James Gray is the writer-director of the new film Two Lovers, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow. His previous films include Little Odessa and We Own the Night.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (Signet, $7). In my view, Anna Karenina is simply the best novel ever written. A book of authentic emotion, acutely observed and brilliantly executed, with astonishing sweep and power. My personal favorite moment is when Levin goes to the men’s club.
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A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O’Connor (Mariner, $14). This was O’Connor’s first published collection. For me, she is the best writer in the Southern Gothic style. Her work has a marvelous complexity, morally ambiguous and macabre.
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (Back Bay, $15) I’ve chosen Waugh’s masterpiece, though I suppose I could just have easily named four other books of his. The story is haunting, filled with longing and love. Poor Sebastian Flyte is one of the most heartbreaking characters in literary history.
Babe: The Legend Comes to Life by Robert Creamer (Simon
& Schuster, $15). A truly wonderful and thoroughly detailed biography of Babe Ruth. Robert Creamer’s vivid book peaks, I think, with Chapter 28: “Kaleidoscope: Personality of the Babe.”
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (Puffin, $5). If you haven’t taken a look at it recently, you should. I read it too early—high school—but picked it up again not too long ago and realized it’s as good as they say. A caustic book, but a very funny one, too. Essential.
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Why ‘anti-Islam’ bikers are guarding Gaza aid sitesIn The Spotlight Members of Infidels MC, who regard themselves as modern Crusaders, among private security guards at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites
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China: Xi seeks to fill America’s voidFeature Trump’s tariffs are pushing nations eastward as Xi Jinping focuses on strengthening ties with global leaders
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Rebrands: Bringing back the War DepartmentFeature Trump revives the Department of Defense’s former name
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Jessica Francis Kane's 6 favorite books that prove less is moreFeature The author recommends works by Penelope Fitzgerald, Marie-Helene Bertino, and more
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Keith McNally's 6 favorite books that have ambitious charactersFeature The London-born restaurateur recommends works by Leo Tolstoy, John le Carré, and more
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Garrett Graff's 6 favorite books that shine new light on World War IIFeature The author recommends works by James D. Hornfischer, Craig L. Symonds, and more
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Helen Schulman's 6 favorite collections of short storiesFeature The award-winning author recommends works by Raymond Carver, James Baldwin, and more
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Beatriz Williams' 6 timeless books about history and human relationshipsFeature The best-selling author recommends works by Jane Austen, Zora Neale Hurston, and more
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Aysegul Savas' 6 favorite books for readers who love immersive settingsFeature The Paris-based Turkish author recommends works by Hiromi Kawakami, Virginia Woolf, and more
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Geoff Dyer's 6 favorite books about the realities of warFeature The award-winning author recommends works by Ernie Pyle, Michael Herr, and more
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Laura Lippman's 6 favorite books for those who crave a high-stakes adventureFeature The Grand Master recommends works by E.L. Konigsburg, Charles Portis, and more
