Books/Poetry

Drag queens Trixie Mattel, left, and Katya Zamolodchikova co-authored "Trixie and Katya’s Guide to Modern Womanhood." (Courtesy Albert Sanchez)

Drag Queens Katya And Trixie Challenge Societal Expectations In Their Guide To Modern Womanhood

"We like the irony and the absurdity of two white, bald, gay, 30-something men telling people how to be women,” drag star Katya Zamolodchikova says of the book she co-wrote...

The ARTery

Jul 22, 2020

The cover of J. Alison Rosenblitt's biography "The Beauty of Living: E.E. Cummings in the Great War." (Courtesy W. W. Norton & Company)

Biography 'The Beauty Of Living' Examines Experiences That Shaped Poetic Voice Of E.E. Cummings

Author J. Alison Rosenblitt explores the poet’s youth in Cambridge, his studies at Harvard, and his time in France during World War I, providing an in-depth look at the experiences...

The ARTery

Jul 21, 2020

Najha Zigbi-Johnson (left) and Lesedi Graveline (right) co-edited the "Freedom School" journal. "It wasn't about a process of eliminating work. It was about receiving work with care," says Zigbi-Johnson. (Courtesy Lynda Hoang)

From Seminar To Online Journal, 'Freedom School' Celebrates Contemporary Black Creators

Activist and scholar Najha Zigbi-Johnson created a space for Harvard students to explore the works of contemporary Black thinkers and cultural producers. Now she's bringing this work online with a...

The ARTery

Jul 17, 2020

The cover of Asako Serizawa's short story collection "Inheritors." (Courtesy Penguin Random House)

Short Story Collection 'Inheritors' Chronicles The Experiences Of A Japanese Family Over Centuries

Author Asako Serizawa explores the small, emotionally resonant nuances of family relationships and tackles larger, more sweeping themes of identity, racism, colonialism and war.

The ARTery

Jul 13, 2020

E. Dolores Johnson's family on the cover of her book, "Say I"m Dead."

In Memoir 'Say I'm Dead,' An Author Unveils Family Secrets And Confronts Racial Identity

Cambridge writer E. Dolores Johnson tells an eye-opening story of race relations in America through the lens of her own interracial family.

The ARTery

Jul 6, 2020

Author Ottessa Moshfegh (Courtesy Jake Belcher)

Ottessa Moshfegh's New Novel 'Death In Her Hands' Is A Twisting, Satirical Murder Mystery

Ottessa Moshfegh has perfected an enervating, claustrophobic style in which complex anti-heroines seek escape through fantasy or delusion, and her latest book continues in this vein.

The ARTery

Jun 22, 2020

A reading list on race for people who want to be and do better. (Arielle Gray/WBUR)

A Reading List On Race For Allies Who Want To Do Better

From memoirs to history to fiction, arts engagement producer Arielle Gray rounded up a selection of books for allies who are ready to do the work to become an anti-racist.

The ARTery

Jun 17, 2020

Social Media Comic Book Sales Soar During Pandemic

While it might seem likely that larger stores with a larger web presence would take the lead, for the most part, it’s been the smaller, more nimble sellers on Instagram...

The ARTery

Jun 8, 2020

The first printing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" by Francis Scott Key appeared in 1814. The the American Antiquarian Society is selling one of its two copies. (Courtesy Christie's)

First Printing of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' Goes To Auction At A Fraught Time

The American Antiquarian Society in Worcester is selling one of its two copies of the The Baltimore Patriot & Evening Advertiser, which contains the first known printing of what became...

The ARTery

Jun 2, 2020

Author Anna Solomon Explores Feminism Through The Ages In 'The Book Of V.'

The novel threads together the stories of three women during three distinctly different eras, yet somehow finds these characters repeating eerily similar refrains.

The ARTery

May 27, 2020

The cover of Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge's book "Hunting Whitey." (Courtesy William Morrow)

'Hunting Whitey' Tells Saga Of The Capture And Murder Of Infamous Crime Boss

Authors Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge explore what Bulger’s life on the lam was like and who killed him and why.

The ARTery

May 26, 2020

New Book 'The Equivalents' Follows Emergence Of Second Wave Feminism From Radcliffe Institute

Author Maggie Doherty’s book sets out to follow five fellows from Radcliffe Institute for Independent Study, but ends up focusing on the life of Anne Sexton, says ARTery contributor Michael...

The ARTery

May 19, 2020

The Frugal Bookstore in Nubian Square. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

As Pandemic Impacts Business, Frugal Bookstore Offers A Silver Lining In Nubian Square

The Roxbury bookstore was on the verge of closing, but thanks to a successful GoFundMe campaign, the store is safe for now.

The ARTery

May 19, 2020

Edward Delaney's Novella Collection 'The Big Impossible' Resonates Strength And Beauty

His latest book collects several shorter works that showcase his keen eye for detail and skill in crafting naturalistic dialogue.

The ARTery

May 6, 2020

All She Wrote Books pop-up event. (Courtesy Main Paige Media)

All She Wrote — A Pop-Up Book Shop And 10 Reading Recommendations

The Somerville-based All She Wrote Books offers ways to connect during social distancing and contributor Cathryn Haight has a list of books from women writers with New England ties.

The ARTery

Apr 28, 2020

Participants in a virtual poetry open mic. (Cristela Guerra/WBUR)

Virtual Poetry Open Mics Offer A Healing Respite From Daily Worries

It’s National Poetry Month and as people are forced to stay home, virtual open mics have become one way artists share words and emotions.

The ARTery

04:55Apr 27, 2020

Anya Barrett performs at the Massachusetts 2020 Poetry Out Loud Championship. (Courtesy David Marshall)

A Worcester Youth Poet Was Set To Compete Nationally, Then Came The Coronavirus

Next week, 18-year-old Anya Barrett would have been representing Massachusetts as she competed in the 2020 Poetry Out Loud championship. But the coronavirus put that on hold.

The ARTery

Apr 23, 2020

In 'Passage West,' Rishi Reddi Navigates The History Of South Asians Working In America

The little-known history of South Asians working in the lumber mills of the Pacific Northwest, on California farms, and fighting in World War I became the inspiration for Reddi’s debut...

The ARTery

Apr 23, 2020

"I Take Notes From My Brother In Prison On Quarantine," a poem by Angélica María Aguilera. (Courtesy)

Poetry In The Time Of Coronavirus

April is National Poetry Month, but this one has been like no other before. We asked 10 poets to share what they've been working on during the pandemic and came...

The ARTery

Apr 21, 2020

Candlewick Press And MIT Press Collaborate On Two Imprints for Children, Teens

The publishers plan to roll out nonfiction and fiction titles to provide hands-on learning for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and math) subjects.

The ARTery

Apr 15, 2020

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On Point

Drag Queens Katya And Trixie Challenge Societal Expectations In Their Guide To Modern Womanhood

Biography 'The Beauty Of Living' Examines Experiences That Shaped Poetic Voice Of E.E. Cummings

From Seminar To Online Journal, 'Freedom School' Celebrates Contemporary Black Creators

Short Story Collection 'Inheritors' Chronicles The Experiences Of A Japanese Family Over Centuries

In Memoir 'Say I'm Dead,' An Author Unveils Family Secrets And Confronts Racial Identity

Ottessa Moshfegh's New Novel 'Death In Her Hands' Is A Twisting, Satirical Murder Mystery

A Reading List On Race For Allies Who Want To Do Better

Social Media Comic Book Sales Soar During Pandemic

First Printing of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' Goes To Auction At A Fraught Time

Author Anna Solomon Explores Feminism Through The Ages In 'The Book Of V.'

'Hunting Whitey' Tells Saga Of The Capture And Murder Of Infamous Crime Boss

New Book 'The Equivalents' Follows Emergence Of Second Wave Feminism From Radcliffe Institute

As Pandemic Impacts Business, Frugal Bookstore Offers A Silver Lining In Nubian Square

Edward Delaney's Novella Collection 'The Big Impossible' Resonates Strength And Beauty

All She Wrote — A Pop-Up Book Shop And 10 Reading Recommendations

Virtual Poetry Open Mics Offer A Healing Respite From Daily Worries

A Worcester Youth Poet Was Set To Compete Nationally, Then Came The Coronavirus

In 'Passage West,' Rishi Reddi Navigates The History Of South Asians Working In America

Poetry In The Time Of Coronavirus

Candlewick Press And MIT Press Collaborate On Two Imprints for Children, Teens