Books
‘The Hive and the Honey’ Review: A Buzzworthy Fiction Collection
With a focus on how different displaced communities of Koreans respond to their new circumstances, Yoon grapples with issues of violence, fatherhood, and alienation.
R. F. Kuang Speaks on Friendship, Anti-Colonialism, and Magic at the Brattle Theatre
Author R. F. Kuang spoke at the Brattle Theatre on Nov. 12 to support the paperback release of her 2022 historical fantasy novel “Babel.”
The Literary World of “The Hunger Games”: Mockingjays, Snakes, and Everything in Between
At a time when this renowned franchise once again adorns theaters across the globe, revisiting the literary trajectory of “The Hunger Games” seems not only fitting, but necessary.
The Books We’re Most Thankful for: A Gratitude Practice
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we’re celebrating this holiday season by sharing the books that we’re most grateful for.
Artist Profile: Amanda Peters on ‘The Berry Pickers’ and Embracing Indigenous Stories
Amanda Peters’ newest novel, “The Berry Pickers,” is all about cause and effect.
So You Want to Read Fantasy
So, you want to read fantasy. You couldn’t have picked a better genre to explore.
So You Want to Read LGBTQ+ Fiction
For those seeking an entry point into the genre or simply looking for their next read, this list offers a short selection of great LGBTQ+ fiction.
‘Organs of Little Importance’ Review: Everything Matters in Adrienne Chung’s Poetry
Chosen by author Solmaz Sharif as the winner of the 2022 National Poetry Series, Chung’s collection of twenty-two poems excavates memory and meaning from the outwardly trivial.
Carl Safina Speaks on the Life-Changing Relationship Behind ‘Alfie and Me’
Despite a lifetime of experience and education in ecology, nothing could have prepared Carl Safina for the extraordinary revelations that a unique owl named Alfie would bring into his world.
From the Boston Book Festival: YA Authors Discuss Compelling Characters and Young Love
Spanning genre and subject matter, the panel centered around three recently released novels that include romantic subplots subverted by family, forbidden love, and coming of age struggles: “Teach the Torches to Burn,” “The Other Side of Infinity,” and “Sing Me To Sleep.”
‘This Won’t Help’ Review: Short-Lived but Entertaining in the Moment
Grober’s wit is a force of nature that keeps readers engaged and entertained throughout. The topics covered are nuanced, and Grober makes surprisingly insightful points about the state of current affairs.
Christine Coulson Speaks on Writing and Art Museums at Beacon Hill Books
Coulson’s work is sure to invite readers to keep this idea in mind and reconsider how museums tell stories about their art.
So You Want to Read Rom-Coms
Many rom-com works have compelling characters, well executed plots, and are a perfect form of escapism from the reader’s exhausting day of work or studying.
‘Organ Meats’ Review: Spilling the Guts of Girlhood
Bursting with dog-headed women and women-headed dogs, banana ghosts, and wishes tied into realization with red thread, “Organ Meats” is paradoxical, yet beautiful.
Artist Profile: ‘cari can read’ on BookTube and the Joy of Reading
In an interview with The Harvard Crimson, Cakes discussed how she entered the book space, social media’s effects on the publishing sphere, and advice for young professionals looking to pursue what they love.
‘Rouge’ Review: Reasoning with Our Reflection
Awad’s book will ensnare those caught under the same spells under which Belle falls, but overall the book lacks a certain sense of enchantment that would bring it to the level of perfection that a character like Belle would seek.
‘Astor’ Review: A Metamorphosis of an American Dynasty
This nonfiction work successfully incorporates historic accounts with archival details and secondary commentaries, bringing its characters to life and unraveling the intergenerational metamorphosis of the Astor family.
Harvard Authors Spotlight: Pulitzer Prize-Winning Writer, Tracy K. Smith ’94
In her newest memoir “To Free the Captives: A Plea for the American Soul,” Tracy K. Smith ’94 delves into the past through the lens of her family history with lyrical and moving language.
From the Boston Book Festival: Tan Twan Eng on Defiance and the Power of Stories
At the 2023 Boston Book Festival on Oct. 14, Tan sat down for a conversation with Rachel Cantor and Virginia Pye on “Defiance: Literary Imagination and the Power of Stories.”
Horror, She Wrote: Five Centuries of Haunting Reads by, for, and about Stubborn Women
Through Gothic literature, women writers have developed and dominated horror storytelling since the 18th Century to discuss social issues or to write complex female characters without focusing on romance and men — a literary phenomenon that continues today.
From the Boston Book Festival: ‘If Not Now, When?’ Panelists Address the Power and Potential of Jewish Literature
Throughout the hour-long talk, the speakers explored the ways their identities have influenced their work and probed the fundamental questions about family, autonomy, representation, and justice that lie at the hearts of their novels.
Coco Krumme at the Harvard Bookstore: Reapproaching Optimization with First Principles
While Krumme realizes there is no way to truly opt out of or substitute optimization, she asks the readers to confront and question this norm.
‘Only a Voice’ Review: An Accessible, but Incomplete Investigation into Modernity
In this collection of essays, Scialabba is able to infuse character into his steady prose.
From the Boston Book Festival: Rick Riordan on Heroism
The keynote lecture ultimately illustrated Riordan’s connection to the reader and the profound impact his work has had on the lives of those who have had the privilege of journeying through his pages.