Critical Notes

Roundup: Barbara Ehrenreich, Walter Kirn, David Grossman, the late Peter Matthiessen and more

By Eric Liebetrau

Your reviews seed this roundup; please send items to NBCCCritics@gmail.com.

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In the San Francisco Chronicle, Joe Peschel reviews Gina Frangello's novel A Life in Men.

Gerald Bartell reviews Walter Kirn's Blood Will Out for the San Francisco Chronicle and Lisa Unger's In the Blood for the Washington Post. He also interviews Bruce DeSilva about his thriller Providence Rag for Kirkus.

Ryan Teitman reviews Leslie Jamison's essay collection, The Empathy Exams.

Oprah.com reviews Susan Shapiro's co-authored The Bosnia List. The Toronto Star also offers a review.

“When Peter Matthiessen was Silenced by his Publisher.” Jon Wiener recalls the legal battle over Peter Matthiessen's Spirit of Crazy Horse.

NBCC member David Biespiel's latest Poetry Wire for the Rumpus.

Debra Cash reviews David Grossman's shattering Falling Out of Time on the Arts Fuse and previews the musical project based on Geraldine Brooks' People of the Book.

Ben Woodard interviews Stacey D'Erasmo regarding her new book, Wonderland.

Jay Jennings offers a tribute to Charles Portis, the recent winner of the Porter Prize Lifetime Achievement Award, which is presented every five years to an Arkansas writer.

For Kirkus, Megan Labrise speaks with Lydia Davis. She also interviews Barbara Ehrenreich.

From the NBCC Archives: Roxana Robinson on reading Davis.

NBCC board member Joanna Scutts also interviews Ehrenreich.

David Cooper reviews David Grand's Mount Terminus.

Celia McGee's column on the new Ann Brashares and others.

Alison Barker reviews Ariel Gore's new memoir, The End of Eve.

Former NBCC board member Oscar Villalon's ZYZZYVA letter from the editors from the 100th issue.

“Home Runs, Frozen Ropes, And Some Wild Cards In Best Baseball Books.” Robert Birnbaum's third annual baseball book roundup.

Erika Dreifus reviews Aharon Appelfeld's Suddenly, Love (trans. Jeffrey M. Green) for Jewish Journal.

NBCC board member Mary Ann Gwinn reviews Adam Begley's new Updike bio.

NBCC board member Colette Bancroft also reviews Begley's book.

Heller McAlpin reviews Lorrie Moore's latest collection, Bark.

NBCC board member Mark Athitakis reviews Teju Cole's new novel.

NBCC finalist Aleksandar Hemon in conversation with Cole.

Former NBCC finalist Damion Searls offers a brilliant reconsideration of W.G. Sebald in Bookforum.

Steve Paul on NoViolet Bulawayo.

Grace Bello profiles “Skim” co-creators Mariko and Jillian Tamaki for Publishers Weekly.

NBCC board member Carolyn Kellogg talks to Jillian Lauren.