The 19th-Century Novel That Reaffirmed My Zionism
George Eliot took up the question of Jewish self-determination in her last novel, Daniel Deronda, and arrived at a surprising answer.
There’s No Such Thing as a Meaningful Death
The protagonist in Kaveh Akbar’s new novel wants to believe in something strongly enough that he’s willing to die for it.
Beloved
A poem for Sunday
The Human Face of American Decline
Alex Kotlowitz recommends books that manage to operate at a human scale while arriving at bigger truths.
You May Be Surprised by What Scares You
Fear may be a linchpin of horror, but as a recent anthology attests, the true bedrock of the genre is mood.
The Marigold Sonnets
A poem for Wednesday
The Suburbs Have Become a Ponzi Scheme
A new book looks at how white families depleted the resources of the suburbs and left more recent Black and Latino residents “holding the bag.”
Eight Books to Take With You on a Road Trip
In these titles, the open highway sparks a reaction between a character and the unknown.
When Writing About Your Children Is a Form of Betrayal
A new novel argues that telling one’s own story is necessary and meaningful, regardless of the consequences.
The Pianist Upstairs
Published in The Atlantic in 2005
The Literature of Exile
Hisham Matar’s books are part of a long tradition of writing from a place of dislocation.
The One Element Keeping Ukraine From Total Defeat
A new book recounts the first year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from the ground up.
The Uncanniest Influencers on the Internet
A new book brings stark clarity to the formulas that guide our behavior online.
Two Jewish Writers, a Bottle of Whiskey, and a Post–October 7 Reality
One hundred days after Hamas’s attack, looking back at a candid and intense late-night talk with two prominent authors, Joshua Cohen and Ruby Namdar.
Poem for Falling Bodies
A poem for Sunday
What to Read to Understand Russia
Anastasia Edel, a Russian-born American social historian, recommends books about the country as the war in Ukraine continues.
Exile Changes You Forever
Hisham Matar’s new novel looks at the price of being forced out of one’s home and the impossibility of ever really going back again.
Districts
A poem for Wednesday
The Horror Stories We Tell Ourselves in Order to Live
An Israeli novelist who is also a clinical psychologist describes how narrative can help Israelis overcome the trauma of October 7.
Seven Books That Earn Your Tears
Getting a cheap rise out of readers is easy. Faithfully representing life on the page takes more skill.