literature

He was a preeminent poet, satirist, and critic from Ancient Rome. His works were once required reading in many schools. But not all of his writings were fit for the classroom. Now, a new biography, Horace: Poet on a Volcano, examines how his work reflected the times he lived in. It also highlights just how bawdy this classic poet could be. WSHU’s Culture Critic Joan Baum read it. You can listen to her review right here.

50 years ago this month, the film JAWS debuted in theaters. And for generations, moviegoers have been thrilled to be terrified by the fabled great white shark. But in the novel, the toothy fish is not the star of the story. Book critic Joan Baum re-read JAWS and has this review.

Consider the humble insect. These tiny, multi-legged creatures of infinite variety are all around us. They’re also more vital to life on Earth than we humans realize. Author Peter Kuper explores the world of insects and the scientists who study them in his new illustrated book, Insectopolis. Book critic Joan Baum has this review.

A groom goes missing. A bride goes into hiding. Years later, the past seeps into the present and upends the lives of three women. That’s just the beginning of the new novel, After The Ocean, by WSHU’s classical music host Lauren Rico.

Writing a memoir is not easy. Dredging up traumatic moments from your past can be painful. For some, it’s downright destructive. In her new book, Permission, Connecticut-based writer Elissa Altman shares her insights into the art of writing memoirs and how revealing a hushed-up family incident tore her family apart. WSHU’s Culture Critic Joan Baum read it. You can listen to her review right here.

Edward Gorey was famous for his signature black and white illustrations that are often steeped in humor with a sinister twist. Gorey also drew his whimsical images on envelopes for letters he sent to a close friend. And that friend has just published a collection of their correspondence in a new book. WSHU’s Book Critic Joan Baum read it and has this review.

Can the work of composer Stephen Sondheim change your life? Theater critic Richard Schoch believes it can. In his new book, How Sondheim Can Change Your Life Schoch dives deep into Sondheim’s music, lyrics, and characters where he says life lessons are woven into the plays. WSHU’s Culture Critic Joan Baum read it. You can listen to her review right here.

A Splendid Death, the latest thriller, by Connecticut-based author Mark Rubinstein, tells the story of two brothers from New Jersey who become entangled with government-backed mercenaries in Franco’s Spain. WSHU’s Culture Critic, Joan Baum says the novel is a nail-biter. Here’s her review.

A rustic castle on a remote Scottish island. It’s an ideal setting for a literary conference until it all goes horribly wrong. The dramatic death of the conference organizer compels three romance writers to team up and solve a Who-Done-It. WSHU’s Culture Critic Joan Baum read The Authors Guide to Murder.

Reading books in translation can be a tricky venture. Does the work reflect the author’s original vision or the perspective of the translator? What’s a reader to do? Well, there’s a new book out that explores the delicate nuance of translation. WSHU’s Book critic Joan Baum has this review.