The Last of the Just by Andre Schwarz-Bart (Overlook, $16). This epic history of a family dedicated to doing good ends tragically with the Holocaust, and powerfully portrays the great crime of genocide. When I was a young man, this book reinforced my commitment not to ignore injustices against the innocent, regardless of race, creed, or country of origin.
Buy The Last of the Just at Amazon
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American Pastoral by Philip Roth (Vintage, $15). Roth is one of the greatest living American writers, and this chilling tale of a 1960s family in upheaval is set against a tumultuous time in our country’s history. It brings into sharp focus how difficult it is to raise children and keep them in equilibrium. This is the kind of book that both frightens and informs a parent.
He, She, and It by Marge Piercy (Fawcett, $8). Written as science fiction, this narrative is prescient, portraying a time when the Earth has become toxic and life itself may be extinguished. Under such conditions, human beings are forced to make difficult ethical choices, many of which could eventually be at hand, given the pace of scientific technology.
The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron (Vintage, $15). Styron is a master at capturing the sounds and sentiments of the South. Like Faulkner before him, Styron focuses on the tragedy of racism, a shameful legacy that haunts us to this day.
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (Ballantine, $8). Irving has both a playful and bizarre worldview, pushing his characters into absurd situations that, despite their absurdity, teach us important lessons about ourselves. At its core, this book is about faith, how we pursue it, perceive it, and adopt or abandon it.
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‘The worry is far from fanciful’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
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How are Americans bracing for the end of SNAP?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Millions depend on supplemental federal food funds that are set to expire this month, as the government shutdown begins to be acutely felt
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Book review: ‘Joyride: A Memoir’Feature A journalist’s story of how she chased and accomplished her dreams
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Gilbert King’s 6 favorite books about the search for justiceFeature The journalist recommends works by Bryan Stevenson, David Grann, and more
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Nathan Harris’ 6 favorite books that turn adventures into revelationsFeature The author recommends works by Kazuo Ishiguro, Ian McGuire, and more
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Marisa Silver’s 6 favorite books that capture a lifetimeFeature The author recommends works by John Williams, Ian McEwan, and more
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Lou Berney’s 6 favorite books with powerful storytellingFeature The award-winning author recommends works by Dorothy B. Hughes, James McBride, and more
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Elizabeth Gilbert’s favorite books about women overcoming difficultiesFeature The author recommends works by Tove Jansson, Lauren Groff, and more
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Fannie Flagg’s 6 favorite books that sparked her imaginationFeature The author recommends works by Johanna Spyri, John Steinbeck, and more
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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
