Reviews Archive | Los Angeles Review of Books

All Reviews

A Rich Contribution to Supreme Court Literature
Jean Rosenbluth reviews Bryan A. Garner's "Nino and Me: My Unusual Friendship with Justice Antonin Scalia."
Jean RosenbluthMar 15, 2018
- Law
- Memoir & Essay
Remaking the University: Geoffrey Galt Harpham on Democracy and Interpretation in the United States
What do Frederick Douglass and the New Criticism have in common?
Michael MeranzeMar 15, 2018
Come Hell, Come Husbands
Finding solace and strength in Karen Karbo's "In Praise of Difficult Women."
Judith EdelmanMar 14, 2018
- Gender & Sexuality
- Memoir & Essay
Radical Optimization: On “Desperately Seeking Self-Improvement”
On Carl Cederström and André Spicer's "Desperately Seeking Self-Improvement" and the obsession with optimization in a neoliberal world.
Peter BloomMar 14, 2018
Subversive Surfaces: “Graffiti Palace” by A. G. Lombardo
John Flynn-York on A. G. Lombardo's debut novel, "Graffiti Place."
John Flynn-YorkMar 13, 2018
- Fiction
The Long, Inescapable Tail of Terrorism
Benjamin Balint revels in the elegant gravity of Wendell Steavenson’s “Paris Metro.”
Benjamin BalintMar 13, 2018
- Around the World
- Fiction
A Fabulist Tour of “Awayland”
Ramona Ausubel’s “Awayland” weaves a beautiful tapestry of emotion and whimsy.
Ilana MasadMar 12, 2018
- Around the World
- Fiction
Crime and History in “The Widows of Malabar Hill”
Kim Fay reviews “The Widows of Malabar Hill” by Sujata Massey.
Kim FayMar 12, 2018
- Around the World
- Noir
The Unintended Moment: Rachel Lyon’s “Self-Portrait with Boy”
Diana Wagman reviews Rachel Lyon's new book.
Diana WagmanMar 11, 2018
- Fiction
Apocalypse Soon
Jessica Langer on Jeff VanderMeer's "Borne" and science fiction in the 21st century.
Jessica LangerMar 10, 2018
- SF
A Messiah-cum-Surrogate-Dad for Gormless Dimwits: On Jordan B. Peterson’s “12 Rules for Life”
Houman Barekat questions “12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos” by Jordan B. Peterson.
Houman BarekatMar 8, 2018
- Cultural Studies
- Philosophy & Religion
“Tell Me How to Get to Babi Yar”: On Katja Petrowskaja’s “Maybe Esther: A Family Story”
Linda Kinstler contemplates “Maybe Esther: A Family Story” by Katja Petrowskaja.
Linda KinstlerMar 7, 2018
- Around the World
- Memoir & Essay
High and Wide
A Border Patrol agent writes about the futility of his job, but some of his dispatches hit home more than others.
Greg LutherMar 7, 2018
- Memoir & Essay
- Politics
Next! How Superpowers Change Places
Should the transition from British imperial power to American hegemony be seen as a model for the Chinese Century?
Ali WyneMar 6, 2018
Aches and Joys on the Long Road of Life
Ramsey Mathews finds Jesse Ball’s novel “Census” an odd and poignant read.
Ramsey MathewsMar 6, 2018
- Fiction
A Love Affair with a Body Count
On “Sunburn” by Laura Lippman.
Karen BrissetteMar 5, 2018
- Noir