Adam and Eve in Paradise, recently published by New Directions in a translation by the always great Margaret Jull Costa, reimagines the dawn of humanity with wit, humor, and surprising depth. Through a comic and naturalistic retelling, Eça de Queirós explores Adam's evolution from beast to man—and Eve’s crucial role in shaping civilization. A philosophical exploration of knowledge, survival, and the cost of progress. Check out my full review.
This week's New Yorker fiction is Joyce Carol Oates's "The Frenzy," which looks to be a disturbing look at an older man's weekend trip with the much younger Cassidy.
This week's New Yorker fiction is Yiyun Li's "Techniques and Idiosyncrasies." What begins as a routine checkup at the doctor's office for Lilian quickly becomes a poignant meditation on memory and grief, drawing us into the subtle ways in which personal history shapes even the most seemingly mundane interactions.
Jean Echenoz’s Command Performance is a noir-tinged, absurdist romp -- full of wit, detours, and dead ends. But does its playful subversion delight or exhaust? I found myself teetering on the edge of both. Read my review here.
Colm Tóibín is back in The New Yorker with "Five Bridges"—what’s in store?
In Lies and Sorcery, Elsa Morante’s relentless exploration of obsession, manipulation, and abuse is brought to life in a mesmerizing translation by Jenny McPhee, offering a complex reading experience that both captivates and repels.
This week's New Yorker fiction is Joseph O'Neill's "Keuka Lake."
Have you ever read M.F.K. Fisher's culinary classic How to Cook a Wolf? I had not, but I'm so glad I did! Here are some of my thoughts.
I've been working my way through Anthony Trollope's Palliser sextet, and I was delighted to revisit some of my favorite characters in book four, Phineas Redux.
With The Suicides, NYRB Classics and Esther Allen have brought us Antonio Di Benedetto's complete Trilogy of Expectation.
