Reviews Archive | Los Angeles Review of Books

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How Strange the Change: On David Hajdu’s History of American Pop Music
Dylan Hicks reviews David Hajdu’s “Love for Sale: Pop Music in America.”
Dylan HicksOct 16, 2016
- Music
A Thin-Skinned, Moody Martinet Threatens the Free Press: On Richard Kluger’s “Indelible Ink”
Richard Kluger’s account of the trial of John Peter Zenger, which paved the way for a free press in the United States.
Amy BradyOct 16, 2016
The Machinery of Death
Stephen Rohde discusses the possible elimination of the death penalty.
Stephen RohdeOct 15, 2016
- Law
- Politics
J. G. Ballard’s “High-Rise”: When We Feared Skyscraper Living
Twentieth-century fears of overpopulation are alive and well in “High-Rise,” J. G. Ballard’s classic science fiction novel and its 2016 film adaptation.
Carl AbbottOct 15, 2016
- SF
Mircea Eliade: Eponym of the Humanities?
Bryan Rennie reassesses the legacy of Romanian novelist and religious philosopher Mircea Eliade.
Bryan RennieOct 13, 2016
- Fiction
- Religion
The Apocalypse of Adulthood
What happens when a '90s archetype grows up? Hugh Ryan reads "Black Wave" by Michelle Tea to find out.
Hugh RyanOct 13, 2016
Making Magic
Karen Newman looks at "Hag-Seed," Margaret Atwood's reimagining of "The Tempest."
Karen NewmanOct 13, 2016
- Fiction
Soul and Dual: “Dothead” by Amit Majmudar
Caitlin Doyle considers “Dothead” by Amit Majmudar.
Caitlin DoyleOct 12, 2016
- Poetry
Unmapped Realms: Sun Yung Shin’s “Unbearable Splendor”
Kathleen Rooney on “Unbearable Splendor” by Sun Yung Shin.
Kathleen RooneyOct 12, 2016
- Poetry
From “Hell’s Hundred Acres” to “Bloomingdale Types”: The Story of SoHo
Stephen Petrus appraises “The Lofts of SoHo” by Aaron Shkuda.
Stephen PetrusOct 12, 2016
A Newish Biography of Mark Rothko
Grace Glueck on Annie Cohel-Solal's recent biography of Mark Rothko.
Grace GlueckOct 11, 2016
- Art & Architecture
- Biography & Autobiography
Tender Noir
Kim Fay reviews “Darkness for the Bastards of Pizzofalcone” by Maurizio de Giovanni.
Kim FayOct 10, 2016
- Noir
The End of the Line
Are "fishes" misunderstood? Renée D’Aoust investigates …
Renée E. D’AoustOct 9, 2016
- Memoir & Essay
- Science & Technology
On Samuel R. Delany’s “Dark Reflections”
Matthew Cheney reviews Samuel R. Delany’s “Dark Reflections.”
Matthew CheneyOct 9, 2016
- Fiction
- SF
Tabloid Psychoanalysis
Can Kyle Arnold can figure out PKD in "The Divine Madness of Philip K. Dick"?
D. Harlan WilsonOct 8, 2016
- SF
Fantasy or Faith? Carlos Hernandez’s “The Assimilated Cuban’s Guide to Quantum Santeria”
Hernandez’s collection defies categorization, bringing together elements of Latina/o and science fiction writing in a mashup of science, magic, and belief.
Joy Sanchez-TaylorOct 8, 2016
- SF