Critical Notes

Roundup: Jonathan Lethem, Hector Tobar, John Jeremiah Sullivan, “clogins,” and more

By Mark Athitakis

Anne Trubek reviews Jonathan Lethem’s essay collection The Ecstasy of Influence for the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

Lizzie Skurnick is writing a mini-column called “That Should Be a Word” for the New York Times Magazine. This week: “clogin.”

Rebecca Donner reviews Hector Tobar’s novel The Barbarian Nurseries for the New York Times Book Review.

Heller McAlpin reviews Joan Didion’s memoir Blue Nights for the Washington Post.

Tom Swift reviews John Jeremiah Sullivan’s essay collection Pulphead for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Maureen Corrigan reviews Ben Lerner’s novel Leaving the Atocha Station for NPR.org.

Jane Ciabattari interviews Ann Beattie about her new book, Mrs. Nixon: A Novelist Imagines a Life, at the Daily Beast.

George De Stefano reviews Andrea Camilleri’s mystery The Potter’s Field for the New York Journal of Books.

Julia M. Klein reviews Claire Tomalin's biography of Charles Dickens for Obit Magazine.

Carolyn Kellogg reviews Bill Clinton’s Back to Work for the Los Angeles Times.

Your reviews and recommendations help seed these roundups: If you’re an NBCC member with a review you’d like considered for inclusion, please email nbcccritics@gmail.com. You can also get our attention by using the Twitter hashtag #nbcc, posting on the wall of our Facebook page, or joining our members-only LinkedIn group.