Books/Poetry

Filmmaker Brian De Palma Takes First Foray Into Crime Fiction With Sinewy Thriller 'Are Snakes Necessary?'

Written with his partner Susan Lehman, the book tells the tawdry tale of a political fixer playing whack-a-mole with the skeletons in an oversexed U.S. Senator’s closet.

The ARTery

Mar 31, 2020

Watertown Free Public Library has increased spending on digital materials for check out since closing to the public. (Courtesy Watertown Free Public Library)

Demand For E-books Rises At Area Libraries

"We're just doing the best that we can until things get back to normal," says librarian Caitlin Browne, "which I'm imagining will be a long time from now."

The ARTery

Mar 20, 2020

WBUR critic-at-large Ed Siegel writes during his self-quarantine he'll be listening to all of Miles Davis' recordings, including "Kind of Blue," pictured at Bull Moose record store in Portland, Maine. (AP)

Toward A Joyful Self-Quarantine: Find The Right Artist And Go To Town. (Virtually)

A guide to binging more purposefully and artfully.

The ARTery

Mar 17, 2020

In 'The Yellow Bird Sings,' A Mother-Daughter Bond Is Tested In 1941 Poland

In her debut novel, Jennifer Rosner delves into the life or death stakes that threaten to tear mother and daughter apart and the risks taken for survival.

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Mar 4, 2020

Bookstore Papercuts has moved to a larger location in Jamaica Plain. (Christian Burno/WBUR)

Jamaica Plain's Woman-Owned Bookstore Papercuts Moves And Gets Bigger

Papercuts got a major upgrade this month.

The ARTery

Feb 27, 2020

Modern Mythmaking In Ken Liu's 'The Hidden Girl And Other Stories'

This latest short story collection explores ideas such as the intersection of tradition and progress, the fallibility of memory and the essence of what it means to be human.

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Feb 24, 2020

Author Claire Beams. (Courtesy Kristi Jan Hoover)

A Gothic Twist In A Tale of Transcendentalists

Clare Beams' new book "The Illness Lesson" echoes the Alcotts' story, with a dark turn.

The ARTery

Feb 12, 2020

YouTube star and author Kristina Kuzmič. (Courtesy Kristina Kuzmič)

A YouTube Star Brings Hope And Humor To An Imperfect Life

Social media star Kristina Kuzmic has a new book about the imperfections of life.

The ARTery

Feb 11, 2020

Author Andrew Krivak. (Courtesy Sharona Jacobs)

A Somerville Writer Conjures The Last Humans' Life In 'The Bear'

Author Andrew Krivak tells the story of the last two people on Earth after the collapse of human civilization.

The ARTery

Feb 11, 2020

Our list of books by Black authors to read in 2020. (Arielle Gray/ WBUR)

10 Books From Black Authors We Can't Wait To Read In 2020

From a mystery novel set in Nigeria to a sci-fi graphic novel following the life of a warrior princess, this list of books by Black authors has something for everyone,...

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Feb 3, 2020

From A Double Life To 'Becoming A Man'

Playwright and author P. Carl explores identity and transitioning in his new memoir.

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Feb 3, 2020

Author Jeanine Cummins (left) with WBUR reporters Cristela Guerra and Shannon Dooling.

'American Dirt' Publisher Cancels Book Tour, Citing Author's Safety

Author Jeanine Cummins' novel has faced growing criticism over the portrayal of the migrant experience.

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Jan 29, 2020

How X-Men And Black Lives Matter Shaped Tochi Onyebuchi’s ‘Riot Baby’

The author's latest book explores racial injustice in a dystopian narrative.

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Jan 23, 2020

10 Books That Will Give You An Excuse To Stay Home This Winter

From historical to Afrofuturistic novels, and from mysterious thrillers to haunting poetry, there are plenty of books to keep you on the edge of your seat while you huddle over...

The ARTery

Jan 10, 2020

This Evening Of Stories At The Gardner Explore What It Means To Be A Woman

At "Braveheart: Storytelling from a Soulful Place" on Thursday, Nokugcina Elsie Mhlophe, Porsha Olayiwola, Valerie Stephens and Amanda Shea will share their journeys of being a woman.

The ARTery

Jan 6, 2020

10 Best Books From 2019 That Present The Body As A Radical Act

The tumult of 2019 has made the year feel as long as the decade it’s concluding, and the books published this year certainly reflect that.

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Dec 23, 2019

The Best Poetry Boston Gave Us In 2019

The poetry world in and around Boston is one of the richest in the country — so many good writers, so much variety and depth. Here are a few of...

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Dec 23, 2019

Photos of Louisa May Alcott from the archives of Harvard's Houghton Library. (Courtesy)

Page Through The Diaries Of Louisa May Alcott At Harvard's Houghton Library Archives

From first-editions to the Alcotts correspondences and diaries, visitors have the opportunity to explore the life of a trailblazer and those who supported her.

The ARTery

Dec 16, 2019

Calvin Hennick with his son Nile on their 2017 road trip. (Courtesy Calvin Hennick)

'Once More To The Rodeo' Takes Readers On A Journey Through Modern Fatherhood

Boston-based author Calvin Hennick joined WBUR's Morning Edition to talk about "Once More To The Rodeo,"which tells the story of a road trip with his young son to his childhood...

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05:37Dec 10, 2019

Poet Cameron Awkward-Rich Wants To Decode Truth

"I wanted to decode the bewildering experience of walking around the world as a black person and as a trans person." His sophomore poetry collection "Dispatch" is out Dec. 10....

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Dec 10, 2019