The Weekly Reader

Hard times make for great novels. On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels of the COVID-19 era: Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart and Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult.

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On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review These Precious Days, a new collection of essays from Ann Patchett, and we revisit another her first collection, This is the Story of a Happy Marriage.

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The 1970s were about more than bell bottoms, wide lapels, Led Zeppelin belt buckles and Vietnam. On this edition of The Weekly Reader, our book critic Marion Winik reviews two new novels steeped in the feminist zeitgeist of that extraordinary decade: 1979, by Val McDermid, and The Commune, by Erica Abeel.

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On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we set out to prove that great things sometimes come in small packages. We review Lily King's Five Tuesdays in Winter, a collection of ten short stories, and Leslie Pietrzyk's Admit This To No One, a novel in short stories. 

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On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review a novel and a collection of essays that each channel and express some very powerful, righteous rage. Marion Winik shares her thoughts on Neglect by Kim Wozencraft and People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn. 

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We've all heard the lyric "If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere." On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we feature two novels that could only be set in New York City. Marion Winik gives us her take on Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout and Happy Hour by Marlowe Granados. 

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Sharing intimate details of one's health is not often an easy conversation, but it can be the makings of a great memoir. On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new books about illness and survival: Smile by Sarah Ruhl, and Flesh and Blood by N. West Moss. 

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On this edition of The Weekly Reader, two new novels that explore the intricate dance of women's friendships. We review the highly anticipated third book from Sally Rooney, Beautiful World, Where Are You? and We Are Not Like Them by Christina Pride and Jo Piazza.

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Family life has always been great fodder for novels. On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels about complicated families. Marion Winik gives us her take on Jonathan Franzen's Crossroads, and Atticus Lish's The War for Gloria.

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Sometimes, daily life can be a bit much- politics, climate change, the PANDEMIC! It’s a lot. On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review a pair of Historical Novels that promise to take you away from your cares and transport you to another century. At least for a little while.

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