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/
"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/
@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
"'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/
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/
"'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/
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
"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/
"'Luddite' isn’t an insult—it’s a warning and a word of caution. One we must return to, repeatedly, if we’re to resist the constant drumbeat of consumerism dressed up as science and progress."
Erik J. Larson reviews "The AI Con": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-return-of-the-luddites/
Erik J. Larson reviews "The AI Con": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-return-of-the-luddites/
November 5, 2025 at 7:34 PM
"'Luddite' isn’t an insult—it’s a warning and a word of caution. One we must return to, repeatedly, if we’re to resist the constant drumbeat of consumerism dressed up as science and progress."
Erik J. Larson reviews "The AI Con": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-return-of-the-luddites/
Erik J. Larson reviews "The AI Con": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-return-of-the-luddites/
"How is this not only possible, but common? No one is being forced to do business with, or use the platforms run by, these companies. Can’t we simply vote with our feet?" Dave Mandl explores Cory Doctorow’s
"Enshittification." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/giant-platforms-of-shit/
"Enshittification." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/giant-platforms-of-shit/
November 5, 2025 at 4:24 PM
"How is this not only possible, but common? No one is being forced to do business with, or use the platforms run by, these companies. Can’t we simply vote with our feet?" Dave Mandl explores Cory Doctorow’s
"Enshittification." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/giant-platforms-of-shit/
"Enshittification." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/giant-platforms-of-shit/
"I’m very aware that everyone is reading this with a phone less than one foot away from them. The whole book is this performance of: 'Do you like me? Will you keep reading?'" Madeline Howard interviews Anika Jade Levy about her book, “Flat Earth.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/do-you-like-me/
November 5, 2025 at 1:50 PM
"I’m very aware that everyone is reading this with a phone less than one foot away from them. The whole book is this performance of: 'Do you like me? Will you keep reading?'" Madeline Howard interviews Anika Jade Levy about her book, “Flat Earth.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/do-you-like-me/
"It’s hard to imagine anything like this succeeding in today’s environment, wherein tech overlords like Mark Zuckerberg have toadied up to Trump." Aniko Bodroghkozy revisits the 2017 Charlottesville attack: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/very-fine-people-charlottesville-eight-years-later/
November 4, 2025 at 4:20 PM
"It’s hard to imagine anything like this succeeding in today’s environment, wherein tech overlords like Mark Zuckerberg have toadied up to Trump." Aniko Bodroghkozy revisits the 2017 Charlottesville attack: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/very-fine-people-charlottesville-eight-years-later/
“Alien: Earth thus banks on a fear not only of invasive Xenomorphs, but of a future that robs children of their innocence, forcing them into adult decisions and bodies.” Tia Glista reviews "Alien: Earth": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-baby-was-screaming/
November 4, 2025 at 2:05 PM
“Alien: Earth thus banks on a fear not only of invasive Xenomorphs, but of a future that robs children of their innocence, forcing them into adult decisions and bodies.” Tia Glista reviews "Alien: Earth": https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-baby-was-screaming/
"I didn’t know if we’d be getting that Shaolin soul style anymore, but when 'Nutmeg' hit, I thought, 'oh shit, is the Wu back?'" Oliver Wang and David Ma talk Ghostface Killah's "Supreme Clientele." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/after-further-review-ghostface-killahs-supreme-clientele/
November 4, 2025 at 4:15 AM
"I didn’t know if we’d be getting that Shaolin soul style anymore, but when 'Nutmeg' hit, I thought, 'oh shit, is the Wu back?'" Oliver Wang and David Ma talk Ghostface Killah's "Supreme Clientele." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/after-further-review-ghostface-killahs-supreme-clientele/
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November 3, 2025 at 8:02 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/
"Krukowski zooms in on everyday life to such a minute degree that we can almost separate the various shapes and sounds that make it up." @ubupamplemousse.bsky.social on Damon Krukowski’s “Why Sound Matters.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/sound-epistemology/
November 2, 2025 at 4:20 PM
"Krukowski zooms in on everyday life to such a minute degree that we can almost separate the various shapes and sounds that make it up." @ubupamplemousse.bsky.social on Damon Krukowski’s “Why Sound Matters.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/sound-epistemology/
"Writing my memoir was a process of changing my relationship to my own experience very directly, much more directly than when I write fiction." Tess Pollok interviews Melissa Febos on her memoir, “The Dry Season.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/no-sex-in-the-city/
November 2, 2025 at 1:45 PM
"Writing my memoir was a process of changing my relationship to my own experience very directly, much more directly than when I write fiction." Tess Pollok interviews Melissa Febos on her memoir, “The Dry Season.” https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/no-sex-in-the-city/