Books

393 results
Page 14
If you’re used to struggling, what would you do for a six-figure salary? (Image courtesy of Kitty Shields.)

‘Pillar of Heaven’ by Kitty Shields

What’s a paycheck worth?
Young workers trying to survive the shoals of 2020 will relate to Philly author Kitty Shields’s urban fantasy debut, ‘Pillar of Heaven,’ which considers just what a big paycheck is worth. Michelle Nugent reviews.
Michelle Nugent

Michelle Nugent

Articles 3 minute read
Courtney P. Hunter's debut novel explores the relationship between humanity and AI. (Image courtesy of the author.)

'Sentience' by Courtney P. Hunter

Painting humanity by numbers
In Philadelphia writer Courtney P. Hunter’s debut novel, 24 participants enter an experiment to determine who among them is human and who is an artificially intelligent robot. Kirsten Bowen reviews.
Kirsten Bowen

Kirsten Bowen

Articles 3 minute read
An essential read for anyone invested in fighting white supremacy. (Image courtesy of Catapult.)

‘White Tears/Brown Scars: How White Feminism Betrays Women of Color,’ by Ruby Hamad

What white women must face
Ruby Hamad’s debut book, ‘White Tears/Brown Scars: How White Feminism Betrays Women of Color,’ is a provocative and powerful account of white women’s role in white supremacy and the repercussions of their position on women of color. Kelly Conrad reviews.
Kelly Conrad

Kelly Conrad

Articles 3 minute read
Antoine K. Stroman’s debut novel portrays an upbringing not often represented in fiction. (Image courtesy of AuthorHouse.)

‘Seeing Things in Black and White’ by Antoine K. Stroman

The Black experience is stranger than fiction
Despite its flaws, Antoine K. Stroman’s debut novella, ‘Seeing Things in Black and White,’ paints the Black experience in a multitude of colors. Kyle V. Hiller reviews.
Kyle V. Hiller

Kyle V. Hiller

Articles 3 minute read
These Japanese cats make a happy distraction from tense times in the US. (Image courtesy of Countryman Press.)

‘Catland: The Soft Power of Cat Culture in Japan’ by Sarah Archer

Cultural identity through cats
Philadelphia author Sarah Archer’s new book, ‘Catland: The Soft Power of Cat Culture in Japan,’ is a perfect crossover for history buffs and cat lovers. Kyle V. Hiller reviews.
Kyle V. Hiller

Kyle V. Hiller

Articles 3 minute read
A parade of musical characters: a practice session of the Brahms Clarinet Quintet at the conference in 1980. (Photo by Alice Berman.)

‘The Music of Friends’ by David W. Webber

American classical music grows up
Since 1946, Vermont’s Chamber Music Conference has been an important part of American musical life, attracting many Philadelphia luminaries. A new book, ‘The Music of Friends,’ tells the story. Peter Burwasser reviews.

Peter Burwasser

Articles 3 minute read
Is the future of American democracy written at the local level? (Image courtesy of Temple University Press.)

‘Philadelphia Battlefields’ by John Kromer

Not the usual suspects
Are Philly elections a foregone conclusion? No, says ‘Philadelphia Battlefields,’ a new book on political upstarts from Rendell to Rhynhart. Pamela Forsythe reviews.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Articles 5 minute read
Not here to explain the meaning of disability. (Image courtesy of Vintage Books.)

‘Disability Visibility,’ edited by Alice Wong

Being in our own words
‘Disability Visibility,’ a first-person story collection that arrived along with the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, is a platform where diverse disabled voices live in their own words. Alaina Johns reviews.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Articles 4 minute read
What happens when wealth tumbles in for generations? (Image via Penguin Random House.)

'The Beneficiary' by Janny Scott

Bobby, we hardly knew ye
Robert Montgomery Scott, the late president of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, inherited a legacy that many of us might envy. But 'The Beneficiary,' his daughter’s unblinking post mortem, raises the old question: Is great wealth a blessing or a curse? Dan Rottenberg reviews.
Dan Rottenberg

Dan Rottenberg

Articles 6 minute read
A must-read for people interested in design, urban planning, and Philly politics. (Image courtesy of Rutgers University Press.)

‘Becoming Philadelphia’ by Inga Saffron

New city, new readers
‘Becoming Philadelphia’ gathers a new collection of columns by longtime Inquirer architecture critic Inga Saffron, but the book’s construction leaves something to be desired. Judy Weightman reviews.
Judy Weightman

Judy Weightman

Articles 5 minute read