Don't Take 'Submission' Lying Down
Michel Houellebecq's dark satire Submission caused a furore in his native France with its depiction of an Islamist takeover. But critic Heller McAlpin calls it "too distasteful to be amusing."
Arts
Flights Of Fancy: Exploring The Songs And Pathways Of 'The Living Bird'
Wildlife photographer Gerrit Vyn and essayist Scott Weidensaul share bird calls and discuss some of the remarkable abilities of birds. Both men contributed to a new book about North American birds.
Poetic And Expansive, 'City On Fire' Ultimately Falls Short Of Its Reach
Garth Risk Hallberg's 900-page debut novel is an intricately-plotted story set in chaotic 1970s New York. Critic Maureen Corrigan says City On Fire has much to admire, even if its ending falls flat.
Orhan Pamuk Takes A Fresh Look At His Beloved Istanbul In 'Strangeness'
The Nobel Prize laureate has written about his city before, but from the perspective of his affluent childhood. His new book captures Istanbul's growth and change through the eyes of a street peddler.
Parables For Understanding A Nation's Racial 'Sin'
Rev. Jim Wallis leads the Sojourners, a Christian social justice group. He's known for mixing faith with public life, urging candidates to discuss moral issues in ways that transcends divisions.
Why The Battle Between E-Books And Print May Be Over
It's safe to say that e-books disrupted the publishing industry. But sales have leveled off and not entirely for the reasons some have reported.
Rowling's Magic Needs No Spells In 'Career Of Evil'
In her third outing as crime novelist Robert Galbraith, J.K. Rowling hits her stride with a fluid, complex mystery. Reviewer Annalisa Quinn says she excels at depicting evil, ordinary or otherwise.
Netflix's 'Beasts Of No Nation' Release Strategy Highlights Oscar Ambitions
Beasts of No Nation is Netflix's first original film, and the company has chosen to distribute it in theaters and on its streaming service simultaneously. The strategy is one generally frowned upon by theater owners because it's a direct competition. Why go out when you can stay home? Is this Netflix's play for an Oscar?
'Back To The Future Part 2': Designing A Future For 30 Years Ago
In the classic movie Back to the Future Part II, Michael J. Fox's Marty McFly travels forward 30 years to Oct. 21, 2015. Is life like the movie predicted? Maybe. But was it ever supposed to be?
Trailers, Tickets, Twitter: 'Star Wars' Fans Can't Get Enough
A new Star Wars trailer showed up on Monday night after much fanfare, and we're now in a full promotional push for the next two months. But ... does the movie need one?