The Toll
A poem
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He Was Hugely Influential. He Also Had a Foolish Streak.
A recent biography of the writer John Berger reminds us about his hefty influence—and how he could be blinkered by his convictions.
An Adaptation That’s Both ‘Excellent’ and ‘Bizarre’
Lincoln in the Bardo is a bold novel that has rightfully inspired inventive adaptations.
Forget Grit
Even the luminaries of the self-help genre have begun to recognize how little in life we can actually control.
What To Read
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50 Unforgettable Love Stories
Centuries of joyous, tragic, tantalizing, enduring fiction
Six Hard-to-Find Books Worth Reading
These titles are no longer fashionable, if they ever were—but should you manage to read one, you might love it.
What to Read to Wake Up Your Brain
These books can ease readers into a season of work and hard thinking.
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Six Books That Take You to Space
You won’t even have to leave your couch.
Attitude Adjustment
After surviving a gruesome accident, a Catholic priest struggles with life. A short story
Scenes From a Marriage
“What’s it like?,” Natalie said quietly. “Marriage, I mean.” Mathilde said, “Kipling called it a very long conversation.” A short story
Hex Keys
Father's Day 1972—an oddball quest. A short story
The Rhett Butlers
He is 40. You are almost 17. You know his kiss is coming, that day in the classroom, but still it surprises you. A short story
Magnified
What if Lee Harvey Oswald had lost his nerve? A historical novelist—who is also a student of the Kennedy assassination—imagines what might have happened next.
The Contest
A short story
Reply to a Dead Man
"My heart started beating rapidly after the third time I read the letter. I could have sat there and guessed for a hundred years and never come up with what my brother had to say." A short story
Onward
Love happens, like age or weather. It’s not hard to do, only to endure, sometimes. A short story
Ice Man
He saw deputies in their serious hats coming through the restaurant from the kitchen, four white guys who looked like they meant business. A short story
Honors Track
“The exam went off without a hitch, and from there, stopping just didn’t make sense. Before each Calc test, we convened at Jill’s house to work out the answers.” A short story