Books

Book Review: The Joy and Glory of Virgil Thomson’s “The State of Music & Other Writings”

October 12, 2016
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The Library of America volumes of Virgil Thomson’s writings will help reestablish him as one of the 20th century’s preeminent musical scribes.

Book Review: “Cockroaches” — A Gruesome Story, Memorably Told

October 12, 2016
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Scholastique Mukasonga’s autobiography, Cockroaches, examines the three decades leading up to the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda.

Book Review: “I Am Brian Wilson” — The Mystery Remains

October 11, 2016
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The central mystery of the life of Brian Wilson: How did such a sweet and fragile soul create such complex and enduring music?

Book Review: The Story of The Cure — The Beatles of Goth

October 11, 2016
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As confessions of rock decadence go, Lol Tolhust’s are fairly tame stuff.

Book Interview: A New Take on Kafka — A Conversation with Peter Wortsman

October 9, 2016
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The standard view of Kafka reduces him to the patron saint of neurotics.

Book Review: Analyzing Musical Fisticuffs — “Your Favorite Band is Killing Me”

October 7, 2016
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Steven Hyden doesn’t really pick a side in these fights; he’s broad minded enough to know and enjoy every artist’s work.

Book Review: “The Lesser Bohemians” — The Desires of the Flesh, Revived

October 6, 2016
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In The Lesser Bohemians, Eimear McBride seems to be determined to combat the soullessness of pornography.

Book Review: Rabih Alameddine’s “Angel of History” — Knocked Askew

October 5, 2016
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This is a book about “survivor’s guilt,” and also about the terrible loneliness that comes of losing so many whom you love.

Book Review: Watching TV with Omnicultural Smarts — Clive James’ “Play All”

September 29, 2016
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Clive James is cosmopolitan and learned, but he’s far from a snob.

Book Review: “France: Story of a Childhood” — A Timely Memoir of Liberation

September 28, 2016
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France: Story of a Childhood is half personal essay, half autobiographical novel.

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