In the Valleys of the Noble Beyond by John Zada
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Despite the towering creature at its heart, the genius of In the Valleys of the Noble Beyond is most often its human pathos.
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America’s Reluctant Prince by Steven M. Gillon
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The real accomplishment of America’s Reluctant Prince is the extent to which it rises above the usual froth of wealth and scandal.
Read MoreThe Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns, and Fairies by Robert Kirk
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There’s a deep, humanist value to be found in Kirk’s investigations.
Read MoreIt’s a Mystery: There is no “I” in Team
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A trail full of twists and turns that takes delightful detective duo Lydia Chin and Bill Smith deep into unlikely places.
Read MoreFleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
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Just like each of Roth’s two-dozen novels, Fleishman is in Trouble is fundamentally Jewish.
Read MoreDeep River by Karl Marlantes
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Marlantes writes smoothly readable prose and has a solid skill at developing characters over time.
Read MoreThe Big Book of Classic Fantasy
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There is indeed a banquet in these pages, with selections ranging broadly across time and languages.
Read MoreChild's Play, directed by Lars Klevberg
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2019’s Child’s Play remake navigates the traps of postmodern horror, and provides some interesting commentary on our political-digital moment.
Read MoreThe Patient Assassin by Anita Brand
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Not just an engrossing biography of Dyer, but an excavation of the life of Udham Singh.
Read MoreHate Land by Daryl Johnson
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The author systematically removes the idea that we are far from this kind of radicalization.
Read MorePanic Attack: Young Radicals in the Age of Trump by Robby Soave
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A clear-eyed and comprehensive field guide to a political and social fringe movement.
Read MoreAssad or We Burn the Country by Sam Dagher
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What one comes away with after 600 pages of a Middle East generally on fire is the aching need for a little hope.
Read MoreOld Town Road Single by Lil Nas X
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A song with a country twang and a trap beat that’s been raising blood pressure since March 2019.
Read MoreEat Like a Fish by Bren Smith
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The particular kind of “climate cuisine” Smith has in mind is a little tough to swallow.
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It’s a Mystery: “If you want your enemy to fail, give him something important to do”
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The usual suspects and some worthy newcomers keep the suspense at breakneck speed.
Read MoreThe Ten Loves of Nishino By Hiromi Kawakami
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The intentionally drab prose throws extra emphasis on the plot.
Read MoreThe Conservative Sensibility by George Will
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“. . . in a democracy everything depends, ultimately, on public opinion, and public opinion is shiftable sand.”
Read MoreOn Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous By Ocean Vuong
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Almost, but not quite, a modern classic of gay fiction.
Read MoreMoonbound by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm
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The stories of these people have been told before, but this graphic novel format actually enhances the historical record.
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