Joan Baum
Book ReviewerJoan Baum is a recovering academic from the City University of New York, who spent 25 years teaching literature and writing. Joan has a long career as a critic and reviewer, writing for, among others, WNYC, Newsday, The Christian Science Monitor, MIT's Technology Review, Hadassah Magazine and writing on subjects in her dissertation field, the major English Romantic poets. She covers all areas of cultural history but particularly enjoys books at the nexus of the humanities and the sciences.
With an eye on reviewing fiction and nonfiction that has regional resonance for Connecticut or Long Island – books written by local authors or books set in the area – Joan considers the timeliness and significance of recently published work: what these books have to say to a broad group of readers today and how they say it in a distinctive or unique manner, taking into account style and structure as well as subject matter.
-
He was born Melvin Kaminski in Brooklyn, New York. He’s been a 1,000 year-old man, the King of France and Dr. FRAHN-ken-steen. But he’s best known as Mel Brooks and he has a new memoir out. -
Women and book clubs go together. In the U.S. close to 80% of all participants in book clubs are women. -
A well-known 19th century artist from Long Island plays a key role in a new novel by Robert Crooke. -
The latest novel by native New Yorker Larry Duberstein, examines the ordinary life of a retired high school guidance counselor who discovers he may not be as ordinary as he thinks. Book critic Joan Baum has this review. -
Books that grace many summer reading lists are often filled with tales of daring exploits and steamy liaisons. And it would be all the more compelling if those stories were true. Well, relatively true. Yale University Press has released a new biography on the audacious life of Italian adventurer, Giacomo Casanova. Book critic Joan Baum has this review. -
Writer Iris Smyles hails from Long Island. However, her scant on-line biographies identify her place of residence as, “somewhere." That will give you a sense of her quirky and whimsical writing style. Book critic Joan Baum read her latest work, “Droll Tales.” -
“Her Last Affair,” the latest novel by author and Connecticut native, John Searles is described as a thriller. Book critic Joan Baum says it’s more than just a page-turner. -
A new novel by writer William Carpenter examines the lingering bitterness created by the 9/11 attacks and how people struggle to manage profound loss. -
A beach on Long Island was the site of a little known act of attempted sabotage during World War II. That incident inspired historical fiction author Eve Karlin’s latest novel. -
WSHU commentator David Bouchier has gathered his “few well-chosen words,” and published them in his latest book, Out of Order.
