Reviews

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Book cover. Rich, abstract swirls of white, blue, and green paint evoke a tree and a galaxy.

Mystic Orchards, By Jonathan Koven

Poems for the heart and mind, the way dreams can feel real

The second poetry collection from Philly-based poet Jonathan Koven mirrors the orchard of its title as we wander the grounds, admire the trees, and sink our teeth into the fruit. Jordan Cameron reviews.
Jordan Cameron

Jordan Cameron

Reviews 2 minute read
Book cover. Black & white close-up on Swisher’s impassive face, wearing aviator sunglasses that reflect orange flames.

Burn Book: A Tech Love Story, by Kara Swisher

Still calling Silicon Valley as she sees it

Some writers have accused tech journalist, entrepreneur, and podcast star Kara Swisher of holding her fire until Burn Book, her own memoir, was published earlier this year. Is that criticism fair? Stephen Silver reviews.
Stephen Silver

Stephen Silver

Reviews 4 minute read
The book cover. Title appears above as if stamped in red ink, on a pen & ink rendering of a historical Philly street.

Philadelphia Stories: People and Their Places in Early America, by C. Dallett Hemphill

A thriving metropolis that remains a small town

Everybody knows about the Founding Fathers, but historian C. Dallett Hemphill looks beyond, chasing the fascinating historical records of ordinary, little-known people who had a notable impact on Philly history. Pamela J. Forsythe reviews.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Reviews 6 minute read
The book cover. Title & author below a colorful illustration of a Black woman with a red afro striding through giant flowers.

Girls with Bad Reputations, by Xio Axelrod

A juicy love story that does Philly justice

The Lillys are back in Girls with Bad Reputations, the second installment of Xio Axelrod’s popular romance series about an all-women rock band chasing love and stardom from their Philadelphia home. An Nichols reviews.
An Nichols

An Nichols

Reviews 3 minute read
The book cover. In hazy purple distance, the Philly skyline; in the foreground, a desert with a car & parking meter at right.

Early Sobrieties, by Michael Deagler

Explore the process

This debut novel from award-winning writer Michael Deagler follows a young man fighting for sobriety in South Philly, learning that it’s not transformation, but a daily process. Eileen L. Fay reviews.
Eileen Fay

Eileen Fay

Reviews 3 minute read
Book cover. Title above in blue, over a graphic of West Philly rowhouses & a green shape like a path leading to a rising sun

Housemates, by Emma Copley Eisenberg

Queering the classic American road trip

Philly writer Emma Copley Eisenberg’s debut novel, Housemates, begins in a West Philly group house and spreads across Pennsylvania as two young queer characters find art, love, and life on their own terms. Grace Kennedy reviews.
Grace Kennedy

Grace Kennedy

Reviews 4 minute read
Joe González, a Black male dancer with arms gracefully outstretched, dances solo in a long-sleeved burgundy leotard.

Joe González and Jo-Mé Dance Theatre present Unbroken

A PHILADANCO! star returns to Philly

Longtime PHILADANCO! company member Joe González recently returned to his hometown in Boston, but he visited Philly in late May with a thrilling performance from his own company, Jo-Mé Dance Theatre. Camille Bacon-Smith reviews.
Camille Bacon-Smith

Camille Bacon-Smith

Reviews 4 minute read
Johnson, in blue jacket with applique roses, spreads his arms while a bespectacled Hernandez grabs him from behind, screaming

Lantern Theater Company presents Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors

Shakespeare’s lightest play

Lantern Theatre Company presents William Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors as reliably airy and delightful as it’s ever been. Kiran Pandey reviews.
Kiran Pandey

Kiran Pandey

Reviews 4 minute read
8 actors dance exuberantly on a two-tier set with a junkyard and palm tree, with a rich orange and blue backdrop.

The Arden Theatre Company presents Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens’s Once on This Island

A special Island tale

A thoughtfully reimagined production of Once on This Island smartly overcomes elements of the 1990 musical that haven’t aged well. Cameron Kelsall reviews.
Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall

Reviews 3 minute read
In opulent blue & gold robe, collar and stole, a frowning Johnson holds out her hand in a “stop” gesture toward Pickle.

OperaDelaware presents Puccini’s Turandot

A new ending for a grand opera

Puccini’s legendary Turandot (unfinished when he died) is typically a rare treat for opera lovers, but OperaDelaware joins many companies marking the centennial of the composer’s death. This impressive production features a new ending by Derrick Wang. Gail Obenreder reviews.
Gail Obenreder

Gail Obenreder

Reviews 6 minute read