Reviews Archive | Los Angeles Review of Books

All Reviews

Learning from Mistakes: Howard S. Becker’s “Evidence”
Ben Merriman reviews Howard S. Becker’s “Evidence,” on the conduct of sociological research.
Ben MerrimanJun 25, 2017
- Cultural Studies
Comics Conceptualism
Trevor Strunk on “Terms and Conditions,” the new graphic novel by R. Sikoryak.
Trevor StrunkJun 24, 2017
- Comics
Divorce, Appalachia Style
John Farley reviews Scott McClanahan’s new novel, “The Sarah Book.”
John FarleyJun 24, 2017
- Fiction
Above and Below the Fruited Plain: On Edward McPherson’s “The History of the Future”
A trip through the contemporary American landscape featuring portraits of eight different cities by a creative writing professor.
Tom ZoellnerJun 23, 2017
- Cultural Studies
- Politics
Intergalactic Gothic
Michael Tate reviews Jaroslav Kalfař’s first novel, “Spaceman of Bohemia.”
Michael TateJun 23, 2017
- SF
Strongmen and Fragile Democracies
David Kaye reviews Basharat Peer’s new book on India’s and Turkey’s strongmen.
David KayeJun 22, 2017
- Around the World
- Politics
Cruel but Not Unusual: Putting Down the Attica Uprising of 1971
Mary F. Corey on Heather Ann Thompson's Pulitzer Prize–winning "Blood in the Water: The Attica Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy."
Mary F. CoreyJun 22, 2017
An Arduous but Triumphant Journey
Elaine Elinson on Susan Burton and Cari Lynn's "Becoming Ms. Burton: From Prison to Recovery to Leading the Fight for Incarcerated Women."
Elaine ElinsonJun 21, 2017
Outside Language and Power: The Mastery of Arundhati Roy’s “The Ministry of Utmost Happiness”
Anita Felicelli on Arundhati Roy's long-awaited second novel.
Anita FelicelliJun 21, 2017
- Fiction
Darkness Nearly Beyond Words: On Elizabeth Kostova’s “The Shadow Land”
Robert Zaretsky plumbs the depths of “The Shadow Land” by Elizabeth Kostova.
Robert ZaretskyJun 20, 2017
- Fiction
Evangelical Politics in God’s Country
A new book provides a sweeping view of the political and theological influence of a loosely defined group.
Andrew WrightJun 20, 2017
- Politics
- Religion
The Objectionist: The Life and Times of William F. Buckley Jr.
William F. Buckley Jr. loved to yell “stop” no matter what was moving, says our reviewer.
Andrew BurtJun 20, 2017
- Biography & Autobiography
- Politics
Dreaming Jacaranda
If her early books cemented Eve Babitz’s image as the Edie Sedgwick of 1960s L.A., then “Sex and Rage” was an attempt to examine her own celebrity.
Liska JacobsJun 19, 2017
- Fiction
The Glamour Machine: Eve Babitz’s Los Angeles
“Slow Days, Fast Company” consistently reveals Babitz’s fascination with America, which she considered a place apart from Los Angeles.
Kim FayJun 19, 2017
- Fiction
Return of the Pirate Slut
Jamie Fisher finds "Love and Trouble" by Claire Dederer.
Jamie FisherJun 19, 2017
- Memoir & Essay
Ghostly Parades in Lost Cities: Babel’s Odessa and Wittlin’s L’viv
Uilleam Blacker reviews the new Pushkin Collection editions of Isaac Babel and Józef Wittlin.
Uilleam BlackerJun 18, 2017
- Around the World
- History