Literature

Best-selling author Ann Patchett is making several Bay Area appearances to launch her new novel. (Courtesy photo)

‘Dutch House’ a powerful drama about family and memory

Ann Patchett excavates emotional ruin in gripping new novel

Best-selling author Ann Patchett is making several Bay Area appearances to launch her new novel. (Courtesy photo)
Jeanette Winterson speaks about “Frankissstein” on Oct. 15 at the San Francisco Jewish Community Center. (Courtesy photo)

Bay Area’s 10-day Litquake turns 20

More than 860 authors appear at some 200 events, and most are free

Jeanette Winterson speaks about “Frankissstein” on Oct. 15 at the San Francisco Jewish Community Center. (Courtesy photo)
Palo Alto native Raphael Bob-Waksberg speaks about his new book of short stories on Oct. 16. (Courtesy photo)

Litquake hosts ‘BoJack Horseman’ creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg

Creator of surreal TV show focuses on love, compromise in new short story collection

Palo Alto native Raphael Bob-Waksberg speaks about his new book of short stories on Oct. 16. (Courtesy photo)
Award-winning poet Kate Tempest’s new album is “The Book of Traps and Lessons.” (Courtesy Julian Broad)

Kate Tempest an eclectic, evocative poet and more

English spoken-word artist defies classification

Award-winning poet Kate Tempest’s new album is “The Book of Traps and Lessons.” (Courtesy Julian Broad)
John Lithgow’s satirical illustrated poetry book about Donald Trump’s presidency leads Chronicle Prism’s fall 2019 list. (Courtesy photo)

Chronicle Books launches narrative non-fiction imprint

Longtime design-centric SF publisher expands focus

John Lithgow’s satirical illustrated poetry book about Donald Trump’s presidency leads Chronicle Prism’s fall 2019 list. (Courtesy photo)
Meg Waite Clayton launches her new historical novel at various events across the Bay Area. (Courtesy Adrienne Defendi)

Dutch heroine saves Jewish children in ‘Last Train’

Meg Waite Clayton’s Holocaust-set novel inspires

Meg Waite Clayton launches her new historical novel at various events across the Bay Area. (Courtesy Adrienne Defendi)
R.O. Kwon makes two Bay Area appearances to speak about her acclaimed novel.

‘Incendaries’ a gripping tale of young, lost souls

R.O. Kwon’s debut novel explores how faith leads to violence

R.O. Kwon makes two Bay Area appearances to speak about her acclaimed novel.
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)