“Harsh Times by Mario Vargas Llosa recounts a disastrous event in the past, but it is also highly relevant in this era of disinformation, extremism, and violence.” Continue reading Translation Tuesdays: Harsh Times by Mario Vargas Llosa @ nyjb
Deborah Sengl continues the legacy of acid-tongued Austrian artists from Kraus and Kafka to more contemporary voices like Thomas Bernhard and Elfriede Jelinek. Continue reading The Last Days of Mankind: A Visual Guide to Karl Kraus’ Great War Epic by Deborah Sengl @ nyjb
“Throughout these tumultuous decades, artists have sought to express themselves in harrowing circumstances. John J. Curley provides a lucid summary of the era and unique insights into famous and unknown artists.” Continue reading Global Art and the Cold War by John J. Curley @ nyjb
“Gerhard Richter: Panorama” offers a means to delve into the artistic practice of an iconic figure in modern European art. Continue reading Gerhard Richter: Panorama: A Retrospective: Expanded Edition, by Mark Godfrey @ NYJB
Like Updike, Anthony Burgess, and Vladimir Nabokov, Cynthia Ozick writes reviews with lush prose, each essay a stimulant to those seeking the beautiful interplay of ideas, language, and strong opinions. Continue reading The Art of Reviewing: Critics, Monsters, Fanatics, and Other Literary Essays, by Cynthia Ozick
“The Coming of the Nixon Court: The 1972 Term and the Transformation of Constitutional Law” by Earl M. Maltz investigates the gradual metamorphosis from liberal court to conservative court. Continue reading Mondays with the Supremes: The Coming of the Nixon Court: The 1972 Term and the Transformation of Constitutional Law, by Earl M. Maltz @ NYJB
“Sick” by Gabby Schulz is the quintessential graphic novel for this violent, demented, and hypocritical epoch of American history. Continue reading Sick by Gabby Schulz @ NYJB
This year Seth Kaufman released “The War on Boredom,” a collection of short stories, and “Nuns with Guns,” a social satire on America’s unhealthy gun obsession. I talked with Seth about reality TV, nuns and guns, and the power of network television. Continue reading THE SETH KAUFMAN INTERVIEW
“The War on Alcohol” by Lisa McGirr retells the story of Prohibition with a cocktail of case studies, legal analysis, and a broad scope. Continue reading The War on Alcohol: Prohibition and the Rise of the American State, by Lisa McGirr @ NYJB
This week I review the 1997 classic “Pagan Kennedy’s Living: A Guidebook for Aging Hipsters,” where the Queen of ‘Zines offers advice and lifestyle tips. Continue reading CCLaP Fridays: Pagan Kennedy’s Living: A Guidebook for Aging Hipsters, by Pagan Kennedy
The Driftless Area Review 