Samantha Gillison
Samantha Gillison is the award-winning author of The Undiscovered Country. Her second novel, The King of America, has just been published by Random House.
The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence (Modern Library, $9). To me, this is the most exquisite of Lawrence’s novels. The writing style, the rhythms of his sentences, and his heartbreakingly real portrait of an English farm family coming of age put this book on par with the great literary works of all time.
Balthazar by Lawrence Durrell (Penguin, $14). This beautifully constructed novel, the second installment of Durrell’s dazzling Alexandria Quartet, is more like a movement in a symphony than traditional fiction. Open to any page and you will find a sentence, a paragraph, a metaphor that will blow you away with its beauty.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Henry James: The Complete Biography by Leon Edel (out of print). This five-volume life drips with interesting factoids and gossipy portraits. While never prurient, Edel examines James’ sexuality, and he also parses the master’s conflicted relationships with his family, his brother William, Edith Wharton, Hugh Walpole, and, not least, his American readers.
Moses and Monotheism by Sigmund Freud (Vintage, $9). An exciting reconstruction of who the real Moses was (a breakaway Egyptian priest, thinks Freud) and what his impact on the world has been. This thrillerlike investigation of anti-Semitism was completed by Freud after he’d fled from the Nazis, to England, and it may very well change the way you look at monotheism.
Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Scribner, $12). Fitzgerald is on fire in this dark, magnificent tale of a talented man throwing his life away. From the famous opening to the unbearably sorrowful ending, this book threatens to seep into your soul and make you feel as though you have lived through it.
‘A Day in the Life’
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
The Finest Summer Flavours
By Sponsored Content Published
-
Today's political cartoons - May 20, 2024
Cartoons Monday's cartoons - flags flipped, Diddy dunked, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Diddy admits to beating girlfriend after video
Speed Read Though he previously denied allegations of abuse, Combs apologized for abusing Cassie Ventura following the release of new CCTV footage
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Cynthia Carr's 6 favorite books that explore social issues
Feature The former culture writer recommends works by Ling Ma, Olga Tokarczuk, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Tom Crewe's 6 favorite works that challenge societal norms
Feature The novelist recommends works by Margaret Oliphant, Patrick White, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Daniel Wallace's 5 favorite books that should not be forgotten
Feature The author recommends works by Italo Calvino, Evan S. Connell, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Sarah Langan recommends 6 women-centric horror books
Feature The horror novelist recommends works by Stephen King, Gillian Flynn, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Amanda Montell's 6 favorite books that will expand your knowledge
Feature The linguist recommends works by Mary Roach, Alice Carrière, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Rowan Beaird recommends 6 compelling books from the 1950s
Feature The author recommends works by Patricia Highsmith, Shirley Jackson, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Stephen Graham Jones' 6 scary books with deeper meanings
Feature The best-selling author recommends works by Stephen King, Sara Gran, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Keith O'Brien's 6 must-read books about significant moments in sports history
Feature The best-selling author recommends works by Laura Hillenbrand, Jonathan Eig and more
By The Week US Published