Six Classic Books That Live Up to Their Reputation
These novels are lengthy, but they lavishly reward the time and effort you pour into them.
I Went to Taiwan to Say Goodbye
To my grandmother, and perhaps to the country whose resilience she shares
What a Famous Writer’s Early Work Can Teach Us About Failure
Marguerite Duras’s second novel, The Easy Life, shows that all writing is practice.
An Ode to Mood Swings
If you don’t like me now, just give it an hour.
The 10 Best Albums of 2022
The year in music was a party.
What Gives SZA Her Edge
The singer’s highly anticipated new album, SOS, is a reminder of how fun fatalism can be.
Steven Spielberg’s Movie Magic Has a Dark Side
And no one knows it better than he does.
Why Read Literary Biography?
What Shirley Hazzard’s life can, and can’t, tell us about her fiction
Avatar: The Way of Water Puts Most Modern Blockbusters to Shame
James Cameron’s sequel to his 2009 epic is proof that cinematic wonder still exists.
The Atlantic 10
The books that made us think the most this year
The Erudite, Absurd White Lotus Finale
Even for a show that has seemed dubious about human nature, Season 2 ended on a cynical note.
‘Steve and Marty’ Revealed SNL’s Weaknesses
Even two comedy legends couldn’t help the show.
The Anabasis of Godspeed
Another Way to Watch the World Cup
A choreographer explains why soccer is a dance.
The Reinvention of the Catholic Church
Scandals have taken a toll, and faith is flagging in Europe and the U.S. But Catholicism isn’t on the wane—it’s changing in influential ways.
We’re All Capable of Going ‘Goblin Mode’
The Oxford Word of the Year tells a concise story about how many of us are doing these days.
You Can’t Really Make a Feel-Good Body-Horror Movie
The Whale aims for noble sentimentality, but Darren Aronofsky can’t stop turning pain into spectacle.
Why It’s So Hard to Write About Science
Understanding something like a pandemic requires engagement with more than just biology: Your weekly guide to the best in books
What Makes Neil Young’s Voice Irresistible
The key to the enduring popularity of his less-than-groundbreaking album Harvest
Will Smith Isn’t the Main Reason to Avoid Emancipation
The film is part slavery-era drama, part survival thriller, part war epic—and all confused.