Kick off the weekend with these multi-starred nonfiction books!
CONSEQUENCE by Eric Fair
A B&N Winter 2016 Discover Great New Writers pick! “In this harrowing memoir, Fair, an interrogator at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, expands on his 2007 Washington Post editorial, in which he countered the claim that detainee abuse was a rare, isolated phenomenon. Fair is a gifted writer, and his capacity for self-examination makes this work both deeply insightful and moving. ” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
“A startling debut from a haunted individual who wishes he had left Iraq earlier ‘with my soul intact.’” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
THE GLAMOUR OF STRANGENESS: Artists and the Last Age of the Exotic by Jamie James
A PW Best Summer Books of 2016 pick with THREE starred reviews! “In this exciting book, novelist and critic James examines six artists (and many interesting secondary figures) whose travels allowed them to find inspiration and belonging far from their homelands in locations across the globe. [THE GLAMOUR OF STRANGENESS] is a sharp, thought-provoking contribution to the ongoing conversation about transculturation.”
— Publishers Weekly, starred review
“[A] richly detailed, absorbing cultural history… Abundant primary sources inform James’ sharply drawn, sympathetic portraits.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“James is merrily entertaining in his exceptional erudition and nimble eloquence, and fluently and movingly insightful in his psychological, sexual, social, and aesthetic interpretations as he tells these astonishing, often tragic tales of intrepid self-creation and ardently chosen homelands.” — Booklist, starred review
HOGS WILD: Selected Reporting Pieces by Ian Frazier
“Frazier creates compelling reportage, and the 23 pieces collected here reveal his eclectic choice of topics. Frazier shows real empathy for his subjects and-despite often dealing with loss-remains restrained, never maudlin, while frequently imparting an understated, droll humor into the overall tone of his work. This collection of informative, entertaining journalism will appeal to fans of Michael Paterniti.”
— Library Journal, starred review
“Readers will want to read the collection straight through and then go back and reread favorites, which just might mean the whole collection.” — Booklist, starred review
IN THE DARKROOM by Susan Faludi (THREE starred reviews!)
“Pulitzer-winning journalist and feminist author Faludi’s wrought and multi-layered memoir focuses on the life of her father, who came out as transgender and took the name Stefánie at the age of 76. This is a powerful and absorbing memoir of a parent/child relationship.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
“A moving and penetrating inquiry into manifold struggles for identity, community, and authenticity.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“An incomparable memoir that is sure to provoke discussion. Highly recommended for all readers.” — Library Journal, starred review
RHAPSODY IN SCHMALTZ: Yiddish Food and Why We Can’t Stop Eating It by Michael Wex
“Wex has written a delightful and informative history of Jewish (“Yiddish”) food from biblical times to the present.” — Library Journal, starred review
“Without being ‘schmaltzy’ (sentimental), Wex conveys his knowledge of Yiddish culture and food laws with a healthy dose of humor.” — Booklist, starred review
AMERICAN RHAPSODY: Writers, Musicians, Movie Stars, and One Great Building by Claudia Roth Pierpont
“A longtime New Yorker staff writer on the arts beat and a virtuoso of the profile form, Pierpont has substantially reworked a dozen magazine pieces to create this scintillating portrait gallery under a title borrowed from one of her subjects, George Gershwin.” — Booklist, starred review
“Pierpont has composed a refreshingly clear-eyed piece of cultural history and an inspiring paean to the American artistic spirit. As vital and entertaining as the creators and work it celebrates, AMERICAN RHAPSODY is an uncommonly satisfying celebration of the cultural kaleidoscope known as the United States.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
ORDINARILY WELL: The Case for Antidepressants by Major Peter D. Kramer
“Written with the compassion, verve, and style that are the author’s trademark, this book offers an invaluable overview on the state of treatment and the options available.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Kramer is at his best when he reflects on the privilege of being a psychiatrist, the value of a doctor’s steady judgement, and the vulnerability of physician and patient alike. He is unwavering.” —Booklist, starred review
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