News•Mar 11, 2026
Book Review: ‘In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man,’ by Tom...
Tom Junod’s new memoir, *In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man*, delves into his tumultuous relationship with his charismatic father, a post‑war handbag salesman whose larger‑than‑life persona embodied mid‑century notions of masculinity. The book intertwines vivid anecdotes—from his father’s wartime wounds to his flamboyant lifestyle—with Junod’s own evolution into a celebrated writer for *GQ* and *Esquire*. Through a blend of humor and introspection, Junod interrogates the gender scripts he inherited and the quest to define his own identity. The review praises the memoir’s narrative energy and its broader commentary on American masculinity.
By The New York Times – Books
News•Mar 11, 2026
Book Review: ‘The Golden Boy,’ by Patricia Finn
Patricia Finn’s debut, *The Golden Boy*, follows disgraced TV executive Stafford Hopkins, exiled to Maui after a failed gamble, as he wrestles with his philosophical ego and a haunting past. The narrative pivots when a letter summons him back to...
By The New York Times – Books
News•Mar 10, 2026
Book Review: ‘Down Time,’ by Andrew Martin
Andrew Martin’s new novel Down Time follows a group of thirty‑something East Coast professionals as they grapple with post‑pandemic life, love, and creative burnout. Set against a backdrop of societal instability after Covid, the story weaves sexual entanglements and environmental...
By The New York Times – Books
News•Mar 10, 2026
Book Review: ‘The Complex,’ by Karan Mahajan
Karan Mahajan’s new novel, The Complex, follows the fortunes of a powerful Indian political family anchored by the late patriarch S.P. Chopra, a fictional stand‑in for real‑world dynastic leaders. The story unfolds in a sprawling Delhi apartment complex that houses more...
By The New York Times – Books
News•Mar 9, 2026
Greg Greeley, Former Amazon Executive, to Lead Simon & Schuster
Greg Greeley, former head of Amazon's books and media division, has been named chief executive of Simon & Schuster, taking over from Jonathan Karp. The appointment follows KKR's $1.62 billion acquisition of the publisher after an antitrust court blocked a sale to...
By The New York Times – Books
News•Mar 9, 2026
Book Review: ‘Gunk,’ by Saba Sams
Saba Sams’ debut novel “Gunk” portrays a disaffected young woman navigating precarious work and relationships in Brighton’s working‑class neighborhoods. The narrative follows Jules, a bar employee who marries the bar owner Leon, confronts illness, and forms a fraught friendship with...
By The New York Times – Books
News•Mar 9, 2026
Book Review: ‘Whidbey,’ by T Kira Madden
T Kira Madden’s novel *Whidbey* follows three women whose lives intersect around a convicted pedophile, Calvin, whose release and subsequent murder spark a deep examination of trauma. Birdie Chang flees to an isolated island, confronting her abuser’s apology, while reality‑TV star Linzie...
By The New York Times – Books
News•Mar 8, 2026
He Wrote Judy Blume’s Life Story. She Won’t Talk About It.
Long‑time admirer Mark Oppenheimer finally received a green light from Judy Blume in July 2022 to write her authorized biography, after years of correspondence and a tribute he penned in 1997. Blume’s initial enthusiasm included an invitation to her Martha’s Vineyard summer...
By The New York Times – Books
News•Mar 7, 2026
Book Review: ‘Stories,’ by Helen Garner
Australian author Helen Garner’s short‑fiction collection ‘Stories’ has been released in the United States, gathering works first published between 1985 and 1998. The volume highlights Garner’s distinctive voice, which she often credits to the discipline of her diaries and a...
By The New York Times – Books