Archive

Trivial, Vulgar, and Exalted: Revisiting J. V. Cunningham’s “The Exclusions of a Rhyme”
Paul Pastor reviews a new edition of J. V. Cunningham’s collection of poems and epigrams, “The Exclusions of a Rhyme.”
Paul J. PastorDec 29, 2022
- Poetry
Constitutional Revival: On Jedediah Purdy’s “Two Cheers for Politics”
Roslyn Fuller reviews Jedediah S. Purdy‘s “Two Cheers for Politics: Why Democracy Is Flawed, Frightening ― and Our Best Hope.”
Roslyn FullerDec 29, 2022
How Do You Know What To Shoot?: On William Wyler and John Sturges’s “Thunderbolt”
On its 75th anniversary, Jason Resnikoff revisits the World War II documentary “Thunderbolt” and how it captures the relationship between filmmaking and war-making.
Jason ResnikoffDec 28, 2022
Beyond the Cosmetic: A Conversation with Esther Armah
Grégory Pierrot talks with Esther Armah about her project of “Emotional Justice.”
Grégory PierrotDec 28, 2022
- Decolonize | Defund | Abolish
Transpacific Connections and Competitions: On Ying Zhu’s “Hollywood in China” and Daryl Joji Maeda’s “Like Water”
Aynne Kokas reviews two recent books about the intersection of China and Hollywood: Ying Zhu’s “Hollywood in China: Behind the Scenes of the World’s Largest Movie Market” and Daryl Joji Maeda’s “Like Water: A Cultural History of Bruce Lee.”
Aynne KokasDec 27, 2022
The Rules We Live By
A series made up of conversations between Julien Crockett and those who dictate, think deeply about, and seek to bend or break the rules we live by.
Julien CrockettDec 27, 2022
What Is the Secret of Chernivtsi?: A Conversation with Ihor Pomerantsev
Kate Tsurkan speaks with Ihor Pomerantsev about the literary vitality of Ukraine and the value of poetry during wartime.
Kate TsurkanDec 26, 2022
- Around the World
- Poetry
Noir for the Anthropocene: On Elspeth Barker’s “O Caledonia”
Chelsea Jack Fitzgerald reviews Elspeth Barker’s “O Caledonia,” a Scottish noir interested in the connections between different types of anthropogenic damage.
Chelsea FitzgeraldDec 26, 2022
L.A. Booksellers on Their Favorite Books Read in 2022
Los Angeles booksellers let us know their favorite books that they read in 2022.
Addison Richley, Anthony Strain, Chris Molnar, Erin K Drew, Lance Morgan, Tía Chucha’s Centro Cultural Bookstore StaffDec 25, 2022
To Draw the Mortal Hours: On James Matthew Wilson’s “The Strangeness of the Good”
Patrick Kurp appreciates the humility and plain speech of James Matthew Wilson’s poetic chronicle of the pandemic in “The Strangeness of the Good.”
Patrick KurpDec 25, 2022
- Poetry
Hurray for Inventing New Genres or Whatever: On Dr. Moiya McTier’s “The Milky Way”
Joani Etskovitz explores the genres at play — from astronomy and mythology to self-help and romance — in Dr. Moiya McTier’s “The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy.”
Joani EtskovitzDec 24, 2022
Mankind Is a Piece of Shit: On Keiron Pim’s “Endless Flight”
Luke Warde reviews Keiron Pim’s new biography “Endless Flight: The Life of Joseph Roth.”
Luke WardeDec 24, 2022
- Biography & Autobiography
- Fiction
Jordan Stein’s “Rip Tales”
Writer and curator Jordan Stein joins Kate Wolf to discuss his book “Rip Tales: Jay DeFeo’s Estocada and Other Pieces.”
LARB Radio HourDec 23, 2022
Whatever Weapon: On Gender and Italian Literature
Janna Brancolini discusses the dynamic relationship between restrictive Italian gender roles, Italy’s biggest literary prize, and the nation's history of women writers, who have rarely won it.
Janna BrancoliniDec 23, 2022
Persecution Mania: On Alisa Ganieva’s “Offended Sensibilities”
Cory Oldweiler reviews Alisa Ganieva’s 2018 novel “Offended Sensibilities,” translated from the Russian by Carol Apollonio.
Cory OldweilerDec 23, 2022
- Around the World
- Fiction
The Faustian Bargain of Princess Stories: A Conversation with Barbara Bourland
Nate Brown talks with Barbara Bourland about her new novel “The Force of Such Beauty.”
Nate BrownDec 22, 2022
- Fiction