RaveLibrary JournalInterspersed with photos, descriptions of pertinent historical events, drawings, and digitized archival documents, this excellent biography will appeal to many readers, especially those interested in genealogy, literature, and African American history.
Carmela Ciuraru
RaveLibrary JournalA notable book about remarkable women that could have subsequent volumes. Recommended for readers interested in these authors or in 20th-century literature.
Judith Thurman
PositiveLibrary JournalThe section devoted to fashion designers...is especially well-researched and engaging and makes the art of couture more accessible to neophytes ... Because of the breadth of their topics, Thurman’s well-written culture essays in this collection will appeal to many readers, particularly those interested in fashion.
Christopher Prendergast
PositiveLibrary JournalPrendergast generally cites remarkable Proust passages solely in English (only occasionally quoting from the original French text); Proust’s brilliance as a writer still comes through in the translated texts, but Prendergast’s analysis might have been enhanced by including more passages in French ... This book will prompt many to reread Proust. For readers interested in 20th-century French literature and individuals with Proustian affinities.
Colleen Kinder
RaveLibrary JournalSweet but often poignant ... Mesmerizing ... [The] letters describe memorable encounters with strangers that are sometimes charitable, comical, or romantic, and other times frightening or poignant ... This highly recommended collection of letters would appeal to many types of readers, including individuals interested in creative writing, the epistolary form, or travel literature.
Charles J Shields
RaveLibrary Journal... an excellent account of Hansberry’s life ... Shields provides interesting background describing the Chicago and New York Hansberry would have known. His account of the development and marketing of A Raisin in the Sun is particularly noteworthy. Shields also reveals the name of a patron who helped fund the play’s production; until this biography, he had remained anonymous ... This biography substantiates Hansberry’s accomplishments, despite her short life. Recommended for all Hansberry enthusiasts and 20th-century literary scholars.
Sandra M Gilbert
RaveLibrary Journal... thoroughly researched ... Gilbert and Gubar weave the political and social attributes of each decade into their literary analysis to illustrate how feminist thought and the nation changed under the societal transformations wrought by the civil rights movement, sexual revolution, Vietnam War, emergence of the New Right, Me Too movement, and other momentous events ... Despite challenges and social/political oscillations, this excellent book demonstrates the ways that feminism has persisted ... Highly recommended for anyone interested in American literature or women’s studies.
Paisley Rekdal
RaveLibrary JournalRekdal examines cultural and subject appropriation in all its manifestations—commercial, ethical, and racial—by exploring poetry and other literary works ... Her examination of racial fakes, such as the nonexistent Japanese poet Yasusada (probably the creation of a white American writer), is excellent ... This book asks many thought-provoking questions for students and potential writers to consider ... Highly recommended for creative writing students or readers interested in this extremely relevant topic.
Viv Groskop
MixedLibrary JournalEvery chapter boasts amusing personal anecdotes ... Groskop provides thoughtful interpretations...but the book\'s purpose reflects its title, to find happiness. Groskop achieves this by frequently interspersing comic asides that some readers might find irritating. Her comments about authors\' appearances...can become tiresome despite the attempt at hilarity ... A lighthearted read for all fans of French literature.
Vivian Gornick
RaveLibrary JournalGornick recognizes that in that initial encounter, one might not be emotionally ready to appreciate a work fully, but with each rereading will recognize a new literary element or better understand a particular protagonist no matter how many times the book has been perused before ... A delightful entry for lovers of literature and literary criticism.
Benjamin Moser
RaveLibrary Journal... exceptional ... Moser synthesizes historical events with moments in Sontag’s life while comprehensively analyzing her major works ... Moser skillfully describes how Sontag often struggled with basic everyday responsibilities ... This excellent portrait of a complicated, brilliant individual will appeal to those interested in late 20th-century culture, LGBTQ studies, and literary scholarship.
Kathleen Hale
PositiveLibrary JournalHale writes with an open and engaging style ... Recommended for readers interested in creative nonfiction, especially the essay genre.
Leslie Jamison
PositiveLibrary JournalThe types of empathy—self, painful, guilt, fearful—evoked when reading the pieces are as varied as their subject matter ... these essays will inspire readers to reflect on their own feelings of empathy—not an easy feat in today\'s disinterested society. This provocative collection will appeal to many types of readers.
