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/
Reposted by Los Angeles Review of Books
My review of Keisha Blain‘s WITHOUT FEAR for the @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social
lareviewofbooks.org/article/uniq...
lareviewofbooks.org/article/uniq...
Uniquely Positioned to Combat Injustice | Los Angeles Review of Books
Randy M. Browne considers Keisha N. Blain’s new book, which finds that Black women, historically, haven’t simply argued for racial justice at home; they have, in fact, fought for and won human rights ...
lareviewofbooks.org
November 8, 2025 at 4:19 PM
My review of Keisha Blain‘s WITHOUT FEAR for the @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social
lareviewofbooks.org/article/uniq...
lareviewofbooks.org/article/uniq...
"Stevenson-Yang narrates in a detached tone, dark tales of fissure and falsehood, cruelty and crime, alienation and apathy." Minjie Chen on "Hello, Kitty and Other Stories" by Anne Stevenson-Yang: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/hello-kitty-goodbye-illusions-a-journey-through-chinas-shadowlands/
November 10, 2025 at 4:55 PM
"Stevenson-Yang narrates in a detached tone, dark tales of fissure and falsehood, cruelty and crime, alienation and apathy." Minjie Chen on "Hello, Kitty and Other Stories" by Anne Stevenson-Yang: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/hello-kitty-goodbye-illusions-a-journey-through-chinas-shadowlands/
"At the very least, many residents feel that there are de facto two
Californias."
From our upcoming Security issue, Nevin Kallepalli probes political resentment: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-secessionists-of-shasta-county/
Californias."
From our upcoming Security issue, Nevin Kallepalli probes political resentment: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-secessionists-of-shasta-county/
November 10, 2025 at 2:05 PM
"At the very least, many residents feel that there are de facto two
Californias."
From our upcoming Security issue, Nevin Kallepalli probes political resentment: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-secessionists-of-shasta-county/
Californias."
From our upcoming Security issue, Nevin Kallepalli probes political resentment: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-secessionists-of-shasta-county/
"Disenchanted enchantment anticipates a range of phenomena observable today, perhaps none more than the hothouse of Silicon Valley." Jordan Williamson examines occult presences in the most seemingly hyperrational spaces of modernity: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/disenchanted-enchantment/
Disenchanted Enchantment | Los Angeles Review of Books
Jordan Williamson investigates Derek Lee’s “Parascientific Revolutions: The Science and Culture of the Paranormal” and Joshua Comaroff’s “Spectropolis: The Enchantment of Capital in Singapore.”
lareviewofbooks.org
November 9, 2025 at 10:17 PM
"Disenchanted enchantment anticipates a range of phenomena observable today, perhaps none more than the hothouse of Silicon Valley." Jordan Williamson examines occult presences in the most seemingly hyperrational spaces of modernity: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/disenchanted-enchantment/
@twilliams81.bsky.social reviews Elly McCausland’s “Swifterature”: "McCausland the fan is balanced against McCausland the scholar, though at times the scholar is forced to take charge." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/its-me-hi-im-the-problem/
November 9, 2025 at 5:01 PM
@twilliams81.bsky.social reviews Elly McCausland’s “Swifterature”: "McCausland the fan is balanced against McCausland the scholar, though at times the scholar is forced to take charge." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/its-me-hi-im-the-problem/
A former Hustler editor once jokingly called pornography “indigenous Southern Californian folk art.” A new podcast from Molly Lambert asks what it would mean to take this seriously.
Sascha Cohen interviews Molly Lambert about the show, JennaWorld: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/porn-valley/
Sascha Cohen interviews Molly Lambert about the show, JennaWorld: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/porn-valley/
November 9, 2025 at 4:22 PM
A former Hustler editor once jokingly called pornography “indigenous Southern Californian folk art.” A new podcast from Molly Lambert asks what it would mean to take this seriously.
Sascha Cohen interviews Molly Lambert about the show, JennaWorld: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/porn-valley/
Sascha Cohen interviews Molly Lambert about the show, JennaWorld: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/porn-valley/
The year is almost over, and we’re trying to raise $100,000 by 2026! All donations are matched through Dec 31; donate today! https://lareviewofbooks.org/donate/?utm_source=bsky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mgfd25&utm_id=mgfd25
November 9, 2025 at 3:02 PM
The year is almost over, and we’re trying to raise $100,000 by 2026! All donations are matched through Dec 31; donate today! https://lareviewofbooks.org/donate/?utm_source=bsky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mgfd25&utm_id=mgfd25
"Though many of the televised interviews are on YouTube, Veiel’s context elucidates the various contortions and convolutions Riefenstahl underwent in trying to exculpate herself." Annalisa Zox-Weaver on Andres Veiel’s documentary "Riefenstahl": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/fantastic-lies/
Fantastic Lies | Los Angeles Review of Books
Annalisa Zox-Weaver reviews Andres Veiel’s 2024 documentary about Hitler’s favorite filmmaker.
lareviewofbooks.org
November 8, 2025 at 10:04 PM
"Though many of the televised interviews are on YouTube, Veiel’s context elucidates the various contortions and convolutions Riefenstahl underwent in trying to exculpate herself." Annalisa Zox-Weaver on Andres Veiel’s documentary "Riefenstahl": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/fantastic-lies/
"'Without Fear' celebrates the activism of Black American women—an 'often-overshadowed group of activists and intellectuals.'" @randybrowne.bsky.social reviews Keisha N. Blain’s “Without Fear.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/on-the-transnational-activism-of-black-women/
November 8, 2025 at 4:20 PM
"'Without Fear' celebrates the activism of Black American women—an 'often-overshadowed group of activists and intellectuals.'" @randybrowne.bsky.social reviews Keisha N. Blain’s “Without Fear.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/on-the-transnational-activism-of-black-women/
"In 2025, Herlihy-Mera's argument is not simply salient—it's also scalable."
Noemí Fierros revisits Jeffrey Herlihy-Mera’s 2023 discussion of the “crisis” facing college humanities departments. Read her thoughts here: https://lareviewofbooks.org/short-takes/on-the-receiving-end-of-crisis/
Noemí Fierros revisits Jeffrey Herlihy-Mera’s 2023 discussion of the “crisis” facing college humanities departments. Read her thoughts here: https://lareviewofbooks.org/short-takes/on-the-receiving-end-of-crisis/
November 8, 2025 at 3:34 PM
"In 2025, Herlihy-Mera's argument is not simply salient—it's also scalable."
Noemí Fierros revisits Jeffrey Herlihy-Mera’s 2023 discussion of the “crisis” facing college humanities departments. Read her thoughts here: https://lareviewofbooks.org/short-takes/on-the-receiving-end-of-crisis/
Noemí Fierros revisits Jeffrey Herlihy-Mera’s 2023 discussion of the “crisis” facing college humanities departments. Read her thoughts here: https://lareviewofbooks.org/short-takes/on-the-receiving-end-of-crisis/
"Landacre’s sensibility was different—his scenes offered a starkly modern vision of sunlight and shadow, a courageous response to the mythic clichés." Victoria Dailey reviews Jake Milgram Wien’s “Paul Landacre.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/la-in-black-and-white/
November 8, 2025 at 1:50 PM
"Landacre’s sensibility was different—his scenes offered a starkly modern vision of sunlight and shadow, a courageous response to the mythic clichés." Victoria Dailey reviews Jake Milgram Wien’s “Paul Landacre.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/la-in-black-and-white/
"It is appropriate that Veiel and Maischberger use Riefenstahl’s own greatest skill to discredit her: editing."
Annalisa Zox-Weaver explores Andres Veiel’s 2024 documentary about Hitler’s favorite filmmaker, "Riefenstahl." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/fantastic-lies/
Annalisa Zox-Weaver explores Andres Veiel’s 2024 documentary about Hitler’s favorite filmmaker, "Riefenstahl." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/fantastic-lies/
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 7, 2025 at 10:18 PM
"It is appropriate that Veiel and Maischberger use Riefenstahl’s own greatest skill to discredit her: editing."
Annalisa Zox-Weaver explores Andres Veiel’s 2024 documentary about Hitler’s favorite filmmaker, "Riefenstahl." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/fantastic-lies/
Annalisa Zox-Weaver explores Andres Veiel’s 2024 documentary about Hitler’s favorite filmmaker, "Riefenstahl." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/fantastic-lies/
Angela Flournoy joins the #LARBRadioHour to discuss her new book "The Wilderness," how she developed these characters, how she works with scenes and dialogue, and why she wanted to write about Black female friendship.
https://lareviewofbooks.org/av/angela-flournoy-the-wilderness/
https://lareviewofbooks.org/av/angela-flournoy-the-wilderness/
November 7, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Angela Flournoy joins the #LARBRadioHour to discuss her new book "The Wilderness," how she developed these characters, how she works with scenes and dialogue, and why she wanted to write about Black female friendship.
https://lareviewofbooks.org/av/angela-flournoy-the-wilderness/
https://lareviewofbooks.org/av/angela-flournoy-the-wilderness/
Reposted by Los Angeles Review of Books
For @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social I wrote about Kelly Reichardt's THE MASTERMIND, and what her riff on the heist film has to say about labor, art, and entitlement lareviewofbooks.org/article/rebe...
Rebel Without a Clue | Los Angeles Review of Books
Elizabeth Alsop picks up the trail of Kelly Reichardt’s alienated art thief in “The Mastermind.”
lareviewofbooks.org
November 7, 2025 at 6:24 PM
For @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social I wrote about Kelly Reichardt's THE MASTERMIND, and what her riff on the heist film has to say about labor, art, and entitlement lareviewofbooks.org/article/rebe...
"The evils uncovered here represent a disturbing and accelerating trend in the wrong direction." @dmandl.bsky.social on Cory Doctorow’s roadmap to (and, hopefully, from) “enshittification.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/giant-platforms-of-shit/
Giant Platforms of Shit | Los Angeles Review of Books
Dave Mandl catches a whiff of Cory Doctorow’s anatomy of platform “enshittification.”
lareviewofbooks.org
November 7, 2025 at 6:03 PM
"The evils uncovered here represent a disturbing and accelerating trend in the wrong direction." @dmandl.bsky.social on Cory Doctorow’s roadmap to (and, hopefully, from) “enshittification.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/giant-platforms-of-shit/
Reposted by Los Angeles Review of Books
Another of my recent acquisitions for @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social, this time a great review of Star Trek: Strange New World, season 3, in all its unholy messiness.
Hat tip to @gerrycanavan.bsky.social for letting us borrow his joke for the piece's title.
Hat tip to @gerrycanavan.bsky.social for letting us borrow his joke for the piece's title.
Strange New Lows | Los Angeles Review of Books
Adam Kotsko boldly goes into season three of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” with high expectations.
lareviewofbooks.org
November 7, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Another of my recent acquisitions for @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social, this time a great review of Star Trek: Strange New World, season 3, in all its unholy messiness.
Hat tip to @gerrycanavan.bsky.social for letting us borrow his joke for the piece's title.
Hat tip to @gerrycanavan.bsky.social for letting us borrow his joke for the piece's title.
"'The Mastermind' is a movie about what can happen—how quickly things can unravel—when you are alienated from your own life."
@elizabethalsop.bsky.social reviews Kelley Reichardt’s "The Mastermind." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/rebel-without-a-clue/
@elizabethalsop.bsky.social reviews Kelley Reichardt’s "The Mastermind." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/rebel-without-a-clue/
November 7, 2025 at 5:16 PM
"'The Mastermind' is a movie about what can happen—how quickly things can unravel—when you are alienated from your own life."
@elizabethalsop.bsky.social reviews Kelley Reichardt’s "The Mastermind." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/rebel-without-a-clue/
@elizabethalsop.bsky.social reviews Kelley Reichardt’s "The Mastermind." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/rebel-without-a-clue/
It's that time of year again: Applications for our 2026 internships are now open!
We're seeking interns to assist in our copydesk, marketing + membership, events, and social media departments—apply by Dec. 1! Learn more at https://airtable.com/app5UeNk1TbjY8imi/pag2EATFjk8cNUcIo/form
We're seeking interns to assist in our copydesk, marketing + membership, events, and social media departments—apply by Dec. 1! Learn more at https://airtable.com/app5UeNk1TbjY8imi/pag2EATFjk8cNUcIo/form
November 7, 2025 at 5:05 PM
It's that time of year again: Applications for our 2026 internships are now open!
We're seeking interns to assist in our copydesk, marketing + membership, events, and social media departments—apply by Dec. 1! Learn more at https://airtable.com/app5UeNk1TbjY8imi/pag2EATFjk8cNUcIo/form
We're seeking interns to assist in our copydesk, marketing + membership, events, and social media departments—apply by Dec. 1! Learn more at https://airtable.com/app5UeNk1TbjY8imi/pag2EATFjk8cNUcIo/form
"The low-stakes Strange New Worlds was in search of a more ambitious thesis than 'Star Trek was already great.'"
Adam Kotsko reviews season 3 of Paramount+’s “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/strange-new-lows/
Adam Kotsko reviews season 3 of Paramount+’s “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/strange-new-lows/
November 7, 2025 at 1:59 PM
"The low-stakes Strange New Worlds was in search of a more ambitious thesis than 'Star Trek was already great.'"
Adam Kotsko reviews season 3 of Paramount+’s “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/strange-new-lows/
Adam Kotsko reviews season 3 of Paramount+’s “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/strange-new-lows/
Reposted by Los Angeles Review of Books
I reviewed tech critic Cory Doctorow's essential new book, "Enshittification," for the @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social. Check eet out: lareviewofbooks.org/article/gian...
Giant Platforms of Shit | Los Angeles Review of Books
Dave Mandl catches a whiff of Cory Doctorow’s anatomy of platform “enshittification.”
lareviewofbooks.org
November 6, 2025 at 7:41 PM
I reviewed tech critic Cory Doctorow's essential new book, "Enshittification," for the @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social. Check eet out: lareviewofbooks.org/article/gian...
LITLIT 2026 IS COMING
Join us at SCI-Arc in the Arts District on June 6 and 7 for LARB's annual fair celebrating small presses, small mags, and indie publishers from all over the West Coast. Learn more at https://litlit.org
Join us at SCI-Arc in the Arts District on June 6 and 7 for LARB's annual fair celebrating small presses, small mags, and indie publishers from all over the West Coast. Learn more at https://litlit.org
November 6, 2025 at 10:30 PM
LITLIT 2026 IS COMING
Join us at SCI-Arc in the Arts District on June 6 and 7 for LARB's annual fair celebrating small presses, small mags, and indie publishers from all over the West Coast. Learn more at https://litlit.org
Join us at SCI-Arc in the Arts District on June 6 and 7 for LARB's annual fair celebrating small presses, small mags, and indie publishers from all over the West Coast. Learn more at https://litlit.org
"All of us, especially those of us over 35 who remember a different world, have in this process become crabby elders shaking our fists." Dave Mandl on Cory Doctorow’s grand vision of “enshittification.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/giant-platforms-of-shit/
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 6, 2025 at 9:47 PM
"All of us, especially those of us over 35 who remember a different world, have in this process become crabby elders shaking our fists." Dave Mandl on Cory Doctorow’s grand vision of “enshittification.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/giant-platforms-of-shit/
"Amid hints that AI is a spectral bubble floating a hallucinatory economy, these books suggest just how weird things will get."
Jordan Williamson reviews Derek Lee’s “Parascientific Revolutions” and Joshua Comaroff’s “Spectropolis”: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/disenchanted-enchantment/
Jordan Williamson reviews Derek Lee’s “Parascientific Revolutions” and Joshua Comaroff’s “Spectropolis”: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/disenchanted-enchantment/
November 6, 2025 at 4:20 PM
"Amid hints that AI is a spectral bubble floating a hallucinatory economy, these books suggest just how weird things will get."
Jordan Williamson reviews Derek Lee’s “Parascientific Revolutions” and Joshua Comaroff’s “Spectropolis”: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/disenchanted-enchantment/
Jordan Williamson reviews Derek Lee’s “Parascientific Revolutions” and Joshua Comaroff’s “Spectropolis”: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/disenchanted-enchantment/
"Though she was never a member of the Nazi Party, she was certainly committed to the glorification of its project, to making horror and hate beautiful." Annalisa Zox-Weaver reviews Andres Veiel’s 2024 documentary, "Riefenstahl." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/fantastic-lies/
November 6, 2025 at 3:34 PM
"Though she was never a member of the Nazi Party, she was certainly committed to the glorification of its project, to making horror and hate beautiful." Annalisa Zox-Weaver reviews Andres Veiel’s 2024 documentary, "Riefenstahl." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/fantastic-lies/
"This reevaluation of Pynchon’s novel couldn’t have come at a better time, since 'Vineland' anticipated with uncanny prescience many of the most central political debates currently being litigated."
Travis Alexander revisits "Vineland": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/pynchons-abundance/
Travis Alexander revisits "Vineland": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/pynchons-abundance/
November 5, 2025 at 11:02 PM
"This reevaluation of Pynchon’s novel couldn’t have come at a better time, since 'Vineland' anticipated with uncanny prescience many of the most central political debates currently being litigated."
Travis Alexander revisits "Vineland": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/pynchons-abundance/
Travis Alexander revisits "Vineland": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/pynchons-abundance/