Reading (or, hoping to...)
Lost for Words by Edward St. Aubyn
With a host of acclaimed novels about the dysfunctional realities of the English upper-crust, Edward St. Aubyn now turns his satirical eye toward the celebrity-obsessed British literati. As the saying goes, "blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused." Based on the very positive reception of this book, it seems that I won't, either.
–Brinda Ayer
In the Light of What We Know by Zia Haider Rahman
James Wood extolled this "dazzling" debut novel's many virtues in a recent piece for the New Yorker. Five pages of thoughtful analysis and praise later, and I was convinced–this sweeping, global book has made its way to the top of my reading wish list.
–Nathan Rostron
Watching
If Hunter S. Thompson really, really needed a copy of Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, he probably would have ordered it through Good Books, an Amazon alternative whose retail profit goes entirely to Oxfam projects. Check out their provocative promotional trailer here.
–Jack Saul
Learning
Taking advantage of a stereotype not exactly rooted in reality, publishers package books by African authors or about Africa using essentially the same acacia-tree-and-orange-sun cover image. Take a look at this and a few other questionable book design clichés.
–Alex Sarrigeorgiou