Clea Simon

Book Review: Olga Tokarczuk’s “House of Day, House of Night” — A Demanding But Rewarding Reverie

January 27, 2026
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House of Day, House of Night “is not an easy read, but for those with the stamina, it is a rewarding one, inviting us to savor its reclusive, succulent insides.”

Book Review: Medicine, Morality, and the Women of “The Double Standard Sporting House”

January 17, 2026
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For those ready to make the investment, “The Double Standard Sporting House” is a fascinating look inside a complex and compelling world.

Book Review: Canceling Equality — Julia Ioffe’s Personal and Political History of Russian Women

November 13, 2025
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This heartbreaking book documents the history of contemporary Russia through its women.

Book Review: “Lion Hearts” — Dan Jones Brings His Essex Dogs Saga to a Stirring Close

October 14, 2025
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Novelist Dan Jones excels in re-imagining the life of common people in wartime, in particular a small group of English fighters embroiled in the so-called Hundred Years War (1337–1453) between England and France.

Book Review: “Clown Town” — Not Quite as Amusing as Expected

September 9, 2025
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Mick Herron’s prose, it must be said, remains top-notch, chock full of puns and timely references, as well as colorful dialogue. But the premise of this successful series of espionage thrillers is beginning to show some wear.

Book Review: “Book of I” — A Gem of a Novel

September 7, 2025
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This novel is as fresh and charming as any contemporary work this critic has read in ages.

Book Review: “The Slip” — An Epic Exploration of the Elasticity of Identity

July 10, 2025
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“The Slip” raises issues of race and entitlement, as well as the malleability of identity, all in one big, sloppy, and occasionally gorgeous package.

Book Review: “Not My Type” — Surviving Trump

June 26, 2025
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This is a measured book, harrowing at times but also thoroughly enjoyable. It’s a fun read about a rape trial.

Book Review: “Don’t Forget Me, Little Bessie” — A World, Hell and Heaven Included

June 8, 2025
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Over the decades, James Lee Burke has built up a distinctive and glorious body of work, and “Don’t Forget Me, Little Bessie” is a notable addition to the canon and possibly his most comprehensive.

Book Review: “Kills Well With Others” — Another Mission for Aging Female Assassins

March 13, 2025
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Through it all, Deanna Raybourn’s quartet of females rely on the acuity and resourcefulness that has made the author’s other series characters both so memorable and beloved.

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