Recent Reviews

“Pure”

Andrew Miller portrays the deconstruction of an ancient cemetery in Paris. Reviewed by Ron Charles

‘Dirt’

Searing depiction of a young man’s insanity will probably be a love-it-or-hate-it proposition for most readers.

“Almost a Family”

A New York Times journalist tells the story of the last days of his father’s life, who died before his first birthday, and what happened to his family afterward.

“Boleto”

Alyson Hagy’s novel is the moving story of a young man training up a horse.

“Cliff Walk”

Bruce DeSilva’s latest has no signs of a sophomore slump. In fact, it manages to outshine DeSilva’s first award-winning novel.

Drive-by history of ‘Grand Theft Auto’

David Kushner’s book about the video-game franchise is a fun ride, but leaves fans wanting more.

A complicated double-cross

REVIEW | War-weary characters battle bad choices in Joseph Kanon’s new spy novel “Istanbul Passage.”

‘Five Noir Novels’: Darkly brilliant tales about losers

In David Goodis’s “Five Noir Novels of the 1940s & 50s,” he writes brilliantly about desperate losers in hopeless neighborhoods.

Forget the ’60s; sex started far earlier

REVIEW | Faramerz Dabhoiwala’s “The Origins of Sex” digs into history of sexual behavior and attitude.

A tale of mourning and mystery

“The Chemistry of Tears” follows the construction of a mysterious mechanical bird in two centuries.

A frightening reunion with old friends

REVIEW | Emily St. John Mandel deftly weaves characters together in engrossing, elegant novel.

A manly turn of the page

If you missed life-altering tips such as ”Don’t fist-bump a stranger,” these four books can help you.

‘The Coldest Night’

The Korean War finally is being remembered for the three-year nightmare it was, and Robert Olmstead’s new novel adds another realistic layer to the conflict.

‘Don’t Cry, Tai Lake’

The poetry-loving Chief Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai police is back in “Don’t Cry, Tai Lake,” by Qiu Xiaolong.

‘My Cross to Bear’

Southern blues-rocker Gregg Allman explores his own life.

More recent reviews

Sunday reviews

Ron Charles

Ron Charles

“Pure”

Andrew Miller portrays the deconstruction of an ancient cemetery in Paris. Reviewed by Ron Charles

Ron Charles

Ron Charles

A tale of mourning and mystery

“The Chemistry of Tears” follows the construction of a mysterious mechanical bird in two centuries.

Ron Charles

Ron Charles

‘Canada’ by Richard Ford

Richard Ford’s “Canada” is a magnificent novel about the young son of two inept bank robbers.

Michael Dirda

Michael Dirda

The idiosyncratic lives of Oulipians

“Many Subtle Channels: In Praise of Potential Literature,” by Daniel Levin Becker dives into the strange tricks of group obsessed with wordplay.

Michael Dirda

Michael Dirda

Forget the ’60s; sex started far earlier

REVIEW | Faramerz Dabhoiwala’s “The Origins of Sex” digs into history of sexual behavior and attitude.

Michael Dirda

Michael Dirda

Robert Sheckley’s ‘Store of the Worlds’

“Store of the Worlds,” stories by Robert Sheckley. Reviewed by Michael Dirda

Jonathan Yardley

Jonathan Yardley

“The Life of Slang”

Linguist Julie Coleman examines the conventions and usage of slang.

Jonathan Yardley

Jonathan Yardley

‘The Last Natural’

A new book about the Nationals’ Bryce Harper comes up short.

Jonathan Yardley

Jonathan Yardley

’China Hand’

John Paton Davies Jr. recounts his time as a Foreign Service Office in China.

Literary Calendar

Going Out Guide: Upcoming events

Going Out Guide: Upcoming events

Get the latest on readings, signings and author appearances in the D.C. area.