Critical Notes

Roundup: Year-End Lists, Herman Wouk, Andrew Solomon, and More

By Mark Athitakis

The year-end lists have begun: Jim Carmin and John Freeman are among the critics contributing to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s roundup of critics’ favorites, Jane Ciabattari lists her five favorite short-story collections of the year for NPR.org. As in years past, the blog Largehearted Boy maintains a comprehensive list of best-of lists from around the web.

Eileen Weiner reviews Emma Donoghue’s short-story collection Astray for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Rayyan Al-Shawaf reviews Ian McEwan’s novel Sweet Tooth for the Miami Herald.

Adam Kirsch reviews Herman Wouk’s novel The Lawgiver for Tablet.

Julia M. Klein reviews James Wood’s essay collection The Fun Stuff for the Boston Globe and Yael Kohen’s We Killed: The Rise of Women in American Comedy for the Jewish Daily Forward.

Carmela Ciuraru reviews Andrew Solomon's Far From the Tree: Parents, Children, and the Search for Identity for USA Today and Eve LaPlante's Marmee & Louisa: The Untold Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Mother for the Boston Globe.

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.