Literature

Julia Phillips speaks about her novel in three Bay Area appearances this week. (Courtesy Nina Subin)

‘Disappearing Earth’ reveals life in Russia’s remote East

Julia Phillips’ novel a haunting, intense debut

Julia Phillips speaks about her novel in three Bay Area appearances this week. (Courtesy Nina Subin)
Neal Stephenson discusses his new book “Fall” in The City. (Author photo courtesy Brady Hall)

Neal Stephenson considers eternal afterworld in ‘Fall’

Speculative sci-fi author takes on cons of tech

  • Jun 4, 2019
Neal Stephenson discusses his new book “Fall” in The City. (Author photo courtesy Brady Hall)
Stephen J. Dubner’s “Freakonomics Radio Live!” is onstage at the Sydney Goldstein Theater on May 16. (Courtesy Audrey Bernstein)

Stephen J. Dubner brings ‘Freakonomics Radio Live!’ to The City

Podcaster revamps popular program for the stage

  • May 12, 2019
Stephen J. Dubner’s “Freakonomics Radio Live!” is onstage at the Sydney Goldstein Theater on May 16. (Courtesy Audrey Bernstein)
Cheryl Ossola, a former Bay Area resident now living in Italy, comes to The Booksmith in The City on May 13.

‘Wild Impossibility’ a tale of mothers and memory

Cheryl Ossola launches debut novel in The City

Cheryl Ossola, a former Bay Area resident now living in Italy, comes to The Booksmith in The City on May 13.
David Vann, a former Bay Area resident, speaks about his new novel at Book Passage in The City this week. (Courtesy photo)

‘Halibut on the Moon’ evocatively details one man’s descent

David Vann’s fictionalized account of father’s road to suicide is heartbreaking

David Vann, a former Bay Area resident, speaks about his new novel at Book Passage in The City this week. (Courtesy photo)
Rachel Howard speaks about her debut novel “The Risk of Us” at several Bay Area events. (Author photo courtesy Emmet Cullen)

‘Risk of Us’ details foster-care adoption journey

Rachel Howard’s new book “The Risk of Us” is about surviving childhood…

Rachel Howard speaks about her debut novel “The Risk of Us” at several Bay Area events. (Author photo courtesy Emmet Cullen)
Dani Shapiro is appearing locally to promote her memoir "Inheritance." (Courtesy Michael Maren)

‘Inheritance’ a gripping memoir about family, love, identity

In her thoughtful and gripping new memoir, “Inheritance,” Dani Shapiro recounts the…

Dani Shapiro is appearing locally to promote her memoir "Inheritance." (Courtesy Michael Maren)
‘Golden State’ an evocative story about a mother in crisis

‘Golden State’ an evocative story about a mother in crisis

“The Golden State,” an impressive and insightful debut novel by San Francisco…

‘Golden State’ an evocative story about a mother in crisis
Poet-writer-activist Chinaka Hodge appears on Saturday at the 2018 YBCA 100 Summit, a gathering of people and groups dedicated to making change and social justice. (Courtesy YBCA)

Activists unite for change at YBCA 100 Summit

For each one of the 100 people and organizations being honored at…

Poet-writer-activist Chinaka Hodge appears on Saturday at the 2018 YBCA 100 Summit, a gathering of people and groups dedicated to making change and social justice. (Courtesy YBCA)
Tommy Orange's powerful novel "There There" is set in Oakland. (Courtesy Elena Seibert)

Oakland’s urban Indians come to life in exquisite ‘There There’

Tommy Orange’s “There There” is a Bay Area bestseller for a reason.…

Tommy Orange's powerful novel "There There" is set in Oakland. (Courtesy Elena Seibert)
William R. Hearst III started Alta in 2017 to meet needs of readers seeking a serious literary magazine with a West Coast focus. (Courtesy photo)

Hearst’s journal Alta celebrates first anniversary

Publishing the debut issue of the Journal of Alta California in October…

William R. Hearst III started Alta in 2017 to meet needs of readers seeking a serious literary magazine with a West Coast focus. (Courtesy photo)
Ingrid Rojas Contreras appears in a couple of Litquake 2018 events. (Courtesy photo)

Hundreds of authors on tap for 19th SF Litquake

There is astounding quality and quantity (including free or $5 and $10…

Ingrid Rojas Contreras appears in a couple of Litquake 2018 events. (Courtesy photo)
Jim Provenzano’s new novel “Now I’m Here” is about a gay teen growing up in rural Ohio in the 1970s. (Courtesy Photos by Dot)

‘Now I’m Here’ a novel inspired by Queen’s music

San Francisco author Jim Provenzano’s new fifth novel “Now I’m Here” was…

Jim Provenzano’s new novel “Now I’m Here” is about a gay teen growing up in rural Ohio in the 1970s. (Courtesy Photos by Dot)
‘Drunken Tree’ a powerful novel about growing up in violent Bogotá

‘Drunken Tree’ a powerful novel about growing up in violent Bogotá

“Fruit of the Drunken Tree,” a riveting new novel by talented Bay…

‘Drunken Tree’ a powerful novel about growing up in violent Bogotá
Gary Gach's new book is "Pause Breathe Smile." (Courtesy photo)

‘Pause Breathe Smile’ a nifty primer on mindfulness

San Francisco author and longtime Zen practitioner Gary Gach had a goal…

Gary Gach's new book is "Pause Breathe Smile." (Courtesy photo)
‘Tables’ tells tales of SF’s historic eateries

‘Tables’ tells tales of SF’s historic eateries

“I was always a big fan of Anthony Bourdain’s storytelling,” says Denise…

‘Tables’ tells tales of SF’s historic eateries
East Bay writer Vanessa Hua is launching her book with appearances across the Bay Area. (Courtesy Andria Lo)

Vanessa Hua tells immigrants’ stories in debut novel

With two pregnant Chinese women on the run as her first novel’s…

East Bay writer Vanessa Hua is launching her book with appearances across the Bay Area. (Courtesy Andria Lo)
Anna Yen's debut novel details her life as a young executive working with Silicon Valley's biggest moguls. (Courtesy photo)

‘Sophia of Silicon Valley’ a young woman’s inside take on high tech

Anna Yen’s debut novel “Sophia of Silicon Valley” tells the insider story…

Anna Yen's debut novel details her life as a young executive working with Silicon Valley's biggest moguls. (Courtesy photo)
Bay Area sports writer Joan Ryan speaks about her recently reissued "Little Girls in Pretty Boxes," which details abuses in elite gymnastics and figure skating. (Courtesy Rob Menschel)

‘Little Girls in Pretty Boxes’ sadly remains relevant

For every elite gymnast or figure skater profiled in sports journalist Joan…

Bay Area sports writer Joan Ryan speaks about her recently reissued "Little Girls in Pretty Boxes," which details abuses in elite gymnastics and figure skating. (Courtesy Rob Menschel)
Andrew Sean Greer’s “Story of a Marriage” is as appealing as his Pulitzer Prize winning “Less.” (Courtesy Kaliel Roberts)

‘Story of a Marriage’ complex, layered, satisfying

Many book lovers will have read San Francisco-based writer Andrew Sean Greer’s…

Andrew Sean Greer’s “Story of a Marriage” is as appealing as his Pulitzer Prize winning “Less.” (Courtesy Kaliel Roberts)