Critical Notes

Poet Harvey Shapiro, editor of the New York Times Book Review from 1975 to 1983, died last week at 88. Jane Ciabattari reviews George Saunders’ short-story collection Tenth of December

“The first piece I assign my feature journalism classes is something a little more revealing: write three pages confessing your most humiliating secret,” Susan Shapiro wrote in an essay for

Chelsea Philpot reviews Lauren Oliver’s young-adult novel The Spindlers for the New York Times. David Haglund is among the many novelists and critics taking part in the Millions’ annual A

Leah Triplett reviews Marianne Mathieu’s study of the French artist Berthe Morisot, Berthe Morisot: 1841-1895, for Bookslut. Heller McAlpin lists her favorite books of the year at NPR.org and commemorates

Meganne Fabrega reviews chef Julia Pandl’s memoir, Memoir of the Sunday Brunch, and author Benjamin Anastas’ memoir, Too Good to Be True, for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Scott McLemee reviews Ronald

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

Last week the National Book Awards were given in fiction to Louise Erdrich for her novel The Round House, in nonfiction to Katherine Boo for Behind the Beautiful Forevers, in

Julia M. Klein reviews David Nasaw’s The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy for the Boston Globe. Gina Webb reviews Laird Hunt’s novel Kind One

Collette Bancroft reviews Barbara Kingsolver’s novel Flight Behavior for the Tampa Bay Times. David Biespiel discusses the work of Sylvia Plath at his Poetry Wire column for the Rumpus. C.M.

The NBCC is now on Tumblr! Take a look and follow us. (We’re on Twitter and Facebook too.) David Varno reviews Laird Hunt’s novel Kind One for the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.