Los Angeles Review of Books
@lareviewofbooks.bsky.social
A multimedia literary and cultural arts magazine with an enduring commitment to the written word. https://lareviewofbooks.org/
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We're over the moon to announce that the LARB Quarterly, no. 46: Alien is officially coming soon, featuring meditations, essays, fiction, poetry, and more from LARB contributors new and known. Prep for landing and join today to get your issue. https://lareviewofbooks.org/membership/
For #SmallBusinessSaturday, we're running a raffle! Donate $100 or more to our fund drive, and you’ll be automatically entered into a raffle to win a bundle of local LA goodies: https://lareviewofbooks.org/donate/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mgfd25&utm_id=mgfd25
November 29, 2025 at 5:02 PM
For #SmallBusinessSaturday, we're running a raffle! Donate $100 or more to our fund drive, and you’ll be automatically entered into a raffle to win a bundle of local LA goodies: https://lareviewofbooks.org/donate/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mgfd25&utm_id=mgfd25
"'Sentimental Value' is a portrait of a dysfunctional family and generational estrangement. But beneath these personal dynamics runs a subtle wartime narrative that complicates the myth of resistance."
Clara Cuccaro on "Sentimental Value": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/no-more-heroes/
Clara Cuccaro on "Sentimental Value": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/no-more-heroes/
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Los Angeles Review of Books is a magazine and nonprofit dedicated to rigorous, incisive, and engaging writing on every aspect of literature, culture, and the arts.
lareviewofbooks.org
November 29, 2025 at 5:02 PM
"'Sentimental Value' is a portrait of a dysfunctional family and generational estrangement. But beneath these personal dynamics runs a subtle wartime narrative that complicates the myth of resistance."
Clara Cuccaro on "Sentimental Value": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/no-more-heroes/
Clara Cuccaro on "Sentimental Value": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/no-more-heroes/
"We, as artists, face unique realities in our lives and creative careers, but we are not uniquely constrained economically."
Alexis Clements on Alison Bechdel’s “Spent” and predicaments of the modern artist: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/and-then-what-the-road-after-success-in-the-arts/
Alexis Clements on Alison Bechdel’s “Spent” and predicaments of the modern artist: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/and-then-what-the-road-after-success-in-the-arts/
November 29, 2025 at 4:20 PM
"We, as artists, face unique realities in our lives and creative careers, but we are not uniquely constrained economically."
Alexis Clements on Alison Bechdel’s “Spent” and predicaments of the modern artist: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/and-then-what-the-road-after-success-in-the-arts/
Alexis Clements on Alison Bechdel’s “Spent” and predicaments of the modern artist: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/and-then-what-the-road-after-success-in-the-arts/
"Kelly’s poetic method is to attend to octopus and ancestor alike." Nathan Xavier Osorio reviews Donika Kelly’s "The Natural Order of Things": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/closing-the-distance-emerging-from-the-earth/
November 29, 2025 at 2:02 PM
"Kelly’s poetic method is to attend to octopus and ancestor alike." Nathan Xavier Osorio reviews Donika Kelly’s "The Natural Order of Things": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/closing-the-distance-emerging-from-the-earth/
Want to keep up with everything LARB? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest on all our events, writing, book clubs, and more. https://lareviewofbooks.org/about/newsletter/
November 28, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Want to keep up with everything LARB? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest on all our events, writing, book clubs, and more. https://lareviewofbooks.org/about/newsletter/
Stumped about what to get your favorite reader for the holidays? Check out the LARB gift shop for some great bundles, T-shirts, hats, quarterlies, and more! https://shop.lareviewofbooks.org/
November 28, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Stumped about what to get your favorite reader for the holidays? Check out the LARB gift shop for some great bundles, T-shirts, hats, quarterlies, and more! https://shop.lareviewofbooks.org/
"As I’ve gotten older, history has moved along and my sense of rage has shifted a bit, but the basic posture remains the same." -Jon Raymond in conversation with Tess Pollok about his new novel, "God and Sex": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/miracles-magic-thinking-and-the-climate-crisis/
Page Not Found | Los Angeles Review of Books
Los Angeles Review of Books is a magazine and nonprofit dedicated to rigorous, incisive, and engaging writing on every aspect of literature, culture, and the arts.
lareviewofbooks.org
November 28, 2025 at 5:04 PM
"As I’ve gotten older, history has moved along and my sense of rage has shifted a bit, but the basic posture remains the same." -Jon Raymond in conversation with Tess Pollok about his new novel, "God and Sex": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/miracles-magic-thinking-and-the-climate-crisis/
"Oslo is Trier and Vogt’s playground, where themes of absent parents, fraught sibling dynamics, and haunted family homes collect and combust in their episodic narratives."
Clara Cuccaro considers the “myth of resistance” in "Sentimental Value." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/no-more-heroes/
Clara Cuccaro considers the “myth of resistance” in "Sentimental Value." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/no-more-heroes/
November 28, 2025 at 4:20 PM
"Oslo is Trier and Vogt’s playground, where themes of absent parents, fraught sibling dynamics, and haunted family homes collect and combust in their episodic narratives."
Clara Cuccaro considers the “myth of resistance” in "Sentimental Value." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/no-more-heroes/
Clara Cuccaro considers the “myth of resistance” in "Sentimental Value." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/no-more-heroes/
"Violence is seen only on a television monitor, recorded as proof. In 'Nymph,' the idea of proof becomes something else." David Hering interviews Stephanie LaCava about her new novel, "Nymph."
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/red-still-runs-through-you/
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/red-still-runs-through-you/
November 28, 2025 at 1:59 PM
"Violence is seen only on a television monitor, recorded as proof. In 'Nymph,' the idea of proof becomes something else." David Hering interviews Stephanie LaCava about her new novel, "Nymph."
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/red-still-runs-through-you/
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/red-still-runs-through-you/
Our fund drive is still going—and we need your help!
Donate by December 31 to support independent, incisive criticism and your gift will be matched up to $100,000: https://lareviewofbooks.org/donate/?utm_source=bsky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mgfd25&utm_id=mgfd25
Donate by December 31 to support independent, incisive criticism and your gift will be matched up to $100,000: https://lareviewofbooks.org/donate/?utm_source=bsky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mgfd25&utm_id=mgfd25
November 26, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Our fund drive is still going—and we need your help!
Donate by December 31 to support independent, incisive criticism and your gift will be matched up to $100,000: https://lareviewofbooks.org/donate/?utm_source=bsky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mgfd25&utm_id=mgfd25
Donate by December 31 to support independent, incisive criticism and your gift will be matched up to $100,000: https://lareviewofbooks.org/donate/?utm_source=bsky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mgfd25&utm_id=mgfd25
"Tóth has ventured into speculative fiction, in this case a story set in an unnamed city in an unidentified country at an indeterminate point in the near future." Cory Oldweiler on Krisztina Tóth’s newly translated novel “Eye of the Monkey” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/a-power-built-on-lies/
November 26, 2025 at 4:19 PM
"Tóth has ventured into speculative fiction, in this case a story set in an unnamed city in an unidentified country at an indeterminate point in the near future." Cory Oldweiler on Krisztina Tóth’s newly translated novel “Eye of the Monkey” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/a-power-built-on-lies/
"For me, the book was about approaching and describing a miracle in the most realistic terms that I could."
Tess Pollok interviews Jon Raymond about his new novel, “God and Sex.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/miracles-magic-thinking-and-the-climate-crisis/
Tess Pollok interviews Jon Raymond about his new novel, “God and Sex.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/miracles-magic-thinking-and-the-climate-crisis/
November 26, 2025 at 2:06 PM
"For me, the book was about approaching and describing a miracle in the most realistic terms that I could."
Tess Pollok interviews Jon Raymond about his new novel, “God and Sex.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/miracles-magic-thinking-and-the-climate-crisis/
Tess Pollok interviews Jon Raymond about his new novel, “God and Sex.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/miracles-magic-thinking-and-the-climate-crisis/
"The main lesson from the book is that even great artists tend to fail spectacularly when they overstretch. To give Herzog his due, he has taught us this lesson several times already."
Sam Shpall on Werner Herzog’s new book: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/herzog-in-the-jungle-of-truth/
Sam Shpall on Werner Herzog’s new book: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/herzog-in-the-jungle-of-truth/
November 25, 2025 at 7:45 PM
"The main lesson from the book is that even great artists tend to fail spectacularly when they overstretch. To give Herzog his due, he has taught us this lesson several times already."
Sam Shpall on Werner Herzog’s new book: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/herzog-in-the-jungle-of-truth/
Sam Shpall on Werner Herzog’s new book: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/herzog-in-the-jungle-of-truth/
Celebrate the holiday season with LARB, and the launch of Security, the Winter issue of the LARB Quarterly! We’ll be closing out 2025 with a night of readings and merriment.
Get your tickets today! https://lareviewofbooks.org/event/larb-holiday-party
Get your tickets today! https://lareviewofbooks.org/event/larb-holiday-party
November 25, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Celebrate the holiday season with LARB, and the launch of Security, the Winter issue of the LARB Quarterly! We’ll be closing out 2025 with a night of readings and merriment.
Get your tickets today! https://lareviewofbooks.org/event/larb-holiday-party
Get your tickets today! https://lareviewofbooks.org/event/larb-holiday-party
“The book’s through line is a familiar tension between clueless American policymakers and subordinates more in touch with local anger.”
Shehryar Fazli reviews Scott Anderson’s “King of Kings.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/a-citadel-of-fatuousness/
Shehryar Fazli reviews Scott Anderson’s “King of Kings.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/a-citadel-of-fatuousness/
November 25, 2025 at 4:19 PM
“The book’s through line is a familiar tension between clueless American policymakers and subordinates more in touch with local anger.”
Shehryar Fazli reviews Scott Anderson’s “King of Kings.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/a-citadel-of-fatuousness/
Shehryar Fazli reviews Scott Anderson’s “King of Kings.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/a-citadel-of-fatuousness/
"The video’s collaged narrative and soundscape offers the contextual cues of the 1980s that annotate and animate the beautifully nuanced references in the rest of the installation." @larafresko on Hande Sever at Redcat. https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/holding-and-disappearing-traces-of-the-past/
November 25, 2025 at 1:50 PM
"The video’s collaged narrative and soundscape offers the contextual cues of the 1980s that annotate and animate the beautifully nuanced references in the rest of the installation." @larafresko on Hande Sever at Redcat. https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/holding-and-disappearing-traces-of-the-past/
"Full of shocking revelations about a company that promised empowerment but provided only exploitation, the book also paints a concerning picture of the ubiquity of the contemporary cult."
Helena Aeberli on “Empire of Orgasm" by Ellen Huet: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-cult-of-orgasm/
Helena Aeberli on “Empire of Orgasm" by Ellen Huet: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-cult-of-orgasm/
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 PM
"Full of shocking revelations about a company that promised empowerment but provided only exploitation, the book also paints a concerning picture of the ubiquity of the contemporary cult."
Helena Aeberli on “Empire of Orgasm" by Ellen Huet: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-cult-of-orgasm/
Helena Aeberli on “Empire of Orgasm" by Ellen Huet: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-cult-of-orgasm/
"An unavoidable question arises: are we that far from turning a tale about Chile yesterday into a story about America today?" Ariel Dorfman reviews "Chile in Their Hearts" by John Dinges: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/chile-yesterday-america-today/
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Los Angeles Review of Books is a magazine and nonprofit dedicated to rigorous, incisive, and engaging writing on every aspect of literature, culture, and the arts.
lareviewofbooks.org
November 24, 2025 at 9:56 PM
"An unavoidable question arises: are we that far from turning a tale about Chile yesterday into a story about America today?" Ariel Dorfman reviews "Chile in Their Hearts" by John Dinges: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/chile-yesterday-america-today/
Do you love thoughtful West Coast takes? We’re seeking to raise $100,000 to keep our writing and programming going in 2026—and you can double your impact, with all gifts matched through Dec. 31: https://lareviewofbooks.org/donate/?utm_source=bsky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mgfd25&utm_id=mgfd25
November 24, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Do you love thoughtful West Coast takes? We’re seeking to raise $100,000 to keep our writing and programming going in 2026—and you can double your impact, with all gifts matched through Dec. 31: https://lareviewofbooks.org/donate/?utm_source=bsky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mgfd25&utm_id=mgfd25
" I didn’t want the book to be about the real person in the song. I wanted to focus on Rey’s character as this legend that lives on after his death." Jaquira Díaz talks about her new book, “This Is the Only Kingdom,” with Iris Kim: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/i-refuse-to-let-you-have-my-joy/
Page Not Found | Los Angeles Review of Books
Los Angeles Review of Books is a magazine and nonprofit dedicated to rigorous, incisive, and engaging writing on every aspect of literature, culture, and the arts.
lareviewofbooks.org
November 24, 2025 at 7:02 PM
" I didn’t want the book to be about the real person in the song. I wanted to focus on Rey’s character as this legend that lives on after his death." Jaquira Díaz talks about her new book, “This Is the Only Kingdom,” with Iris Kim: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/i-refuse-to-let-you-have-my-joy/
"Herzog is, as always, playing his own game. He is governed not by norms of inquiry, nor by any grandiose pragmatic theory about what truth is."
Sam Shpall reviews Werner Herzog’s book “The Future of Truth.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/herzog-in-the-jungle-of-truth/
Sam Shpall reviews Werner Herzog’s book “The Future of Truth.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/herzog-in-the-jungle-of-truth/
November 24, 2025 at 5:05 PM
"Herzog is, as always, playing his own game. He is governed not by norms of inquiry, nor by any grandiose pragmatic theory about what truth is."
Sam Shpall reviews Werner Herzog’s book “The Future of Truth.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/herzog-in-the-jungle-of-truth/
Sam Shpall reviews Werner Herzog’s book “The Future of Truth.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/herzog-in-the-jungle-of-truth/
"My task as a translator is to preserve the poem’s heartbeat and transport it alive across a thousand-year distance." -Shangyang Fang talks with C. Francis Fisher about translating for "Study of Sorrow" : https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/phases-of-the-quotidien-a-conversation-with-shangyang-fang/
November 24, 2025 at 1:50 PM
"My task as a translator is to preserve the poem’s heartbeat and transport it alive across a thousand-year distance." -Shangyang Fang talks with C. Francis Fisher about translating for "Study of Sorrow" : https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/phases-of-the-quotidien-a-conversation-with-shangyang-fang/
Hannah Smart spent a year diagramming, against the advice of well-meaning family and friends, a 900-word David Foster Wallace sentence. Here's what the experience taught her: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/nothing-ever-happens-mister-squishy-and-the-year-of-the-sentence-diagram/
November 23, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Hannah Smart spent a year diagramming, against the advice of well-meaning family and friends, a 900-word David Foster Wallace sentence. Here's what the experience taught her: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/nothing-ever-happens-mister-squishy-and-the-year-of-the-sentence-diagram/
Brandon Taylor joins the #LARBRadioHour to talk about his latest novel, “Minor Black Figures," the white gaze, and how to write a good sex scene. Listen now on LARB's site, or wherever you find podcasts: https://lareviewofbooks.org/av/brandon-taylor-minor-black-figures/
November 23, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Brandon Taylor joins the #LARBRadioHour to talk about his latest novel, “Minor Black Figures," the white gaze, and how to write a good sex scene. Listen now on LARB's site, or wherever you find podcasts: https://lareviewofbooks.org/av/brandon-taylor-minor-black-figures/
"The book is so immersed in its own world that it reads, at times, like fan service."
@leahlitman.bsky.social prosecutes Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s new memoir, “Listening to the Law.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/is-justice-barrett-listening/
@leahlitman.bsky.social prosecutes Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s new memoir, “Listening to the Law.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/is-justice-barrett-listening/
Page Not Found | Los Angeles Review of Books
Los Angeles Review of Books is a magazine and nonprofit dedicated to rigorous, incisive, and engaging writing on every aspect of literature, culture, and the arts.
lareviewofbooks.org
November 23, 2025 at 6:01 PM
"The book is so immersed in its own world that it reads, at times, like fan service."
@leahlitman.bsky.social prosecutes Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s new memoir, “Listening to the Law.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/is-justice-barrett-listening/
@leahlitman.bsky.social prosecutes Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s new memoir, “Listening to the Law.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/is-justice-barrett-listening/