Books/Poetry

WBUR arts and culture fellow Lauren Williams recommends three books to read where heat plays a central role. (Courtesy the publishers)

The WBUR Read-In: Heat waves

WBUR arts and culture fellow Lauren Williams recommends three books that use heat as a literary device.

In 'The Shores of Bohemia,' an author explores the Cape's history as a creative mecca

John Taylor Williams takes readers back to 1910-1960, a time when Provincetown, Wellfleet and Truro were a hotbed of radical thought, avant-garde art and free love.

The WBUR Read-In: Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month

WBUR fellow Lauren Williams recommends three books in honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Author DeMisty Bellinger explores 'what ifs' in debut novel 'New To Liberty'

Set in rural Kansas, "New to Liberty" follows three autonomous women trying to embrace their inner selves under the circumstances they've been given during snapshots in time, 1966, 1947 and...

Steve Almond's 'All the Secrets of the World' is a messy, maximalist social novel

The book cycles through a dizzying array of storylines -- a police procedural, a deep dive into the American criminal justice system, a primer on forensic science, a parable about...

Novel 'Little Rabbit' is a moving exploration of desire and identity

In her debut novel, Alyssa Songsiridej uses her unflinching prose to “show us how important fearlessness and honesty are when it comes to creating great art,” Michael Patrick Brady reviews.

The WBUR Read-In: Our changing climate

WBUR arts and culture fellow Lauren Williams recommends three books on climate change.

The WBUR Read-In: Bearing witness

In the first installment in our series, WBUR fellow Lauren Williams recommends three books to read on the theme of bearing witness.

In time-travel novel 'Atomic Anna,' three women attempt to prevent the Chernobyl disaster

Author Rachel Barenbaum’s tale encompasses an immigrant story and a love story, the destructive power of family secrets, and the regenerative power of friendship -- all girded with some complex...

Hope springs eternal with these 10 New England reads

From a collection of poetry exploring grief to a reimagining of "Sense and Sensibility" into a thrilling whodunit, literature writer Katherine Ouellette rounds up a selection of books to read...

From librarian to author, Lin Thompson explores gender identity in debut novel

A former BPL children’s librarian, Thompson's middle-grade novel “The Best Liars in Riverview” is a tender story about growing up wrapped in a compelling mystery.

7 books by Black authors to read in February

"As books get banned in classrooms, many of them by Black authors, it’s time to push Black writers to the forefront," writes contributor Christian Burno.

Author Jennifer Haigh chronicles both sides of the abortion debate in 'Mercy Street'

Set in Boston in 2015, the novel offers a complex portrayal of the many ways a woman arrives at her decision to continue or terminate her pregnancy, while also capturing...

12 books with New England ties to read this winter

These picks grapple with the stark differences for the children of immigrants seeking the American dream, the interconnectedness of local communities, and fearless protagonists who have been backed into a...

Arts & Culture

Jan 20, 2022

The cover of Sara Freeman's book, "Tides." (Courtesy Grove Atlantic)

Author Sara Freeman explores a woman's desperate attempt at transformation in 'Tides'

A terrible loss has impelled Mara, the 37-year-old protagonist of Freeman’s starkly beautiful novel, to abandon her current life, shedding her roles of wife, sister and daughter.

Arts & Culture

Jan 18, 2022

St. Jean Baptiste Church in Lowell. (Courtesy Jack Kerouac Estate)

A Jack Kerouac museum is on the road to reality in Lowell

The iconic author's estate announced that it's been pursuing the concept of a Kerouac museum and performance center in Lowell for years. Now it's moving ahead and has formed the...

Arts & Culture

Jan 5, 2022

Literature writer Katherine Ouellette selects the 10 books to read this fall. (Courtesy the publishers)

Fall will fly by with these 10 reads from New England authors

From thrillers to essays to lighthearted romances, literature writer Katherine Ouellette rounds up 10 books to read this season.

Arts & Culture

Oct 5, 2021

Sandra Lim Ponders Unanswerable Questions In Poetry Collection 'The Curious Thing'

In her provocative third collection, the Cambridge-based poet asks all sorts of questions, many go unanswered. The futility of understanding is a recurring theme throughout.

Arts & Culture

Sep 13, 2021

Author Jean Stafford. (Courtesy New York Review Books)

Almost 80 Years Later, The City In Author Jean Stafford's 'Boston Adventure' Is Still Familiar

The author’s 1944 debut novel, recently republished by New York Review Books, is a romantic look into a bygone era, but what’s truly striking is how much of this fictional...

Arts & Culture

Jun 14, 2021

The cover of author J. H. Gelernter's novel "Hold Fast." (Courtesy W.W. Norton & Company)

Spy Novel 'Hold Fast' Is A Ripping Napoleonic War Adventure

Debut novelist J. H. Gelernter’s book leans heavily on its influences but nevertheless manages to chart its own course to a satisfying conclusion, says literature writer Michael Patrick Brady.

Arts & Culture

May 3, 2021

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The WBUR Read-In: Heat waves

In 'The Shores of Bohemia,' an author explores the Cape's history as a creative mecca

The WBUR Read-In: Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month

Author DeMisty Bellinger explores 'what ifs' in debut novel 'New To Liberty'

Steve Almond's 'All the Secrets of the World' is a messy, maximalist social novel

Novel 'Little Rabbit' is a moving exploration of desire and identity

The WBUR Read-In: Our changing climate

The WBUR Read-In: Bearing witness

In time-travel novel 'Atomic Anna,' three women attempt to prevent the Chernobyl disaster

Hope springs eternal with these 10 New England reads

From librarian to author, Lin Thompson explores gender identity in debut novel

7 books by Black authors to read in February

Author Jennifer Haigh chronicles both sides of the abortion debate in 'Mercy Street'

12 books with New England ties to read this winter

Author Sara Freeman explores a woman's desperate attempt at transformation in 'Tides'

A Jack Kerouac museum is on the road to reality in Lowell

Fall will fly by with these 10 reads from New England authors

Sandra Lim Ponders Unanswerable Questions In Poetry Collection 'The Curious Thing'

Almost 80 Years Later, The City In Author Jean Stafford's 'Boston Adventure' Is Still Familiar

Spy Novel 'Hold Fast' Is A Ripping Napoleonic War Adventure