In 'ODY-C,' A Greek Hero Worthy Of Women
Matt Fraction and Christian Ward's splendidly trippy, genderbent retelling of the Odyssey sets the story in space, as warlike Odyssia, "witchjack and wanderer" winds her way home to far Ithicaa.
'Searching For John Hughes,' And Finding Yourself
Jason Diamond tried to write a biography of John Hughes, director of classic '80s teen movies, but along the way, the story became more about his search for Hughes than the elusive filmmaker himself.
In 'Dust Bath Revival,' The True Fantasy Is A World Without Shame
Marianne Kirby's new novel is set in an America overrun by zombies — and also an America in which no one is judged on their appearance; her protagonist is fat and queer, and never hindered by that.
Michael Chabon's 'Moonglow' Shines With Insight And Fantastic Storytelling
Chabon's new novel is a collection of stories in which a dying grandfather tells the secrets of his life to his grandson. Critic Maureen Corrigan calls Moonglow "violent and very funny."
Sweetly Familiar Fantasy With A Twist In 'Of Fire And Stars'
Audrey Coulthurst's tale of a princess who falls in love with her intended prince's sister will remind you of fantasy novels you loved as a child — all teen angst, horses and reluctant love.
The Amazing Adventures Of Michael Chabon's Sort-Of-Grandpa In 'Moonglow'
Moonglow is a playful, fictional take on the family memoir. Set in 1990, it stars young author "Mike" Chabon, who's visiting his dying grandfather. Grandpa, it turns out, has led a remarkable life.
Beautiful, Horrifying 'Blood Of The Dawn' Gives Voice To Peru's Victims Of Violence
Claudia Salazar Jiménez's new novel is short and brutally effective. It's the story of three women from different walks of life, all caught up in the violence that convulsed Peru in the 1980s.
'Platinum Age' Is An Engaging Guide To Great TV
Longtime Fresh Air TV critic David Bianculli's new book lays out what he calls the "Key Evolutionary Stages" in the development of the medium — and the constant conversation we're having with it.
Know Thyself? 'Swing Time' Says It Can't Be Done
The narrator of Zadie Smith's new novel is never named — fitting, for a book about the illusions of identity and the ways people try and fail to know and define themselves.
'Prince Of Cats' Melds Comics, Hip-Hop And Shakespeare
Ron Wimberly's energetic re-working of Romeo and Juliet focuses on Tybalt, the "Prince of Cats." It mashes up wildly diverse elements into a fresh creation, the visual equivalent of a DJ's mix.
Weird, Spirited 'Pieces Of Soap' Celebrates The Essays Of Stanley Elkin
Elkin, who died in 1995, was known for his satirical takes on American culture. Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews a new collection of essays that showcases the freshness of Elkin's work.
'Things From The Flood' Is Gorgeously Creepy And Strangely Human
Simon Stålenhag's new book of paintings is a followup to his unique vision of a robot-and-monster haunted alternate Sweden. Each page is heavily freighted with both dread, but you can't stop looking.
'The Mountain Of Kept Memory' Is A World To Get Lost In
Rachel Neumeier's novel is classic high fantasy: A prince and princess must work together to save their kingdom. It's not new territory, but it is a richly imagined world worth spending time in.
'Fish In Exile' Is A Chronicle Of Grief Barely Survived
In Vi Khi Nao's new novel, a husband and wife are falling apart after losing their two children in a terrible accident. Nao's poetic chops are on full display in this immersive, difficult book.
'Float' Will Lift Your Mind Out Of Its Rut
Anne Carson's unconventional collection of 22 chapbooks can be read in any order, and covers everything from Helen of Troy to H.G. Wells — but mostly, it's about women taking back their own stories.
Sex, Death And Revolution (A Little Long-Winded) In 'Thus Bad Begins'
Javier Marias' new novel is, on the surface, a low-stakes spy story about a young man, his older mentor and a dysfunctional marriage. But really, it's about the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath.
Coming To Terms With A Bloody Past In 'Pull Me Under'
In Kelly Luce's new novel, a woman who calls her heart "the black organ" must return to the home she left long ago and the father she no longer speaks to, in order to confront her troubled past.
Volume 3 Of Eleanor Roosevelt Biography Chronicles The Rise Of An Activist
Feminist historian Blanche Wiesen Cook published the first volume of her biography of Roosevelt in 1992. Critic Maureen Corrigan says the newly released final volume is exhausting and exhilarating.
Faith, Sex And The South Intersect In 'Virgin'
April Ayers Lawson's debut story collection features young, often sheltered characters struggling with intimacy in a world where ordinary uncertainties are amplified by a fundamentalist upbringing.
Three Romances To Light Up Your Diwali
We're celebrating Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, with three books sure to strike a spark of romance in your heart, no matter how long and dark the nights are getting.
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