Books

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.

Book Review: “Just Around Midnight” — A Revelatory Look at Race and 1960s Rock and Roll

September 27, 2016
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Why did rock and roll become white? Music critic Jack Hamilton’s extraordinary new book provides a challenging answer.

Book Review: Altamont — Rock’s Worst Day?

September 26, 2016
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As a work of history, a journalistic account, and an astute study of a troubled subculture, Altamont is so engrossing that it almost disarms criticism.

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