This is an extraordinarily beautiful book, its present tense prose creating “an atmosphere of literature,” in Virginia Woolf’s words, its honest probing as illuminating as anything you will read about what it means to be Jewish.
Roberta Silman
Arts Feature: Recommended Books, 2021
An eclectic round-up of the favorite books of the year from our critics, including some disappointments.
Book Review: “The Wrong End of the Telescope” — A Stunning Achievement
This is a wonderful novel about a pressing humanitarian subject, Syrian refugees and the people who helped, as well as an exploration of identity and loss and triumph.
Book Review: Elizabeth Warren and Alexander S. Vindman — Gifted with a Moral Compass
The idea of America is elusive and sometimes, like right now, in danger of disappearing. That is why I have found myself turning for comfort to two books that can give us some perspective as to how to move forward.
Documentary Review: PBS’s “Hemingway” — Inside an American Legend
If you love fiction you should devote several hours to watching Hemingway. Ken Burns and Lynn Novick have brought a special tenderness to this series, something deeper and more compelling than previous Burns documentaries.
Arts Feature: Recommended Books, 2020
An eclectic round-up of the favorite books of the year from our critics.
Book Review: “Invisible Years” — A Book for the Ages
Invisible Years is — simultaneously — an indispensable source and a distinguished work of art.
Book Review: “Secrets and Shadows” — Lessons of the Past
Roberta Silman’s engaging and deeply felt novel is a reminder of what it means to carry a historical burden on both a personal and national level.
The Annual Arts Fuse Holiday Gift Roundup — Tips From Enthusiasts
Wondering about what to give the arts and culture lover on your gift list? Some suggestions.
Best Books: Notable Volumes, For Better or Worse, in 2015
Our demanding critics supply lists of books that piqued their interest this of the year.