palace drama akin to the BBC’s earlier I, Claudius. Despite focusing, like that series, on what has been labelled ‘a tribe of fairly repellent people’, it did not meet with the same critical acclaim and has not been reshown. If it were, muses the website televisionheaven.co.uk, would today’s...  read more

In 1983, the BBC broadcast an eight-part dramatisation called The Cleopatras . I dimly remember the actor Richard Griffiths commanding the small screen as a shaven-headed Ptolemy VIII (‘Potbelly’). The series posed as a palace drama akin to the BBC’s earlier I, Claudius . Despite focusing, like that series, on what has been labelled ‘a tribe of fairly repellent people’, it did not meet with the same critical acclaim and has not been reshown. If it were, muses the website televisionheaven.co.uk, would today’s viewers see it as a ‘historical, or hysterical drama’?

In his new book, Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones seeks to tell the story of Ptolemaic Egypt (323–30 BC) through its run of queens named Cleopatra. The book reflects the current fashion for reassessing women at the centre of power in ancient times, many of them patronised ever since by the male writers telling their stories. Unlike the television series, his is a serious work of history, based on the latest evidence. This includes the recent find of the famous Cleopatra’s ‘signature’ on a Greek administrative papyrus: ginesthoi (‘so be it’), it reads, the equivalent of the Bon of French kings.  

Felicity Brown

Once more unto the bard.

Oleksii Hnatkovskyi stands alone as Hamlet, spotlit and swathed in blue and yellow. The scene is from a Ukrainian-­language production of Hamlet, directed by Rostyslav Derzypilskyi, performed in the basement-turned-shelter of the Ivan Franko Theatre in Kyiv on the sixteenth day after Russia’s invasion. One week earlier, in his address to the British Parliament, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky had paraphrased Hamlet to sum up the existential threat faced by his people. ‘The question for us now’, he said, ‘is to be or not to be.’  There is no end to war...  read more

Oleksii Hnatkovskyi stands alone as Hamlet, spotlit and swathed in blue and yellow. The scene is from a Ukrainian-­language production of Hamlet , directed by Rostyslav Derzypilskyi, performed in the basement-turned-shelter of the Ivan Franko Theatre in Kyiv on the sixteenth day after Russia’s invasion. One week earlier, in his address to the British Parliament, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky had paraphrased Hamlet to sum up the existential threat faced by his people. ‘The question for us now’, he said, ‘is to be or not to be.’  

There is no end to war and no end, it would seem, to the uses Shakespeare can be put to in war. So says the ‘Shakespeare and War’ exhibition, tucked away in the National Army Museum in Chelsea. The exhibition’s small size belies its scope, spanning a period from the English Civil War to the early stages of the war in Ukraine. We learn that in the mid-17th century Shakespeare came to be associated with the Royalist cause after King Charles read and annotated his folio of the plays as he awaited trial. According to the staunch Parliamentarian John Milton, Charles drew inspiration from Shakespeare’s villainous Richard III. Next to a copy of Milton’s Eikonoklastes (1649), we find an exhibit dedicated to The Misery of Civil War (1680). An adaptation by John Crowne of Henry VI, Part 2 and Henry VI, Part 3 , it was performed after Milton’s republic had collapsed, the monarchy had been restored and the theatres had reopened. The hurly-burly’s never done.

Andrew Martin

Impossible city: paris in the twenty-first century, by simon kuper.

Those of us who romanticise France are familiar with books in which a British person attempts to ‘live the dream’ there. They’re essentially travel books, evocations of sunsets and cosy bistros offset with the social comedy of dealing with the less cosy French. Impossible City is almost that sort of book, but perhaps a bit more like a portrait of Parisian society with autobiographical elements.  The style is elegant and flinty, the humour dry. Kuper quotes his wife’s response to gaining French nationality: ‘I was hoping I’d become...  read more

Those of us who romanticise France are familiar with books in which a British person attempts to ‘live the dream’ there. They’re essentially travel books, evocations of sunsets and cosy bistros offset with the social comedy of dealing with the less cosy French. Impossible City is almost that sort of book, but perhaps a bit more like a portrait of Parisian society with autobiographical elements.  

The style is elegant and flinty, the humour dry. Kuper quotes his wife’s response to gaining French nationality: ‘I was hoping I’d become thinner.’ Kuper doesn’t rhapsodise about the beauty of Paris – or rather, he does so only glancingly. When he writes that he might ‘rush across the bridge behind Notre Dame at sunset sending a text message’, we do see that sunset. He is slightly more fulsome about Parisian food, suggesting that ‘lunch may have been the main reason I stayed … In one restaurant a few doors from my flat, I ate a chestnut soup so perfect that it was almost funny.’

Dennis Duncan

The w factor.

Rain is general all over Cornwall. I am in St Ives, on holiday with my family. Outside may be miserable, but inside we have a jigsaw. I think of ‘Pangur Bán’, the ninth-century Irish poem about a clerk and his cat both at work, one writing and the other mousing, the contentment of companied exertion. ‘Day and night, my own hard work/Solves the cruxes,’ the poet wrote, in Heaney’s translation. Three generations – children, grandparents, siblings – come and go, criss-crossing and reconstellating at the puzzle table, an hour here...  read more

Rain is general all over Cornwall. I am in St Ives, on holiday with my family. Outside may be miserable, but inside we have a jigsaw. I think of ‘Pangur Bán’, the ninth-century Irish poem about a clerk and his cat both at work, one writing and the other mousing, the contentment of companied exertion. ‘Day and night, my own hard work/Solves the cruxes,’ the poet wrote, in Heaney’s translation. Three generations – children, grandparents, siblings – come and go, criss-crossing and reconstellating at the puzzle table, an hour here and there, on their way to something else. It is a means of being together but not necessarily talking. Shared attention rather than mutual attention.‘Pangur Bán’ again: ‘To each his own./No vying. No vexation.’

At Christmas we did ‘The World of Shakespeare’, a cartoon map of Tudor London in a thousand pieces. Queen Elizabeth barges down the Thames on her burnish’d throne; Juliet’s balcony is relocated to somewhere round Limehouse. This Easter we had ‘The World of James Joyce’, with the Citizen flinging his biscuit box in Barney Kiernan’s tavern and Bloom – ahem – observing Gerty on the beach. And then I noticed it. Written on the side of the puzzle’s box: ‘Text by Professor Joseph Brooker’. This is a friend of mine, a former colleague. He writes for Literary Review in fact. I text a mutual friend: ‘Look at this!’ They are unsurprised. It is not news to them. They reel off a list of colleagues who have writing credits on literary jigsaws. ‘World of Jane Austen’? John Mullan. ‘World of Frankenstein’? Roger Luckhurst. My head is spinning. A wild surmise. Are jigsaws REF-able?

Richard Davenport-Hines

Some men in london: queer life, 1945–1959, by peter parker (ed), the diaries of mr lucas: notes from a lost gay life, by hugo greenhalgh.

Two cognate books depict London’s gay scene in the years before the partial decriminalisation of male homosexuality in England and Wales. Peter Parker paints a wide historical canvas while Hugo Greenhalgh is a miniaturist. Both books have a provocative and mordant humour. Yet even when they celebrate irrepressible spirits, they dismay...  read more

Two cognate books depict London’s gay scene in the years before the partial decriminalisation of male homosexuality in England and Wales. Peter Parker paints a wide historical canvas while Hugo Greenhalgh is a miniaturist. Both books have a provocative and mordant humour. Yet even when they celebrate irrepressible spirits, they dismay and dishearten. They depict an England led by weak men pretending to be strong, punitive authorities afraid of phantom hate figures, and corrupt, brutish, inept policemen. The squalor and insecurity of covert living are foregrounded. Saddest of all, a persecuted minority of Londoners, often romanticised for its fortitude and staunch community loyalty, is shown in inglorious states of pusillanimity, malice, alcoholism, betrayal and funk.

Parker has compiled Some Men in London , the first of two anthological volumes, after a long trawl through local newspapers, medical journals, magazines such as the Physique Pictorial and the Occult Gazette , and the gutter press. He quotes from records in government archives showing the thinking of officials, politicians, theatre censors and the judiciary. Extracts from well-known published diaries, such as those of Chips Channon and James Lees-Milne, jostle with unpublished material from lesser-known diarists. Inordinate demands from copyright owners have prevented Parker from quoting several poets, although he does reproduce verse from Patrick Anderson’s poetry collection The Colour as Naked and gives renewed attention to such forgotten novels as Ethel Mannin’s The Blue-Eyed Boy .  

Miranda Seymour

Bluestockings: the first women’s movement, by susannah gibson.

To be a ‘bluestocking’ is nowadays considered the pits. Yet in their heyday, the second half of the 18th century, the original bluestockings were respected and even admired. The trashing of this lively, intelligent, spirited group of women began in around 1800. It culminated in Thomas Rowlandson’s 1815 caricature of a group of harridans tearing each other’s hair out and clothes off over – connecting them to dangerously radical politics – a puddle of French cream. The Victorians...  read more

To be a ‘bluestocking’ is nowadays considered the pits. Yet in their heyday, the second half of the 18th century, the original bluestockings were respected and even admired. The trashing of this lively, intelligent, spirited group of women began in around 1800. It culminated in Thomas Rowlandson’s 1815 caricature of a group of harridans tearing each other’s hair out and clothes off over – connecting them to dangerously radical politics – a puddle of French cream. The Victorians, discomforted by their wit, reshaped or ignored them. As recently as 2008, a National Portrait Gallery exhibition devoted to them confused the issue of just what a ‘bluestocking’ was by including artists like Angelica Kauffman and Mary Moser, women whose pleasantly uncontroversial works enabled them to take their place as founding Royal Academicians.

Susannah Gibson’s spirited, lively and scholarly book offers us the chance to stop sneering at the bluestockings and recognise them as a remarkable group of pioneers who established the right of independent-minded women to meet, debate and even flirt (an art in which both the legendarily prim Hannah More and Catharine Macaulay excelled) with men in elegant London salons. Blue stockings were seldom, if ever, worn by the female members of these salons. The group acquired its name when an absentminded male botanist attended a gathering without changing out of the blue stockings he wore while doing fieldwork.

“Easily the best book magazine currently available” John Carey

Mark Blacklock

Everything must go: the stories we tell about the end of the world, by dorian lynskey, deirdre nansen mccloskey, the road to freedom: economics and the good society, by joseph e stiglitz, graham daseler, kubrick: an odyssey, by robert p kolker & nathan abrams, jennifer potter, the extinction of irena rey, by jennifer croft, donald rayfield, osip mandelstam: a biography, by ralph dutli (translated from german by ben fowkes), by osip mandelstam (translated from russian by thomas de waal), from the archives, from the march 2020 issue, peter conrad, warhol: a life as art, by blake gopnik.

From the June 1999 issue

Christopher hitchens, some times in america, by alexander chancellor.

From the June 1989 issue

Hilary mantel, what am i doing here, by bruce chatwin.

Back Issues

February 2024

Sign up to our newsletter.

@Lit_Review

Follow Literary Review on Twitter

Twitter Feed

“The Body In The Mobile Library is mischievous, often raunchy and always teetering on perversity.” - Thanks to Tommy Gilhooly of @lit_review for this lovely review!

The May issue of Literary Review is out now: Antony Spawforth on forgotten Cleopatras @daisysymetaylor on ancient poetry @djbduncan on jigsaws @profrhodrilewis on Shakespearian fiction Georgina Adam on art world fraud and much, much more

Literary Review - For People Who Devour Books

In the Current Issue: Richard Williams on Miles Davis * Deborah Levy on David Bowie * Jon Savage on Pulp * M...

literaryreview.co.uk

We're happy to partner with the 2024 Hubert Butler Essay Prize, which is now accepting entries, with a top prize of €1,500 and a distinguished range of judges:

HUBERT BUTLER ESSAY PRIZE

House of European Art (HEART) London is a UK-based charity promoting European values through culture. Its projects i...

www.hubertbutleressayprize.com

Reviews of fiction, poetry, and criticism from small, regional, university, and avant-garde presses since 1977.

Latest Issue

Digital art.

Aesthetic experience in the digital age

Current Issue

Focus: Digital Art — Winter 2023

For information on subscriptions, submissions, and our publication schedule, view our FAQ .

Recent Issues

Rethinking Classics

Volume 44, Number 3 · Fall 2023

Volume 44, Number 2 · Summer 2023

Weak Theory

Volume 44, Number 1 · Spring 2023

The New Campus Novel

Volume 43, Number 4 · Winter 2022

Soldier Writing

Volume 43, Number 3 · Fall 2022

Autofiction and Autotheory

Volume 43, Number 2 · Summer 2022

SUMMER 2023

SPRING 2023

Winter 2022

Summer 2022

Innovation Never Sleeps

The American Book Review is an award-winning, internationally distributed publication specializing in reviews of published works of fiction, poetry, and literary and cultural criticism from small, regional, university, and avant-garde presses. For over forty years, ABR has been a staple of the literary world.

Reading Series

T. Geronimo Johnson

Naomi Shihab Nye

Percival Everett

Marilyn Chin

Stephen Graham Jones

Tiphane Yanique

Sam Lipsyte

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Charles Johnson

Paisley Rekdal

From the archives, a deep dive into the american book review.

Archives: Charles Johnson reviews Richard Wright

Charles Johnson reviewed Richard Wright's American Hunger in the inaugural issue of the American Book Review , Volume 1 , No. 1, December 1977.

Archives: 100 Best Last Lines from Novels

American Book Review Volume 29, No. 2, published in 2008, featured a list of 100 best last lines from novels.

Archives: 100 Best First Lines from Novels

American Book Review Volume 27, No. 2, published in 2006, featured a list of 100 best opening lines from novels. 

Latest Issues

Phone: (361) 248-8245

Email: [email protected]

ABR is published by the University of Nebraska Press .

© Copyright 2021 - 2024  |   American Book Review   |   All Rights Reserved

The Literary Edit

Kiss My Jagged Face by Isabetta Andolini Book Review

The Wife by Meg Wolitzer Book Review

The Leaving Season Book Review

Wanting: Women Writing About Desire Book Review

Some thoughts on seven years in Australia

The latest bump in the well-worn visa road

This much I know for sure after six years away from home

On the bittersweet joy of two more years down under

A rural retreat at Chalets Blackheath

A Parisian Stay at Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain

Montcalm East: a literary bolthole in London’s east end

A storied stay at Vienna’s Hotel Altstadt

Desert Island Books: Iman Hariri-Kia

Desert Island Books: Seán Hewitt

Desert Island Books: Monika Radojevic

Desert Island Books: Daisy Alpert Florin

• Bibliotherapy Sessions
• In the press
• Disclaimer + privacy policy
• Work with me
• The BBC Big Read
• The 1001 Books to Read Before You Die
• Desert Island Books
• Books by Destination
• Beautiful Bookstores
• Literary Travel
• Stylish Stays
• The Journal
• The Bondi Literary Salon

• Getting Started
• Start a Book Club
• Book Club Ideas/Help▼
• Our Featured Clubs ▼
• Popular Books
• Book Reviews
• Reading Guides
• Blog Home ▼
• Find a Recipe
• About LitCourse
• Course Catalog

Welcome to LitLovers.

We're a resource for all things literary. If you belong to a BOOK CLUB or like to FLY SOLO, this is your site. Come on in...and look around. You'll be amazed at all we offer.

What can you do on LitLovers?

A lot! Find a book. Find a review. Find a discussion guide. Take a course. Or whip up a recipe for your book club. It's all FREE and so much fun you won't want to leave.

We believe reading changes lives.

This site is about WHAT we read, HOW we read, and how we THINK about what we read. Approaching literature that way can change us— and change how we see the world.

New Books and Popular Ones

Visit our LitBlog

Take a Tour

Most Visited on LitLovers

• Popular Book Club Books
• Meet Our Featured LitClubs
• How to Discuss a Book
• Get Started on LitLovers

Book Club Resources

• How to Start a Book Club
• How to Run a Book Club
• Read–Think–Talk About Books
• Games and Icebreakers

Can't Find Questions?

• Generic Fiction Questions
• Generic Mystery Questions
• Generic Nonfiction Questions

LitLovers © 2024

Yellow Band

"The Waste Land" Revisited

The heart of fiction, young people.

Omega Constellation

When Metaphor Gets Literal

I have no interest in going to grad school for relationships, especially when the other students sound so keen to be best in class.

Brandy Jensen The Polycrisis

The Yale Review Festival

The nature of shelter, nicholson baker and i, fady joudah.

Furious Permissions

National magazine award winner, from the archives, a non-euclidean view of california as a cold place to be.

The Common Reader

Letter to a young poet, street haunting: a london adventure.

Reading and Misreading

Retrospect: Poetry in Review

Our spring 2024 issue, gender wars.

Two Days Twelve Thousand Years Ago

Angel jacks.

Jars with Well-Fitting Lids

Rachel Cusk

In Utero and After

Rosaura at Dawn

Litany for a Prolonged Dream

Banquo’s Ghost in Paterson

Memories Don’t Live Like People Do

Candy darling’s “newspaper” centerfold.

Langston Hughes's "China"

Ed Ruscha's "Every Building on the Sunset Strip"

New perspectives, enduring writing..

Support our award-winning little magazine. Subscribe to The Yale Review before May 13 to receive our next issue.

Jump to navigation Skip to content

Search form

• P&W on Facebook
• P&W on Twitter
• P&W on Instagram

Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we’ve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff. In the Literary Magazines database you’ll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, contact information—everything you need to know before submitting your work to the publications that share your vision for your work.

Whether you’re pursuing the publication of your first book or your fifth, use the Small Presses database to research potential publishers, including submission guidelines, tips from the editors, contact information, and more.

Research more than one hundred agents who represent poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers, plus details about the kinds of books they’re interested in representing, their clients, and the best way to contact them.

Every week a new publishing professional shares advice, anecdotes, insights, and new ways of thinking about writing and the business of books.

Find publishers ready to read your work now with our Open Reading Periods page, a continually updated resource listing all the literary magazines and small presses currently open for submissions.

Since our founding in 1970, Poets & Writers has served as an information clearinghouse of all matters related to writing. While the range of inquiries has been broad, common themes have emerged over time. Our Top Topics for Writers addresses the most popular and pressing issues, including literary agents, copyright, MFA programs, and self-publishing.

Our series of subject-based handbooks (PDF format; $4.99 each) provide information and advice from authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers. Now available: The Poets & Writers Guide to Publicity and Promotion, The Poets & Writers Guide to the Book Deal, The Poets & Writers Guide to Literary Agents, The Poets & Writers Guide to MFA Programs, and The Poets & Writers Guide to Writing Contests.

Find a home for your work by consulting our searchable databases of writing contests, literary magazines, small presses, literary agents, and more.

Poets & Writers lists readings, workshops, and other literary events held in cities across the country. Whether you are an author on book tour or the curator of a reading series, the Literary Events Calendar can help you find your audience.

Get the Word Out is a new publicity incubator for debut fiction writers and poets.

Research newspapers, magazines, websites, and other publications that consistently publish book reviews using the Review Outlets database, which includes information about publishing schedules, submission guidelines, fees, and more.

Well over ten thousand poets and writers maintain listings in this essential resource for writers interested in connecting with their peers, as well as editors, agents, and reading series coordinators looking for authors. Apply today to join the growing community of writers who stay in touch and informed using the Poets & Writers Directory.

Let the world know about your work by posting your events on our literary events calendar, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

Find a writers group to join or create your own with Poets & Writers Groups. Everything you need to connect, communicate, and collaborate with other poets and writers—all in one place.

Find information about more than two hundred full- and low-residency programs in creative writing in our MFA Programs database, which includes details about deadlines, funding, class size, core faculty, and more. Also included is information about more than fifty MA and PhD programs.

Whether you are looking to meet up with fellow writers, agents, and editors, or trying to find the perfect environment to fuel your writing practice, the Conferences & Residencies is the essential resource for information about well over three hundred writing conferences, writers residencies, and literary festivals around the world.

Discover historical sites, independent bookstores, literary archives, writing centers, and writers spaces in cities across the country using the Literary Places database—the best starting point for any literary journey, whether it’s for research or inspiration.

Search for jobs in education, publishing, the arts, and more within our free, frequently updated job listings for writers and poets.

Establish new connections and enjoy the company of your peers using our searchable databases of MFA programs and writers retreats, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

• Register for Classes

Each year the Readings & Workshops program provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops. Learn more about this program, our special events, projects, and supporters, and how to contact us.

The Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award introduces emerging writers to the New York City literary community, providing them with a network for professional advancement.

Find information about how Poets & Writers provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops.

Bring the literary world to your door—at half the newsstand price. Available in print and digital editions, Poets & Writers Magazine is a must-have for writers who are serious about their craft.

View the contents and read select essays, articles, interviews, and profiles from the current issue of the award-winning Poets & Writers Magazine .

Read essays, articles, interviews, profiles, and other select content from Poets & Writers Magazine as well as Online Exclusives.

View the covers and contents of every issue of Poets & Writers Magazine , from the current edition all the way back to the first black-and-white issue in 1987.

Every day the editors of Poets & Writers Magazine scan the headlines—publishing reports, literary dispatches, academic announcements, and more—for all the news that creative writers need to know.

In our weekly series of craft essays, some of the best and brightest minds in contemporary literature explore their craft in compact form, articulating their thoughts about creative obsessions and curiosities in a working notebook of lessons about the art of writing.

The Time Is Now offers weekly writing prompts in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction to help you stay committed to your writing practice throughout the year. Sign up to get The Time Is Now, as well as a weekly book recommendation for guidance and inspiration, delivered to your inbox.

Every week a new author shares books, art, music, writing prompts, films—anything and everything—that has inspired and shaped the creative process.

Listen to original audio recordings of authors featured in Poets & Writers Magazine . Browse the archive of more than 400 author readings.

Ads in Poets & Writers Magazine and on pw.org are the best ways to reach a readership of serious poets and literary prose writers. Our audience trusts our editorial content and looks to it, and to relevant advertising, for information and guidance.

Start, renew, or give a subscription to Poets & Writers Magazine ; change your address; check your account; pay your bill; report a missed issue; contact us.

Peruse paid listings of writing contests, conferences, workshops, editing services, calls for submissions, and more.

Poets & Writers is pleased to provide free subscriptions to Poets & Writers Magazine to award-winning young writers and to high school creative writing teachers for use in their classrooms.

Read select articles from the award-winning magazine and consult the most comprehensive listing of literary grants and awards, deadlines, and prizewinners available in print.

• Subscribe Now

Book Review Outlets

Book reviews can be an indispensable asset to writers and their careers. Our Book Review Outlets database is an excellent platform for authors—from self-published independents to household names—to research and discover a spectrum of book review options.

Book Nerdection

Book Nerdection is a website offering services for book reviews, sponsored book listings, author interviews, and an abundance of content for both authors and readers. Reviews are available for both written books and audiobooks.

VIDA Review

The  VIDA Review  is an online literary magazine publishing original fiction, nonfiction, poetry, interviews, and reviews. Reviews must be for full-length or chapbooks of poetry or prose by writers from historically-marginalized...

Established in 1990 at the University of Idaho, Fugue biannually publishes poetry, fiction, essays, hybrid work, and visual art from established and emerging writers and artists. Fugue is managed and edited entirely by...

Adroit Journal

The Adroit Journal  is a registered literary and arts nonprofit organization that was founded in 2010 by poet Peter LaBerge. At its foundation, the journal has its eyes focused ahead, seeking to showcase what its global staff of emerging...

Bone Bouquet

Bone Bouquet is a biannual print journal publishing new writing by female and nonbinary poets, from artists both established and emerging. Work that breaks with tradition, creating new forms by dwelling in thought rather than seeking...

Asymptote  is the premier site for world literature in translation. They take their name from the dotted line on a graph that a mathematical function may tend toward, but never reach. Similarly, a translated text may never fully replicate...

Published since 2009, Big Other is an online arts and culture magazine accepting submissions in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, lyric essay, art, video, short drama, and hybrid work from both established and emerging writers and artists....

Barrelhouse

Barrelhouse is a biannual print journal featuring fiction, poetry, interviews, and essays about music, art, and the detritus of popular culture. Their website regularly posts new short fiction, nonfiction, poetry, interviews, and book...

Another Chicago Magazine

Another Chicago Magazine  is independent of any institution, and has lived on volunteer efforts and grants. Each editor has autonomy and publishes work that ranges from conventional to experimental. They adore writing that is engaged with...

American Poetry Review

The American Poetry Review is dedicated to reaching a worldwide audience with a diverse array of the best contemporary poetry and literary prose. They also aim to expand the audience interested in poetry and literature, and to provide...

Printed twice a year (in July and December) and distributed internationally with subscribers in over twenty countries, each issue includes thirty-two shorter poems. In 2013, 32 Poems expanded to publish regular prose features online....

Self-Publishing Review

Self-Publishing Review has been a leading name in self-publishing services and author advocacy since 2008. Offering professional editorial book reviews across all genres with a number of options for paid reviews, their services also...

Under a Warm Green Linden

Under a Warm Green Linden , launched in 2008, is both a forum on the technical and ineffable qualities of the art of poetry, and a digital poetry journal. Reviews and interviews with established and emerging poets are intended to deepen,...

Vol. 1 Brooklyn

Founded in 2009, Volume 1 Brooklyn engages and connects the literary-minded from Brooklyn and beyond. Their website features short and long content, news, book reviews and more.  Vol. 1 Brooklyn seeks to motivate the community to...

Masters Review

The Masters Review is an online and print publication celebrating new and emerging writers. It is on the lookout for the best new talent with hopes of publishing stories from writers who will continue to produce great work. It offers...

BookLife is a website from  Publishers Weekly  dedicated to indie authors. The site provides a free and easy way to submit self-published books to  Publishers Weekly  for review, and offers editorial content—success stories,...

City Book Review

Since 2009 City Book Review has reviewed more than 20,000 books under the San Francisco, Manhattan, and Seattle Book Review brands, and Kids’ Book Buzz. They review 300 books a month in more than 40 genres.

Books within 90 days of their...

Stirring is a journal with several editors who all contribute their individual input for each issue. The joy of Stirring is a confluence of diverse opinions. Creative work from all genres and a variety of visual art media are...

Newfound is a nonprofit publisher based in Austin, Texas. The work published explores how place shapes identity, imagination, and understanding. The journal is published biannually online and annually in print, and features fiction,...

CALYX Journal

A forum for women’s creative work—including work by women of color, lesbian and queer women, young women, old women— CALYX Journal  breaks new ground. Each issue is packed with new poetry, short stories, full-color artwork, photography,...

American Poets

American Poets , published biannually by the Academy of American Poets, provides readers with a panorama of the contemporary poetic landscape and offers ten to twelve reviews of new poetry books in each issue. The magazine, which publishes...

The Guardian was founded in 1821 and known as the Manchester Guardian until 1959. The Guardian has evolved from a local paper into an international publication that offers publishing industry news, book reviews, and the...

Georgia Review

The Georgia Review  seeks to create a lasting environment for literature by supporting writers at every stage of their careers. Committed to the art of editorial practice, the  Review  collaborates with authors of essays, stories,...

The Independent

Founded in 1986, the Independent, nicknamed the Indy , is a major newspaper in the United Kingdom. The Indy —which launched an online version in 2008—covers the publishing industry, literary news, and all things books.

Compulsive Reader

Compulsive Reader features reviews of books by contemporary writers, as well as exclusive author interviews and literary news and criticism. Compulsive Reader works with an eclectic and extensive team of book reviewers who are...

How to Write a Book Review: Awesome Guide

A book review allows students to illustrate the author's intentions of writing the piece, as well as create a criticism of the book — as a whole. In other words, form an opinion of the author's presented ideas. Check out this guide from EssayPro - book review writing service to learn how to write a book review successfully.

What Is a Book Review?

You may prosper, “what is a book review?”. Book reviews are commonly assigned students to allow them to show a clear understanding of the novel. And to check if the students have actually read the book. The essay format is highly important for your consideration, take a look at the book review format below.

Book reviews are assigned to allow students to present their own opinion regarding the author’s ideas included in the book or passage. They are a form of literary criticism that analyzes the author’s ideas, writing techniques, and quality. A book analysis is entirely opinion-based, in relevance to the book. They are good practice for those who wish to become editors, due to the fact, editing requires a lot of criticism.

Book Review Template

The book review format includes an introduction, body, and conclusion.

• Introduction
• Describe the book cover and title.
• Include any subtitles at this stage.
• Include the Author’s Name.
• Write a brief description of the novel.
• Briefly introduce the main points of the body in your book review.
• Avoid mentioning any opinions at this time.
• Use about 3 quotations from the author’s novel.
• Summarize the quotations in your own words.
• Mention your own point-of-view of the quotation.
• Remember to keep every point included in its own paragraph.
• In brief, summarize the quotations.
• In brief, summarize the explanations.
• Finish with a concluding sentence.
• This can include your final opinion of the book.
• Star-Rating (Optional).

Get Your BOOK REVIEW WRITTEN!

Simply send us your paper requirements, choose a writer and we’ll get it done.

How to Write a Book Review: Step-By-Step

Writing a book review is something that can be done with every novel. Book reviews can apply to all novels, no matter the genre. Some genres may be harder than others. On the other hand, the book review format remains the same. Take a look at these step-by-step instructions from our professional writers to learn how to write a book review in-depth.

Step 1: Planning

Create an essay outline which includes all of the main points you wish to summarise in your book analysis. Include information about the characters, details of the plot, and some other important parts of your chosen novel. Reserve a body paragraph for each point you wish to talk about.

Consider these points before writing:

• What is the plot of the book? Understanding the plot enables you to write an effective review.
• Is the plot gripping? Does the plot make you want to continue reading the novel? Did you enjoy the plot? Does it manage to grab a reader’s attention?
• Are the writing techniques used by the author effective? Does the writer imply factors in-between the lines? What are they?
• Are the characters believable? Are the characters logical? Does the book make the characters are real while reading?
• Would you recommend the book to anyone? The most important thing: would you tell others to read this book? Is it good enough? Is it bad?
• What could be better? Keep in mind the quotes that could have been presented better. Criticize the writer.

Step 2: Introduction

Presumably, you have chosen your book. To begin, mention the book title and author’s name. Talk about the cover of the book. Write a thesis statement regarding the fictitious story or non-fictional novel. Which briefly describes the quoted material in the book review.

Step 3: Body

Choose a specific chapter or scenario to summarise. Include about 3 quotes in the body. Create summaries of each quote in your own words. It is also encouraged to include your own point-of-view and the way you interpret the quote. It is highly important to have one quote per paragraph.

Step 4: Conclusion

Write a summary of the summarised quotations and explanations, included in the body paragraphs. After doing so, finish book analysis with a concluding sentence to show the bigger picture of the book. Think to yourself, “Is it worth reading?”, and answer the question in black and white. However, write in-between the lines. Avoid stating “I like/dislike this book.”

Step 5: Rate the Book (Optional)

After writing a book review, you may want to include a rating. Including a star-rating provides further insight into the quality of the book, to your readers. Book reviews with star-ratings can be more effective, compared to those which don’t. Though, this is entirely optional.

Count on the support of our cheap essay writing service . We process all your requests fast.

Dive into literary analysis with EssayPro . Our experts can help you craft insightful book reviews that delve deep into the themes, characters, and narratives of your chosen books. Enhance your understanding and appreciation of literature with us.

Writing Tips

Here is the list of tips for the book review:

• A long introduction can certainly lower one’s grade: keep the beginning short. Readers don’t like to read the long introduction for any essay style.
• It is advisable to write book reviews about fiction: it is not a must. Though, reviewing fiction can be far more effective than writing about a piece of nonfiction
• Avoid Comparing: avoid comparing your chosen novel with other books you have previously read. Doing so can be confusing for the reader.
• Opinion Matters: including your own point-of-view is something that is often encouraged when writing book reviews.
• Refer to Templates: a book review template can help a student get a clearer understanding of the required writing style.
• Don’t be Afraid to Criticize: usually, your own opinion isn’t required for academic papers below Ph.D. level. On the other hand, for book reviews, there’s an exception.
• Use Positivity: include a fair amount of positive comments and criticism.
• Review The Chosen Novel: avoid making things up. Review only what is presented in the chosen book.
• Enjoyed the book? If you loved reading the book, state it. Doing so makes your book analysis more personalized.

Writing a book review is something worth thinking about. Professors commonly assign this form of an assignment to students to enable them to express a grasp of a novel. Following the book review format is highly useful for beginners, as well as reading step-by-step instructions. Writing tips is also useful for people who are new to this essay type. If you need a book review or essay, ask our book report writing services ' write paper for me ' and we'll give you a hand asap!

We also recommend that everyone read the article about essay topics . It will help broaden your horizons in writing a book review as well as other papers.

Book Review Examples

Referring to a book review example is highly useful to those who wish to get a clearer understanding of how to review a book. Take a look at our examples written by our professional writers. Click on the button to open the book review examples and feel free to use them as a reference.

Book review

Kenneth Grahame’s ‘The Wind in the Willows’

Kenneth Grahame’s ‘The Wind in the Willows’ is a novel aimed at youngsters. The plot, itself, is not American humor, but that of Great Britain. In terms of sarcasm, and British-related jokes. The novel illustrates a fair mix of the relationships between the human-like animals, and wildlife. The narrative acts as an important milestone in post-Victorian children’s literature.

Book Review

Dr. John’s ‘Pollution’

Dr. John’s ‘Pollution’ consists of 3 major parts. The first part is all about the polluted ocean. The second being about the pollution of the sky. The third part is an in-depth study of how humans can resolve these issues. The book is a piece of non-fiction that focuses on modern-day pollution ordeals faced by both animals and humans on Planet Earth. It also focuses on climate change, being the result of the global pollution ordeal.

Send to our custom term paper writing service your requirements, choose a writer and enjoy your time.

Need To Write a Book Review But DON’T HAVE THE TIME

We’re here to do it for you. Our professional coursework writing service ready to help 24/7

How To Write A Book Review?

What to include in a book review, what is a book review, related articles.

Get your book reviewed by a professioanl reviewer for $50!

Get your book reviewed by a professional reviewer

Submit your book to Reedsy Discovery for $50.

Best Book Review Blogs in 2024

Showing 240 blogs that match your search.

Read. Eat. Repeat.

https://readeatrepeat.net/

Hi! I’m Jordan, wife to one husband and mom to two little girls. Blogging and writing are my side gig, and I love creating delicious recipes and reading lots of books to share with you guys! My favorite genre to review is historical fiction but I do read a bit of everything.

Blogger : Jordan

Genres : Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery/Thriller, Non-Fiction, Romance, and Science Fiction

🌐 Domain authority: 26

👀 Average monthly visits: 2,500 p/mo

💌 Preferred contact method: Website contact form

⭐️ Accepts indie books? Yes

Jersey Girl Book Reviews

http://www.jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Genres: I will only read and review books that peaks my interest. Books from the erotica genre will be featured on my sister book review blog site: Jersey Girl Sizzling Book Reviews. My favorite genres are: Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction, Christian Fiction and Mystery Suspense Thrillers. I do not like Children's's Books, Poetry, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Paranormal or Horror books, please do not send me a request for review for the books in these genres.

Blogger : Kathleen Higgins-Anderson

Genres : Crime, Romance, Mystery/Thriller, and Christian

🌐 Domain authority: 30

👀 Average monthly visits: 3,000 p/mo

💌 Preferred contact method: Email

The Captain's Quarters

https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com

Foremost, I post here on me blog. I also will post on me Goodreads account and on Amazon. If a book is sent to me by a publisher then I will email a copy of me review to their preferred account as well. Please note that while me blog does not list ratings, I do rate novels on Goodreads and Amazon. Happy sailing and reading!

Blogger : A Pirate Captain

Genres : YA, Fantasy, and Science Fiction

🌐 Domain authority: 19

Linda's Book Bag

https://lindasbookbag.com/

The blog was initially designed to share a few thoughts about the books I read and that's the aspect I still enjoy most. I don't give star ratings as my 5 stars might be someone else's 3 so I say what I thought instead, trying to be as honest as I can and I make the review personal to me as a reader. After a few months of blogging I realised just how hard it is for smaller publishers and independent authors to get their books noticed so I'm always willing to feature them if I can.

Blogger : Linda Hill

Genres : YA, Crime, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Science Fiction, Paranormal, New Adult, Children's, Non-Fiction, LGBT, Humor, Horror, and Urban Fantasy

🌐 Domain authority: 39

👀 Average monthly visits: 5,000 p/mo

💌 Preferred contact method: Mail

Books, Coffee & Passion

https://bookscoffeeandpassion.wordpress.com/

My name is Andie, I'm 32 and live in a beautiful small town. I have a lot of passions but books are my #1 crush. After spending years following other book blogs, I needed to create my own to gush about books with fellow book lovers. Feel free to contact me. Happy reading!

Blogger : Andie

Genres : Romance

👀 Average monthly visits: 500 p/mo

Whispering Stories

https://www.whisperingstories.com/

Whispering Stories was established in 2015. We are a team of reviewers committed in providing professional, 100% honest, unbiased book reviews, for FREE. The majority of our reviews are for fictional books, including children’s books, (we do review non-fictional books too).

Blogger : Stacey

Genres : Children's, Contemporary Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor, LGBT, Mystery/Thriller, New Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, and YA

🌐 Domain authority: 28

👀 Average monthly visits: 6,000 p/mo

Nothing But Picture Books

https://www.nbpbreviews.com/

We read and will read nothing but picture books. This blog is born from our passion for PBs. So let's jump into the depths of the world of PBs.

Blogger : NBPB Reviews

Genres : Children's

🌐 Domain authority: 1

👀 Average monthly visits: 100 p/mo

The Book Nanny

https://thebooknanny.com/

The Book Nanny gives readers a look inside their book without spoilers. We give information about the violence, adult content and language a book contains so readers can find books that fit their media standards.

Blogger : Emily Campbell

Genres : Children's, Christian, Contemporary Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Humor, LGBT, Mystery/Thriller, New Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction, Sports, Urban Fantasy, and YA

🌐 Domain authority: 3

Shelf Awareness

http://www.shelf-awareness.com/

To have your book considered for review, please send two copies of a galley at least three months in advance of publication, and a finished copy when the book is finished.The book must be available through national distribution, i.e. Ingram and/or Baker & Taylor. Currently, we do not review ebooks or print-on-demand titles. We send galleys out for review consideration, but do not guarantee reviews.

Blogger : Stefanie & Si̢n

Genres : YA, Contemporary Fiction, and Children's

🌐 Domain authority: 63

👀 Average monthly visits: 47,500 p/mo

http://www.smexybooks.com/

The purpose of our book reviews and this book review blog is to engage our readers in honest discussion of romance (all sub-genres) and urban fantasy books. While we are eager to try books based on blurbs that appeal to us, not every request will be reviewed.

Blogger : Mandi

Genres : Romance and Urban Fantasy

🌐 Domain authority: 47

👀 Average monthly visits: 16,000 p/mo

Bob's Books

http://www.bobsbooksnz.wordpress.com/

After twenty years with the National Library I am now out on my own promoting reading and literacy in schools. I offer my knowledge and passion for Children's's Literature to promote reading and literacy in your school using your own library resources plus new books sent to me by authors and publishers.

Blogger : Bob

Genres : YA and Children's

🌐 Domain authority: 25

⭐️ Accepts indie books? No

Fueled By Chapters

https://fueledbychapters.com/

Fueled By Chapters mainly features reviews and discussions about books, lifestyle, and other pop-culture topics.

Blogger : Inah

Genres : Historical Fiction, Horror, LGBT, Mystery/Thriller, Non-Fiction, and Paranormal

👀 Average monthly visits: 1,600 p/mo

Book Wyrming Thoughts

http://www.bookwyrmingthoughts.com/

If you are an author/publisher, we would be happy to feature your book on Bookwyrming Thoughts. Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read our review policy - we look forward to working with you! If you have any questions/suggestions, feel free to contact us. :)

Blogger : Sophia, Lupe & Anelise

Genres : YA, Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction, Paranormal, and Humor

🌐 Domain authority: 33

Book Lover Worm

https://bookloverwormblog.wordpress.com/

I am a book lover and reviewer. I’ve always loved reading and remember the joys of reading the Famous Five, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. I prefer crime fiction and psychological thrillers but also have a soft spot for chick-lit and women’s fiction and anything else that catches my interest.

Blogger : Sandra

Genres : Contemporary Fiction, Crime, Romance, and Science Fiction

🌐 Domain authority: 27

Beth Fish Reads

http://www.bethfishreads.com/

I am very open to getting unsolicited ARCs, early finished copies, unabridged audiobooks, and backlist books in my mailbox. There is no guarantee that these will be reviewed, but if they catch my interest, I will read and review them.

Blogger : Beth

Genres : Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery/Thriller, Paranormal, and Non-Fiction

So you want to find a book blog?

If you’re a voracious reader, you might think of a book blog as an oasis in the middle of the desert: a place on the Internet that brims with talk about books, books, and more books.

Well, good news — we built this directory of the 200 of the best book blogs  to satiate your thirst. Take a walk around, use the filters to narrow down your search to blogs in your preferred genre, and feel free to bookmark this page and come back, as we do update it regularly with more of the best book blogs out there. 

If you’re an aspiring author, you might see a book blog more as a book review blog: a place where you can get your yet-to-be published book reviewed. In that case, you’ll be glad to know that most of the book blogs in our directory are open to review requests and accept indie books! We expressly designed this page (and our book marketing platform, Reedsy Discovery ) to be useful to indie book authors who need book reviews. If you’re wondering how to approach a book blog for a review request, please read on. 

You’ve found a book blog. Now what? 

Let’s say that you’re an author, and you’ve found a couple of book blogs that would be perfect fits to review your book. What now? Here are some tips as you go about getting your book reviews:

• Be sure to read the review policy. First, check that the book blog you’re querying is open to review requests. If that’s the fortunate case, carefully read the blog’s review policy and make sure that you follow the directions to a T.  
• Individualize your pitches. Book bloggers will be able to immediately tell apart the bulk pitches, which simply come across as thoughtless and indifferent. If you didn’t take the time to craft a good pitch, why should the blogger take the time to read your book? Personalize each pitch to up your chances of getting a response. 
• Format your book in a professional manner before sending it out. Ensure that your manuscript isn’t presented sloppily. If the book blogger asks for a digital ARC, you might want to check out apps such as Instafreebie or Bookfunnel. 
• Create a spreadsheet to track your progress. Wading through so many book blogs can be troublesome — not to mention trying to remember which ones you’ve already contacted. To save yourself the time and trouble, use a simple Excel spreadsheet to keep track of your progress (and results). 

Looking to learn even more about the process? Awesome 👍 For a detailed guide, check out this post that’s all about getting book reviews . 

Join a community of over 1 million authors

Reedsy is more than just a blog. Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book.

Save your shortlist

Enter your email address to save your shortlist so that you don't lose it!

By continuing, you will also receive Reedsy's weekly publishing tips and access to our free webinars.

We sent over your shortlist. Thank you for using Reedsy's Book Review Blogs Directory, happy publishing! 🙌

It's easier than you think

Submit your book to Reedsy Discovery and choose from hundreds of reviewers.

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.

Enter your email or get started with a social account:

to submit an obituary

To place an obituary, please include the information from the obituary checklist below in an email to [email protected] . There is no option to place them through our website. Feel free to contact our obituary desk at 651-228-5263 with any questions.

General Information:

• Your full name,
• Address (City, State, Zip Code),
• Phone number,
• And an alternate phone number (if any)

Obituary Specification:

• Name of Deceased,
• Obituary Text,
• A photo in a JPEG or PDF file is preferable, TIF and other files are accepted, we will contact you if there are any issues with the photo.
• Ad Run dates
• There is a discount for running more than one day, but this must be scheduled on the first run date to apply.
• If a photo is used, it must be used for both days for the discount to apply, contact us for more information.

Verification of Death:

In order to publish obituaries a name and phone number of funeral home/cremation society is required. We must contact the funeral home/cremation society handling the arrangements during their business hours to verify the death. If the body of the deceased has been donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program, or a similar program, their phone number is required for verification.

Please allow enough time to contact them especially during their limited weekend hours.

A death certificate is also acceptable for this purpose but only one of these two options are necessary.

Guestbook and Outside Websites:

We are not allowed to reference other media sources with a guestbook or an obituary placed elsewhere when placing an obituary in print and online. We may place a website for a funeral home or a family email for contact instead; contact us with any questions regarding this matter.

Obituary Process:

Once your submission is completed, we will fax or email a proof for review prior to publication in the newspaper. This proof includes price and days the notice is scheduled to appear.

Please review the proof carefully. We must be notified of errors or changes before the notice appears in the Pioneer Press based on each day’s deadlines.

After publication, we will not be responsible for errors that may occur after final proofing.

All obituaries appear on TwinCities.com with a permanent online guestbook presence. If you wish to have the online presence removed, you can contact us to remove the guestbook online. Changes to an online obituary can be handled through the obituary desk. Call us with further questions.

Payment Procedure:

Pre-payment is required for all obituary notices prior to publication by the deadline specified below in our deadline schedule. Please call 651-228-5263 with your payment information after you have received the proof and approved its contents.

Credit Card: Payment accepted by phone only due to PCI (Payment Card Industry) regulations

EFT: Check by phone. Please provide your routing number and account number.

Cash: Accepted at our FRONT COUNTER Monday – Friday from 8:00AM – 3:30PM

• The minimum charge is $162 for the first 10 lines.
• Every line after the first 10 is $12.20.
• If the ad is under 10 lines it will be charged the minimum rate of $162.
• On a second run date, the lines are $8.20 per line, starting w/ the first line.
• For example: if first run date was 20 lines the cost would be $164.
• Each photo published is $125 per day.
• For example: 2 photos in the paper on 2 days would be 4 photo charges at $500.

Please follow deadline times to ensure your obituary is published on the day requested.

MEMORIAM (NON-OBITUARY) REQUEST

Unlike an obituary, Memoriam submissions are remembrances of a loved one who has passed. The rates for a memoriam differ from obituaries.

Please call or email us for more memoriam information

Please call 651-228-5280 for more information.

HOURS: Monday – Friday 8:00AM – 5:00PM (CLOSED WEEKENDS and HOLIDAYS)

Please submit your memoriam ad to [email protected] or call 651-228-5280.

Books | Literary pick for April 28: A fundraiser for…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Submit to Stumbleupon (Opens in new window)

Today's Paper

• Movies & TV
• Food & Drink
• Treasure Hunt

Things to Do

Books | literary pick for april 28: a fundraiser for rain taxi review.

Special guest will be Carolyn Kuebler, who will launch her debut novel, “ Liquid, Fragile, Perishable ,” at the event. Kuebler has deep roots in the Twin Cities, having co-founded Rain Taxi Review of Books with Randall Heath. When she left Minnesota in 1999, Eric Lorberer took the helm of the Minneapolis-based publication that also sponsors readings and the popular Twin Cities Book Festival.

Kuebler, who edits the New England Review at Middlebury College in Vermont, recalled for her Melville House publisher her years in Minnesota:

“When I moved after college I had no idea what an indie press was, much less that the Twin Cities were such a hotbed for them. But I spent a formative decade there in the 1990s, and had my first publishing internship at Milkweed Editions while I worked downstairs at the Coyote Cafe. I later became a bookseller at Borders in Uptown (Minneapolis) a few years and wrote book reviews and other features for the late great City Pages. I then made my way to the Hungry Mind bookstore in St. Paul, where I was second-in-command for events — which at the time happened multiple times a week. David Unowsky was great at giving us a lot of creative freedom there, so I also made lots of displays and ordered lit journals. Most significantly, and thanks to Eric Lorberer most lastingly, in 1996 I started Rain Taxi with a couple of friends, and we published the first issue in 1997. I look back on that time as a kind of literature and publishing grade school, with a very self-directed program. I used to love riding my bike from Minneapolis to St. Paul, swimming and walking around the lakes and checking out shows at First Avenue and 7th Street Entry. The John Ashbery bridge from the Walker Art Center to Loring Park epitomized my sense of what the cities were all about.”

Kuebler’s novel, “Liquid, Fragile, Perishable,” tells the story of three young women in a small Vermont town with characters including newly transplanted New Yorkers who are among well-to-do couples building giant houses in the rural area, an old-school and decent Christian beekeeper whose wife keeps their daughter on a tight leash so she isn’t contaminated by girls at the local high school, young people from a hardscrabble family with few morals, and a lone and aging woman who believes she can live by herself even if it means walking six miles carrying groceries. All their lives are affected when the newcomers’ son falls in love with the beekeeper’s daughter.

The novel, one of Oprah Daily’s most anticipated reads of 2024, earned a starred review in Kirkus: “At times dark, at other times beautiful, Kuebler’s debut shines in its precision. It picks apart each character’s thoughts in an unusual clipped stream-of-consciousness narrative. The characters’ points of view fit together like an elaborate quilt, gradually coming together into a satisfying whole.”

Rain Taxi Spring Fling

• When: 7 p.m. Friday, May 3
• Where: Granada Theater, 3022 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.
• Cost: General admission $30; VIP ticket for two $150.
• Info/tickets: Tickets can be purchased in advance at: raintaxi.com/rain-taxi-fundraiser .

More in Books

SUBSCRIBER ONLY

Books | readers and writers: minnesota’s battle lake connects mystery writer with bookstore owner — and now a book club.

Books | Literary calendar for week of April 28

Books | Readers and writers: Nonfiction recommendations for spring

Books | Literary calendar for week of April 21

Books | Readers and writers: Two mysteries and something a little lighter

Books | Literary calendar for week of April 14

• Craft and Criticism
• Fiction and Poetry
• News and Culture
• Lit Hub Radio
• Reading Lists

• Literary Criticism
• Craft and Advice
• In Conversation
• On Translation
• Short Story
• From the Novel
• Bookstores and Libraries
• Film and TV
• Art and Photography
• Freeman’s
• The Virtual Book Channel
• Behind the Mic
• Beyond the Page
• The Cosmic Library
• The Critic and Her Publics
• Emergence Magazine
• Fiction/Non/Fiction
• First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing
• The History of Literature
• I’m a Writer But
• Lit Century
• Tor Presents: Voyage Into Genre
• Windham-Campbell Prizes Podcast
• Write-minded
• The Best of the Decade
• Best Reviewed Books
• BookMarks Daily Giveaway
• The Daily Thrill
• CrimeReads Daily Giveaway

The 10 Best Book Reviews of 2022

Merve emre on gerald murnane, casey cep on harry crews, maggie doherty on cormac mccarthy, and more.

Way back in the mid-aughts when I first started writing about books, pitching a print publication was the only reliable way for book critics to get paid, and third-person point of view was all the vogue. Much has changed in the years since: Newspaper and magazine book sections have shuttered, many digital outlets offer compensation when they can, and first-person criticism has become much more pervasive.

I don’t celebrate all these changes, but I’m certain of one thing in particular: I love book reviews and critical essays written in the first-person. Done well, they are generous invitations into the lives of critics—and into their memory palaces. With that in mind, most of my picks for the best book reviews of 2022 were written in the first person this year.

Brought to you by Book Marks , Lit Hub’s “Rotten Tomatoes for books.”

Adam Dalva on Stefan Zweig’s Chess Story , translated by Joel Rotenberg ( Los Angeles Review of Books )

Dalva’s review of Chess Story is a great example of the power of a first-person point of view—he doesn’t just examine the book, he narrates his own journey to understand it.

“In my own quest to understand Chess Story, I gradually realized that I would have to learn the game it centers on. And that has led me into a second obsession, much more problematic: I have fallen passionately in love with online bullet chess.”

Merve Emre on Gerald Murnane’s Last Letter to a Reader ( The New Yorker )

Merve Emre’s analysis of Gerald Murnane’s final book is a beautiful piece of writing. I love how she opens on a note of suspense, pulling you into a story you can’t stop reading.

“On most evenings this past spring, the man who lives across the street sat at his small desk, turned on the lamp, and began to write as the light faded. The white curtains in his room were seldom drawn. From where I sat, I had a clear view of him, and he, were he to look up from his writing, would have had a clear view of a house across the street, where a woman with dark hair and a faintly olive complexion was seated by a window, watching him write. At the moment he glanced up from his page, the woman supposed him to be contemplating the look, or perhaps the sound, of the sentence he had just written. The sentence was this: ‘Since then I have tried to avoid those rooms that grow steadily more crowded with works to explain away Time.’”

Minyoung Lee on Joseph Han’s Nuclear Family ( Chicago Review of Books )

Lee brings her own experience to bear in this insightful review of a novel about Korean Americans in the diaspora. (Disclosure: I founded the Chicago Review of Books in 2016, but stepped back from an editorial role in 2019.)

“In diaspora communities, it’s not uncommon to find cultural practices from the homeland, even after they’ve become unpopular or forgotten there. This is colloquially referred to as ‘the immigrant time capsule effect.’ It can be experienced in many of the ethnic enclaves in the U.S. My first impression of Los Angeles’ Koreatown when I visited in the 2010s, for example, was that it felt very much like Seoul in the 1980s. Grocery stores were even selling canned grape drinks that were popular when I was a child but that I haven’t seen since.”

Chelsea Leu on Thuận’s Chinatown , translated by Nguyen An Lý ( Astra )

Astra magazine’s “ bangers only ” editorial policy led to some spectacular reviews, like this Chelsea Leu number that opens with a fascinating linguistics lesson.

“It was in high school Latin that I learned that language could have moods, and that one of those moods was the subjunctive. We use the indicative mood for statements of fact, but the subjunctive (which barely exists in English anymore) expresses possibilities, wishes, hopes and fears: ‘I wouldn’t trust those Greeks bearing gifts if I were you.’ More recently, I’ve learned there exists a whole class of moods called irrealis moods, of which the subjunctive is merely one flavor. André Aciman’s recent essay collection, Homo Irrealis, is entirely dedicated to these moods, celebrating the fact that they express sentiments that fly in the face of settled reality.”

Casey Cep on Harry Crews’ A Childhood: The Biography of a Place ( The New Yorker )

Cep is a magician when it comes to capturing a sense of place, as evidenced by her book about Harper Lee, Furious Hours , and this review of a book about another Southern writer, Harry Crews.

“Dehairing a shoat is the sort of thing Crews knew all about, along with cooking possum, cleaning a rooster’s craw, making moonshine, trapping birds, tanning hides, and getting rid of screwworms. Although he lived until 2012, Crews and his books—sixteen novels, two essay collections, and a memoir—recall a bygone era. The best of what he wrote evokes W.P.A. guides or Foxfire books, full of gripping folklore and hardscrabble lives, stories from the back of beyond about a time when the world seemed black and white in all possible senses.”

Victoria Chang and Dean Rader on Roger Reeves’ Best Barbarian ( Los Angeles Review of Books )

Last year I professed my love for “reviews in dialogue” between two critics, and Chang and Rader continue to be masters of the form in this conversation about Roger Reeves’ second poetry collection.

“Victoria: Do you have thoughts on the flow of the poems or allusions? I have a feeling you will talk about the biblical references. But I’m most curious to hear what you have to say about the purpose of the allusions and references. Is the speaker agreeing with them, subverting them, both? Is the speaker using them as a way to press against or think against, or toward? I know you will say something smart and insightful.”

“Dean: That is a lot of pressure. I’ll try not to let you down.”

Maggie Doherty on Cormac McCarthy’s The Passenger and Stella Maris ( The New Republic )

I didn’t think anyone could persuade me to read another Cormac McCarthy novel after The Road, but Maggie Doherty makes every book sound fascinating by making it part of a bigger, true story.

“Such is the paradox of The Passenger , a novel at once highly attuned to the pleasures of collective life and resistant to the very idea of it. Unlike the violent, stylized books for which McCarthy is best known, this new novel is loose, warm, colloquial. It explores the sustaining, if impermanent, bonds formed among male friends. It’s full of theories and anecdotes, memories and stories, all voiced by some of the liveliest characters McCarthy has ever crafted. The Passenger is McCarthy’s first novel in over 15 years; its coda, S tella Maris , is published in December. Together, the books represent a new, perhaps final direction for McCarthy. The Passenger in particular is McCarthy’s most peopled novel, his most polyphonic—and it’s wonderfully entertaining, in a way that few of his previous books have been. It is also his loneliest novel yet.”

Allison Bulger on Vladimir Sorokin’s Telluria , translated by Max Lawton ( Words Without Borders )

I’m always interested in how critics find new ways to start a review, and Bulger’s opening lines here are a particularly sharp hook.

“Of all the jobs esteemed translator Larissa Volokhonsky has rejected, only one text was physically removed from her apartment on the Villa Poirier in Paris.

‘Take it back,’ she said. ‘Rid me of its presence.’

“The cursed title was Blue Lard (1999) by Vladimir Sorokin, known to some as Russia’s De Sade, and Volokhonsky’s revulsion was par for the course. It would be twenty years before another translator, Max Lawton, would provide eight Sorokin works unseen in the West, including Blue Lard , in which a clone of Khrushchev sodomizes a clone of Stalin.”

Summer Farah on Solmaz Sharif’s Customs ( Cleveland Review of Books )

Farah’s nuanced review of Solmaz Sharif’s new poetry collection further illustrates the potency of a first-person voice.

“Our poets write of our martyrs and resist alongside them; sometimes, I wonder, what life will be like after we are free, and what a truly free Palestine looks like. Last spring, the hashtag “#غرد_كأنها_حرة” circulated on Twitter, a collection of Palestinians imagining life as if our land was free; people imagined themselves moving from Akka to Ramallah with ease, returning to their homes their grandparents left in 1948, and traveling across the Levant without the obstacle of borders. This stanza acknowledges there is more work to be done than just ridding ourselves of the obvious systems that oppress us; decolonization and anti-imperial work are more holistic than we know. Sharif’s work is about attunement to the ways imperialism is ingrained into our lives, our speech, our poetry; this moment is direct in that acknowledgement.”

Nicole LeFebvre on Dorthe Nors’ A Line in the World ( On the Seawall )

LeFebvre opens this review like she’s writing a memoir or a personal essay—an unexpected joy that would be very hard to do in third-person.

“Each morning when I wake up, I hear the gentle crash and lull of waves on a beach. ‘Gather, scatter,’ as Dorthe Nors describes the sound. My eyes open and blink, adjusting to the dark. The sun’s not up yet. I scoot back into my partner’s body, kept asleep by the rhythmic thrum of the white noise machine, which covers the cars idling in the 7-Eleven parking lot, the motorcyclists showing off their scary-high speeds. For a few minutes, I accept the illusion of a calmer, quiet life. ‘Gather, scatter.’ A life by the sea.”

• Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)

Adam Morgan

Previous article, next article, support lit hub..

Join our community of readers.

to the Lithub Daily

Popular posts.

Follow us on Twitter

It’s a Wonderful, Weird Life: Writers Recommend Their Favorite Holiday Movies

• RSS - Posts

Literary Hub

Created by Grove Atlantic and Electric Literature

Sign Up For Our Newsletters

How to Pitch Lit Hub

Advertisers: Contact Us

Privacy Policy

Support Lit Hub - Become A Member

Become a Lit Hub Supporting Member : Because Books Matter

For the past decade, Literary Hub has brought you the best of the book world for free—no paywall. But our future relies on you. In return for a donation, you’ll get an ad-free reading experience , exclusive editors’ picks, book giveaways, and our coveted Joan Didion Lit Hub tote bag . Most importantly, you’ll keep independent book coverage alive and thriving on the internet.

Become a member for as low as $5/month

‘Whitefish Review’ hosts ceramic artist Stephen Braun at book release event

The “Whitefish Review,” hosts a conversation with ceramic artist Stephen Braun, featuring his newly released art book, “Hindsight & Foresight is 20/20,” May 3. (Courtesy image)

The “Whitefish Review,” a literary journal, will host ceramic artist Stephen Braun for a slideshow and conversation about his newly released art book, “Hindsight & Foresight is 20/20,” on Friday, May 3, at 101 Central in downtown Whitefish.

“Stephen’s art provides a deep commentary on the age we are living in as a society and can be a guidepost for the future as we wrestle with environmental, social, and political issues,” said Brian Schott, founding editor of the “Whitefish Review.” 

Braun has created environmental, social and politically-themed ceramic sculptures for more than 40 years. 

“We lost our power when we stopped being citizens and became consumers,” Braun said. “This change has empowered corporation rights over human rights.”

His work has been displayed in museums and galleries throughout the US and the world in addition to hosting his lectures and workshops. 

Braun became smitten with ceramics while studying at the University of Montana in the late 1970s. 

“UM was a ceramics powerhouse with [artists] Rudy Autio and Ken Little teaching,” Schott said in a press release.

In addition to commentary by the artist, the 142-page art book contains essays by Michael Jamison, Lucy Lippard, Peter Koch, and Cory Walsh. Chris Autio was the lead photographer on the project, and Ian Griffiths served as the book's art director. 

Leading up to the event, selections of Braun’s work will be displayed at Underscore Art Gallery in downtown Whitefish.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Blue Avenue, a jazz trio featuring Jordan Reese on keys, Zach Ronish on the drum kit, and Matt Carper on bass, will perform live from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.

The main event kicks off at 7:30 p.m. with a slide show of Braun’s art and commentary from the artist. A conversation between Braun, “Montana Quarterly” editor and author, Scott McMillion; writer and conservationist, Michael Jamison and Underscore Art gallery owner Monica Pastor, will also be held followed by audience questions. 

Signed copies of “Hindsight & Foresight is 20/20” will be available to purchase.

The evening is sponsored by The Whitefish Community Foundation and 101 Central.

For more information visit www.whitefishreview.org .

Share This Story

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Paul Auster, American author of The New York Trilogy, dies aged 77

The writer of The New York Trilogy, Leviathan and 4 3 2 1 – known for his stylised postmodernist fiction – has died from complications of lung cancer

‘A literary voice for the ages’: Paul Auster remembered by Ian McEwan, Joyce Carol Oates and more

Paul Auster – a life in quotes

Paul Auster – a life in pictures

Paul Auster, the author of 34 books including the acclaimed New York Trilogy, has died aged 77.

The author died on Tuesday due to complications from lung cancer, the Guardian has been told.

Auster became known for his “highly stylised, quirkily riddlesome postmodernist fiction in which narrators are rarely other than unreliable and the bedrock of plot is continually shifting,” the novelist Joyce Carol Oates wrote in 2010.

His stories often play with themes of coincidence, chance and fate. Many of his protagonists are writers themselves, and his body of work is self-referential, with characters from early novels appearing again in later ones.

“Auster has established one of the most distinctive niches in contemporary literature,” wrote critic Michael Dirda in 2008. “His narrative voice is as hypnotic as that of the Ancient Mariner. Start one of his books and by page two you cannot choose but hear.”

The author was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1947. According to Auster, his writing life began at the age of eight when he missed out on getting an autograph from his baseball hero, Willie Mays, because neither he nor his parents had carried a pencil to the game. From then on, he took a pencil everywhere. “If there’s a pencil in your pocket, there’s a good chance that one day you’ll feel tempted to start using it,” he wrote in a 1995 essay .

While hiking during a summer camp aged 14, Auster witnessed a boy inches away from him getting struck by lightning and dying instantly – an event that he said “absolutely changed” his life and that he thought about “every day”. Chance, “understandably, became a recurring theme in his fiction,” wrote the critic Laura Miller in 2017. A similar incident occurs in Auster’s 2017 Booker-shortlisted novel 4 3 2 1: one of the book’s four versions of protagonist Archie Ferguson runs under a tree at a summer camp and is killed by a falling branch when lightning strikes.

Auster studied at Columbia University before moving to Paris in the early 1970s, where he worked a variety of jobs, including translation, and lived with his “on-again off-again” girlfriend, the writer Lydia Davis, whom he had met while at college. In 1974, they returned to the US and married. In 1977, the couple had a son, Daniel, but separated shortly afterwards.

In January 1979, Auster’s father, Samuel, died, and the event became the seed for the writer’s first memoir, The Invention of Solitude, published in 1982. In it, Auster revealed that his paternal grandfather was shot and killed by his grandmother, who was acquitted on grounds of insanity. “A boy cannot live through this kind of thing without being affected by it as a man,” Auster wrote in reference to his father, with whom he described himself having an “un-movable relationship, cut off from each other on opposite sides of a wall”.

Auster’s breakthrough came with the 1985 publication of City of Glass, the first novel in his New York trilogy. While the books are ostensibly mystery stories, Auster wielded the form to ask existential questions about identity. “The more [Auster’s detectives] stalk their eccentric quarry, the more they seem actually to be stalking the Big Questions – the implications of authorship, the enigmas of epistemology, the veils and masks of language,” wrote the critic and screenwriter Stephen Schiff in 1987.

Auster published regularly throughout the 80s, 90s and 00s, writing more than a dozen novels including Moon Palace (1989), The Music of Chance (1990), The Book of Illusions (2002) and Oracle Night (2003). He also became involved in film, writing the screenplay for Smoke, directed by Wayne Wang, for which he won the Independent Spirit award for best first screenplay in 1995.

after newsletter promotion

In 1981, Auster met the writer Siri Hustvedt and they married the following year. In 1987 they had a daughter, Sophie, who became a singer and actor. Auster’s 1992 novel Leviathan, about a man who accidentally blows himself up, features a character called Iris Vegan, who is the heroine of Hustvedt’s first novel, The Blindfold.

Auster was better known in Europe than in his native United States: “Merely a bestselling author in these parts,” read a 2007 New York magazine article , “Auster is a rock star in Paris.” In 2006, he was awarded Spain’s Prince of Asturias prize for literature, and in 1993 he was given the Prix Médicis Étranger for Leviathan. He was also a Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

In April 2022, Auster and Davis’s son, Daniel, died from a drug overdose. In March 2023, Hustvedt revealed that Auster was being treated for cancer after having been diagnosed the previous December. His final novel, Baumgartner, about a widowed septuagenarian writer, was published in October.

Auster is survived by Hustvedt, their daughter Sophie Auster, his sister Janet Auster, and a grandson.

• Paul Auster

More on this story

Paul Auster obituary

‘Getting a book idea feels like a buzz in the head’: Paul Auster – a life in quotes

Brooklyn’s bard: Paul Auster’s tricksy fiction captivated a generation

‘This might be the last thing I ever write’: Paul Auster on cancer, connection and the fallacy of closure

Paul Auster: ‘The gun that killed my grandfather was the same gun that ruined my father’s life’

Baumgartner by Paul Auster review – love, ageing and loss

Paul Auster: ‘It’s distress that generates art’

Paul Auster: ‘I'm going to speak out as often as I can, otherwise I can't live with myself'

Comments (…), most viewed.