The plots were formulaic. The characters lacked psychological complexity. Even the titles were repetitive. But as a pre-teen I was transfixed — and with new editions out, I still am.
In which we consult the Book Review’s past to shed light on the books of the present. This week: Jean Strouse and Eudora Welty on the “great books” they never finished.
The characters Neel Mukherjee's new novel all want better lives, and — to say the least — they're seldom rewarded. A State of Freedom is a dark, brutal read, but also surprisingly beautiful.
Ms. Woodson, a best-selling children’s book author, will travel the country, speaking to kids in schools, libraries, juvenile detention centers and other underserved areas.