When Julian Barnes writes about losing his wife to a brain tumor, he writes instead about the adventures of 18th and 19th century balloonists. It makes for the most unusual kind of memoir -- and it highlights how truly difficult it is to express what we're feeling when one of our loved ones dies. The … Continue reading Books of death: new in bookstores
Tag: Alfred A. Knopf
Early Nabokov: new in bookstores
Plays are supposed to be performed, not read — that’s the rule, right? An acquaintance of mine once arched his eyebrows when I told him I was rereading Hamlet. "You’re not supposed to read Shakespeare," he said, rolling his eyes. (Ok, sure, but can you point me in the direction of a good, local production of … Continue reading Early Nabokov: new in bookstores
New this month: John Banville’s “Ancient Light” and the fantasies of young men
In his new novel, "Ancient Light" (Alfred A. Knopf), John Banville does what he's always done best: Gives us a brooding narrator with an evocative, meaning-laden name and a past in need of unraveling. And don't forget the lyricism. Always there's lyricism. There must be lyricism. We meet Alexander Cleave (there's the name, suggesting some … Continue reading New this month: John Banville’s “Ancient Light” and the fantasies of young men
Nick Owchar 
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