Books
Telling Her Story: Vignettes for Women’s History Month
Here are The Crimson’s Arts Board’s favorite books and authors to turn to in reflection on gender, womanhood, and femininity.
‘Swanna in Love’ Review: Girlhood at Its Most Grotesque
In “Swanna in Love,” Jennifer Belle depicts female growth emerging from rather rotten experiences, capitalizing on believable teenage voice.
‘The Book of Love’: Supernatural Tale Bites Off More Than It Can Chew
Kelly Link's first novel “The Book of Love” struggles to find its footing, creating a choppy story and laborious reading experience.
Cristina Henríquez at The Harvard Bookstore on Finding Humanity Through Historical Fiction
On March 6, acclaimed author Cristina Henríquez transformed The Harvard Bookstore into a sanctum to discuss her new novel, “The Great Divide.”
‘Silver’ Review: The Sonorous Music of Paradoxes
Across 27 poems, Rowan Ricardo Phillips sings a melody as sharp and cutting as metal in his latest collection, “Silver.”
Artist Profile: Chase D. Melton ’25 on the Importance of Humans and the Generosity of Art
During his Artist Development Fellowship, Chase D. Melton ’25 spent his summer in Berlin writing about everything but Berlin.
Artist Profile: Michael Van Valkenburgh and the Poetic Beauty of ‘Brooklyn Bridge Park’
Before Michael Van Valkenburgh, renowned architect and educator, and his team, New York had not seen a new major park built since the 1870’s.
Artist Profile: Celeste Ng Cares About More Than the Truth
Ng writes her fiction novels wielding a metaphorical crowbar, prying apart stories that initially appear objective to reveal inner nuances.
‘Joyce Carol Oates: Letters to a Biographer’ Review: Understanding The Dark Lady of American Letters
In this epistolary collection, Greg Johnson gives readers a glimpse into Oates's professional life, writing process, and poignant humanity.
‘When Among Crows’ Review: Short and Bittersweet
Veronica Roth, the author behind the beloved “Divergent” novels, has breathed new life into Slavic folklore in her latest book, “When Among Crows.”
‘Colorfast’ Review: Simplicity and Beauty in Tandem
In “Colorfast,” poet Rose McLarney takes readers on a unique and nostalgic journey through her upbringing in the Appalachian Mountains.
It’s What’s on the Inside That Counts — Or Is It?
A good cover reflects the time and effort invested by the author and publishing company, and is also the natural option for a book-lover.
‘Empire of the Damned’ Review: A Wickedly Good Time
It’s time to make vampires cool again. “Empire of the Damned” reignites readers’ obsession with all things dark and wicked.
‘The Reservoir’ Review: Literary Eloquence and Emotion, Unmasked
David Duchovny's “The Reservoir” is touching, ironic, and heartbreaking all at once, a startling reminder of just how recent the COVID-19 era was.
‘Mandible Wishbone Solvent’ Review: A Grueling Yet Gratifying Must-Read
Asiya Wadud’s poetry collection “Mandible Wishbone Solvent” is a wonderfully confusing yet revolutionary read, despite its mere 88 pages.
Norton Lecture Series: Viet Thanh Nguyen’s ‘On Crossing Borders’
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and professor Viet Thanh Nguyen took the stage for his fourth Norton Lecture, titled “On Crossing Borders.”
‘Thick With Trouble’ Review: Beauty in the Outskirts of the Ordinary
In her latest collection, Amber McBride spins together a beautiful web of interconnected pieces relating to her identity as a Black woman.
Artist Profile: Seth Dickinson on ‘Exordia,’ Obama, and Lego Bionicles
What do pink noise, the history of Kurdistan, and the Lego Bionicle franchise have in common? They all figure into Seth Dickinson’s sci-fi novel “Exordia.”
Libraries, Used Bookstores, or Fresh off the Presses: Where Should You Buy Your Next Book?
Used bookstores are the most eco-friendly way to buy a book. But why would one want to buy a book in the first place?
‘But Is There Spice?’ TikTok’s Obsession with Literary Pornography
TikTok is changing the way books are written and sold, marked by an increased reliance on sexually explicit content to hook readers.
‘House of Flame and Shadow’ Review: Maas’s Beautiful Mess
“House of Flame and Shadow” by Sarah J. Maas marks the third installment in her “Crescent City” series. It is thrilling and sexy but it is also sort of a mess.
‘Iron Flame’ Review: A Promising Series Falters
“Iron Flame,” the second book in Rebecca Yarros’s Empyrean series, is unable to find its footing, resulting in a bumpy ride throughout for readers.
Narratives of Love: Books to Read This Valentine’s Day
Whether you’re seeking heartwarming romance, personal reflection, or love poems to the earth, this curated list of recommendations has something for everyone.
Antonia A. Hylton ’15 Visits Harvard Square for Her Inaugural Book Tour
On Thursday, Feb. 1, Antonia A. Hylton ’15 discussed her debut book “Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum” at the Cambridge Public Library.
Ya-Wen Lei Discusses China’s Techno-Developmental State and Consequences for the Working Class
Lei’s latest novel delves into China’s burgeoning techno-developmental regime and the grim consequences it holds for the strained working class.