Arts
Terry Pratchett, Prolific Fantasy Author, Dies At 66
The Discworld series author had for years struggled with a rare form of early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Pratchett amassed a devoted following over four decades of writing — and dozens of novels.
How We Deal With Loss In Different Ways In Two Beautifully Written Memoirs
In Abigail Thomas' What Comes Next and How to Like It, the aging process robs the 70-something of beauty and energy. In H Is for Hawk, Helen Macdonald trains a goshawk after her father dies.
The Ecstatic, Erotic Joy Of Reading 'Girl In The Dark'
Anna Lyndsey's pseudonymous memoir of her severe light sensitivity is full of rich, sensuous language, all grounded in the ever-present limits of a body that keeps her to the margins of normal life.
'Dirty Old London': A History Of The Victorians' Infamous Filth
In the 1800s, the Thames River was thick with human sewage and the streets were covered with horse dung, the removal of which, according to Lee Jackson, presented an "impossible challenge."
Southerners Are Getting Creative With Their Favorite Nut: Pecan
The pecan has become the latest obsession of Southern farmers, chefs and craft breweries. They're giving the buttery nut new opportunities to shine in the form of oil, flour and even beer.
Inspired By Monks, A Writer Embraces His Life Of Solitude
Fenton Johnson says that while alone, people can "find the richest possible ways of being in the world." He's lived alone for more than 20 years. His Harper's article describes his pursuit.
'Gone Girl': A Gripping Film That's More Fun Than The Book
Based on a screenplay by author Gillian Flynn, the movie is sensationally effective. It's made like a classic noir — evenly paced, with an elegance that in context is deeply perverse.
'Homeland' Regains Urgency With Twin Protagonists And Divided Loyalties
Last year, the Showtime drama about a CIA agent with a bipolar disorder lost its way. But the show's intensity is back in Season 4 when the CIA accidentally bombs a wedding in Pakistan.
'B & Me' Is Intelligent, Immoderate, And A Bit Belabored
J.C. Hallman's audacious account of his engagement with the erotic writing of Nicholson Baker makes a splash, but critic Heller McAlpin says the book sometimes runs aground in self-indulgence.