https://www.csmonitor.comBook reviews and books articles from The Christian Science Monitor.https://images.csmonitor.com/csm/2024/04/1172291_2_csmlogo_feed_250x30_standard.pnghttps://www.csmonitor.comChristian Science Monitor. All rights reserved.300en-usSat, 30 May 2026 13:08:44 EDThttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0528/torched-jonathan-vigliotti?icid=rss71d0c5084bb755a39e299348679a20b0“Torched” offers a reporter’s keen take on an evolving story, analyzing breakdowns in public safety systems and placing the Pacific Palisades blaze into larger context.Thu, 28 May 2026 12:02:34 EDThttps://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2026/0522/phoenix-library-gaza-war-rebuilding-omar-hamad?icid=rssaaa250ffee4529425f148cbf5175c665Opened April 2026, the Phoenix Library in Gaza City is rebuilding a culture of reading with books salvaged from more than two years of destruction.Fri, 22 May 2026 10:56:15 EDTGhada Abdulfattahhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0521/victor-mallet-far-right-france-bardella?icid=rssdf2a5807313bec1a4dc8e5ce623d8158In a Q&A, Victor Mallet, author of “Far-Right France,” talks about changes in French politics, and voter embrace of a party long considered outside the mainstream.Thu, 21 May 2026 14:12:24 EDTColette Davidsonhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0515/best-may-books-fiction-nonfiction?icid=rssfff1ec9c360e87723f4bc9a9008bad13Historical anniversaries share space with satisfying mysteries and far-flung, imagination-stretching novels in our roundup of May’s best reads.Fri, 15 May 2026 13:14:39 EDTMonitor reviewershttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0512/transcription-ben-lerner-memory-authenticity-tech?icid=rsse8c759e87cbd0287d98400ae3c3339a7Ben Lerner’s noteworthy novel explores tech’s impositions on memory, history, and relationships.Tue, 12 May 2026 12:24:17 EDTJoan Gaylordhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0504/declaration-of-independence-news-emily-sneff?icid=rss3d9f104b8819faf1e89264bef2f77bd3How did the American colonists separate fact from fiction? It wasn’t easy, explains Emily Sneff in “When the Declaration of Independence Was News.”Mon, 04 May 2026 11:22:58 EDTScott Baldaufhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0428/the-westerners-megan-kate-nelson?icid=rss86fe674781f2aff94106822b5fc98204Men like Kit Carson captured fame, but the West was also shaped by Black men, Chinese and Hispanic women, and a Cheyenne chief.Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:13:12 EDTBarbara Spindelhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0421/jayne-anne-phillips-small-town-girls?icid=rss24a73bd3cceedba29287ff4636b27ad8In “Small Town Girls,” Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jayne Anne Phillips taps her deep connection to West Virginia and the rural life that infuses her writing.Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:07:16 EDTHeller McAlpinhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0417/best-books-april-2026?icid=rss37468d585a2a090f9071494adb6915e5April’s top nonfiction titles include a revelatory take on Lewis and Clark’s expedition, while fiction favorites cover the latest from Tana French and Ben Lerner.Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:54:53 EDTMonitor reviewershttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0416/seydou-keita-tactile-lens-photographer-african-gaze?icid=rssa4066b514ff87b89cb78356f6e0abe00Self-taught portraitist Seydou Keïta introduced “the African gaze” during a time of transition for the continent. A catalog celebrates his artistry.Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:02:11 EDTCarol Stricklandhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0414/the-lost-book-of-elizabeth-barton-jennifer-brown?icid=rsse96783deb774ebc1477b73a0afa7ad53Hailed as a prophet, Elizabeth Barton railed against King Henry VIII and his plan to break with the pope in Rome and form his own church.Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:32:50 EDTElizabeth Tooheyhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2026/0413/immigration-president-lincoln-holzer?icid=rss197e6bcb9b6b23e4d12137a30d294c5aPresident Abraham Lincoln had a mixed record on immigration, but championed newcomers’ “right to rise.”Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:00:09 EDTSarah Matusekhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0410/judy-blume-biography-mark-oppenheimer?icid=rss0cefd33fff3f3d572ca6aced223ff9d5A new book illuminates the prolific author’s life, work, and fame. Her frankness made her a lightning rod.Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:56:55 EDTBarbara Spindelhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0409/alice-coltrane-cosmic-music-andy-beta?icid=rssc770626bb08173573a18e155e180e4a2The groundbreaking musician Alice Coltrane gets her first comprehensive biography, thanks to author Andy Beta.Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:50:44 EDTMackenzie Farkushttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0406/forest-breathes-suzanne-simard?icid=rss02ad4ef328973bf9c7608360a90be677Forest ecologist Suzanne Simard, the child of loggers, makes an impassioned argument for preserving forests and helping them to regenerate.Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:51:00 EDTRichard Schiffmanhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0402/tiny-gardens-everywhere-kate-brown?icid=rssb8384090e6064606fb610231e8296cacEnvironmental history professor Kate Brown’s latest book, underscores the resilience and power of urban gardening.Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:07:02 EDTKendra Nordin Beatohttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0327/yann-martel-son-of-nobody?icid=rssa393935317eca81bb72a5212dacda39a“Son of Nobody” by Yann Martel twins the life of a foot soldier in ancient Greece with a modern-day man of letters. Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:00:09 EDTSky Davishttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0325/best-books-march-2026-martel-erdrich-judy-blume?icid=rss4dfe00817eefd12be4806d36f6864e37Our reviewers’ March picks travel the globe and beyond, from India and Eritrea to Egypt and, eventually, Europa.Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:38:09 EDTMonitor reviewershttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0313/starry-and-restless-julia-cooke-hahn-west-gellhorn?icid=rss562973b9e37bb76d3fe2a995c00c046aFor intrepid journalists Emily Hahn, Rebecca West, and Martha Gellhorn, the love of writing, travel, mentorship, and friendly competition united them for seven decades of “bylines and books.”Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:42:05 EDTMackenzie Farkushttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0313/who-needs-friends-andrew-mccarthy-male-friendship?icid=rss426058aebc3d451afbc4dbcf04f34896Andrew McCarthy sets out to reconnect with pals – and finds inspiration from talking with strangers.Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:36:41 EDTMalcolm Forbes