The Weekly Reader

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review " Vanishing Maps " by Cuban-born American Christina Garcia, and revisit another title from her back catalog, " Dreaming in Cuban." All titles available at The Ivy Bookshop and other fine local retailers.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition The Weekly Reader , we review two fascinatingly personal and candid memoirs:"Everything/Nothing/Someone" by Alice Carrière and "Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City" by Jane Wong.    All titles available at The Ivy Bookshop and other fine local retailers.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Late summer is a great time to travel, but if you find yourself between adventures, we are here to help. On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new “travel books” to enjoy in the comfort of your own home whilst dreaming about your next trip: "American Ramble" by Neil King, and "White Sands" by Geoff Dyer.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Saying goodbye to a favorite character or location can be one of the hardest parts of finishing a great read. On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new books that give us the chance to revisit some familiar faces and well-loved places: Crook Manifesto , by Colson Whitehead, and Somebody's Fool , by Richard Russo. All titles available at The Ivy Bookshop and other fine local retailers...

It’s nice to know that there are still times when the apple falls close to the creative tree.  On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new memoirs from a pair of impressive offspring: Shy: The Alarmingly Outspoken Memoirs of Mary Rodgers , by Mary Rodgers and Jesse Green, and George: A Magpie Memoir , by Frieda Hughes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review three books from authors from the District of Columbia:  American Ending , by Mary Kay Zuravleff, Swimming With Ghosts , by Michelle Brafman and The Dissident , by Paul Goldberg. The Weekly Reader Book Club returns next Thursday, August 10th, at Bird in Hand with author Rebecca Makkai and her new book, “I Have Some Questions for You.” We’re very exci...

College can be a life altering experience, especially for the more “inexperienced” students for whom this is a first taste of freedom, independence, even love. Today on The Weekly Reader, two new novels about seeking (and finding) much more than a degree at university: The Rachel Incident , by Caroline O’Donoghue, and Farrell Covington and the Limits of Style , by Paul Rudnick.  All titles availab...

On this edition of The Weekly Reader , unexpected consequences follow the untimely deaths of two rather bad husbands. Marion Winik reviews The Five Star Weekend , by Elin Hilderbrand, and You Can't Stay Here Forever , by Katharine Lin.  All titles available at The Ivy Bookshop and other fine local retailers.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels that are perfect to enjoy at the seaside: Beach Week , by Susan Coll, and Silver Alert , by Lee Smith. All titles available at The Ivy Bookshop and other fine local retailers.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On each edition of The Weekly Reader, we try to review the very best books from all around the world – but what about all the great books written right here in our own back yard? This week, we turn the spotlight on some local talent, featuring three new books from Baltimore-based authors:  Hedge , by Jane Delury, Hestia Strikes a Match , by Chris Grillo, and Charm City Rocks , by Matt Norman. All...

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, our book critic Marion winik reviews two new novels that take us from the scorching city sidewalks of New York to the wind-swept beaches of the Hamptons: " Friends Like These" by Meg Rosoff, and " The Guest"  by Emma Cline. All titles available at The Ivy Bookshop and other fine local retailers.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Relationships can be difficult to navigate, and when hot button issues like race and sex, and politics are present, things can get complicated quickly. On this edition of The Weekly Reader , we review two new novels about a pair of intriguing, complex interracial relationships: " Everything's Fine" by Cecilia Rabess, and " Wade in the Water"  by Nyani Nkrumah. All titles available at The Ivy Books...

Sometimes, knowing what a book is “about” gives us few clues as to what the book will be “like.” On this edition of The Weekly Reader , we review two new books that are even more interesting than their intriguing plots suggest:  Lucky Dogs  by Helen Schulman, and Fireworks Every Night  by Beth Raymer. All titles available at The Ivy Bookshop and other fine local retailers.  See omnystudio.com/list...

Mother-daughter relationships can be very good, or very complicated, but rarely boring. On this edition of T he Weekly Reader , we review three new memoirs about this most delicate, complicated family dynamic: Oh My Mother  by Connie Wang, Honey Baby Mine  by Laura Dern and Diane Ladd and Don't Call Me Home Alexandra Auder.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social media can be a great way to bring attention to a person, place, or thing, but what happens when the kind of attention it brings is not exactly the type you are looking for? On this edition of The Weekly Reader we review two new novels awash in hashtags, racism, politics and identity crises: " The Society of Shame" by Jane Roper and " Yellowface" by R.F. Kuang.  See omnystudio.com/listener f...

On The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels about romantic entanglements and their attending highs and lows: "Romantic Comedy" by Curtis Sittenfeld and "How to Fall Out of Love Madly" by Jan Casales.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of  The Weekly Reader , we review two new books steeped in back-of-the house tales of intrigue, drugs, general excess, and of course, mind-blowing International travel and cuisine:  "California Soul"  by Keith Corbin and Kevin Alexander, and  "The Lemon"  by S. E. Boyd. All titles available at  The Ivy Bookshop  and other fine local retailers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels that explore life’s larger issues in small town America:"Big Swiss" by Jen Beagin, and "Take What You Need" by Idra Novey.   All titles available at The Ivy Bookshop and other fine local retailers.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Weekly Reader , we visit the wonderfully diverse cultural melting pot that is London. Marion Winik reviews "The Three of Us" by Ore Agbaje-Williams and "The Dead Are Gods" by Eirinie Carson.   All titles available at The Ivy Bookshop and other fine local retailers.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Weekly Reader , our book critic Marion Winik turns her focus to Southeast Asia, with reviews of a new novel and a memoir: The Great Reclamation  by Rachel Heng, and Getting Out of Saigon by Ralph White.   All books available at The Ivy Bookshop and other fine local retialers.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Weekly Reader , we review two new novels by writers who continue to play with the way the COVID-19 lockdown affected our lives: “ Kunstlers in Paradise" by Cathleen Schine and " The Fun Widow's Book Tour" by Zoe Fishman.  All titles available at The Ivy Bookshop and other fine local retailers.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review something old, and something new, from Elizabeth McKenzie: "Dog of the North" and "The Portable Veblen."  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review a pair of novels that look at a nonfictional genre through fiction: “I Have Some Questions For You” by Rebecca Makkai and “More Than You'll Ever Know” by Katie Gutierrez.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can a sentence be “delicious?” On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we  review "The Last Animal" by Ramona Ausubel and "The Angel of Rome" by Jess Walter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels about a pair of "tough cookies": "My Nemesis" by Charmaine Craig and "Stone Cold Fox" by Rachel Koller Croft.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.