4 fall movies that celebrate the beauty of autumn
Summer movies — big popcorn-friendly extravaganzas — are a fairly specific genre; fall movies, maybe not. But maybe there's a more precise way to think about fall movies: films that...
Home > Reviews
All Stories
8 snapshot reviews of the 2021 Oscar nominees for best picture
It's Oscar season, and ... meh. That's not a "meh" for the quality of the nominees this year; some terrific films are in the race, and the lack of big-studio...
8 tips for starting and nurturing a successful book club
Inspired to start your own book group? Here are some ideas from a few longtime book clubs, on how to make yours go the distance. Have guidelines — "Have some...
In new book, Lindy West asks bizarre questions about blockbuster films
In Lindy West's new book, "S—, Actually: The Definitive, 100% Objective Guide to Modern Cinema,", many important cinematic questions are asked. Such as, why is Laura Linney wearing a woolly...
Cozy up on the couch with these 6 paperbacks as weather gets cooler
Outdoors, the temperatures are dropping; indoors, the couch is calling. Should you need a new paperback to keep you company there, here are six brand-new ones ready for you. "Home...
Review: How J.K. Rowling’s ‘Troubled Blood’ made me not care about 2 characters I’d loved
Goodbye, Strike and Robin. I'll miss you. When I first heard that J.K. Rowling had begun writing detective fiction, I wasn't particularly excited. I didn't grow up with Harry Potter...
From ‘Fame’ to ‘The Half of It,’ this movie critic shares 10 of her back-to-school favorites
Back-to-school might look a little different for many students this year; luckily, classic back-to-school movies always look the same. Here are 10 of my favorites, ranging from brand-new-on-Netflix to a...
Spend the rest of summer with these 6 new paperbacks
As this very strange summer ticks on, why not lose yourself in a book? (Preferably in front of a very large fan, and with cool drink nearby.) Here are a...
‘Crazy Rich Asians’ author Kevin Kwan talks about his newest novel and the sequel to his hit movie
Summer is traditionally the season for light reading, and right now we might be more in need than ever of something effervescent. Enter — thank goodness — Kevin Kwan. The...
Crime fiction: A roundup of worthy reads from Donna Tartt and beyond
Like a lot of us, I'm finding these strange days difficult. So what better way to deal with stress than to pull from my shelves a great crime novel that...