Book Rate

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The Myth of The Alcoholic Writer and Praying Drunk: Monday’s Margins

By Matt Borondy | Published: February 10, 2014
Abandoned liquor store

“Loneliness is a state of lack, a longing, and though that can be acutely painful it’s also interesting.”

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Enter The Valley of Amazement: Monday’s Margins

By Matt Borondy | Published: November 4, 2013
The Valley of Amazement Amy Tan cover

New books this week from Amy Tan, Ann Patchett, Fannie Flagg and more.

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A Life in Books: Monday’s Margins

By Matt Borondy | Published: October 28, 2013
A Life in Books Warren Lehrer

New books this week: A Life in Books by Warren Lehrer, At Night We Walk in Circles by Daniel Alarcón, and Johnny Cash: The Life by Robert Hilburn

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The Re-Emergence of Donna Tartt: Monday’s Margins

By Matt Borondy | Published: October 21, 2013
Donna Tartt Goldfinch cover

Donna Tartt’s first book in ten years, The Goldfinch, comes out this week; Charles Blackstone releases a new book; and fans of The Beatles and Philip Roth get early Halloween treats.

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New Anne Rice and Christopher Rice: Monday’s Margins

By Matt Borondy | Published: October 14, 2013
The Heavens Rise Cover

New books this week from the Rice clan and others, plus a local reading by Joseph Bates.

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Dave Eggers, Creative Habits, and 40 Years of Erica Jong: Monday’s Margins

By Matt Borondy | Published: October 7, 2013
Nothing To See Here

New books from Dave Eggers, Chuck Palahniuk, Andre Dubus III, George Pelecanos and Jo Baker. Plus: Fear of Flying 40 years later, and habits of the most creative people.

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New Malcolm Gladwell and T.C. Boyle: Monday’s Margins

By Matt Borondy | Published: September 30, 2013
David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell

This week’s new books include titles from Malcolm Gladwell, T. C. Boyle, Elizabeth Gilbert, Identity Theory contributor Joseph Bates, and spy-turned-novelist Valerie Plame.

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SLEEP, by Ted Spagna

By Matt Borondy | Published: September 26, 2013
Ted Spagna Sleep cover

“Ted Spagna’s photographs have done more than any other medium to make sleep science visible and, hence, directly understandable to the general public.”

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Stephen King, Julian Barnes, and Banned Books: Monday’s Margins

By Matt Borondy | Published: September 23, 2013
Doctor Sleep Stephen King cover

New books from Stephen King and Julian Barnes his stores this week, which is banned books week. Also: a Brooklyn Book Festival recap, and Leonard Cohen, the novelist.

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Young People’s Literature and New Thomas Pynchon: Monday’s Margins

By Matt Borondy | Published: September 16, 2013
Thomas Pynchon Bleeding Edge

This week brings us new books from Thomas Pynchon, Nicholson Baker, Jesmyn Ward, and Art Spiegelman as well as the National Book Foundation’s inaugural Young People’s Literature Longlist.

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Used Book Review: Pocket Kings, by Ted Heller

By Matt Borondy | Published: September 13, 2013
Pocket Kings by Ted Heller

A middle-aged loser-ish writer struggling to shop his shockingly misanthropic third novel falls into a pit of literary despair but discovers that he has a natural talent for online poker.

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Jonathan Lethem and Better Literary Conversations: Monday’s Margins

By Matt Borondy | Published: September 9, 2013
Dissident Gardens by Jonathan Lethem

New books this week from Jonathan Lethem, Alice McDermott and others. Also: creating better literary conversations, lying about reading books, and ending the publishing industry’s long war on technology.

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Is Obama Dissing Indie Bookstores?: Monday’s Margins

By Matt Borondy | Published: August 19, 2013
Serena movie still with Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper

Is Obama dissing indie bookstores? Why is self-publishing still scorned by literary awards? Why should anyone make words in the age of the image?

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Bookslut’s Little Sister and a Son’s Journey into His Father’s Life: Monday’s Margins

By Matt Borondy | Published: May 13, 2013
Spolia Magazine cover

Bookslut has created “a monthly literary magazine, devoted to the strange and to the wise.” Also links to new books by Stephen Rodrick and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

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Tragic Stories About Children, Nothing Gold Can Stay: Monday’s Margins

By Matt Borondy | Published: February 25, 2013
Fall in the Smokey Mountains

Notes on new books from Ron Rash and Emily Rapp, plus a well-deserved award nomination for a memoir.

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