Janet Malcolm

10 New Must-Reads for May

Another month, another pile of books accumulating on your bedside table, threatening to spill over while you sleep. This list will not help with that. But in case, despite all else, you’re looking for a read or two to keep you up late (the better to keep an eye on that rickety pile), this month will treat you well. Read on to discover short stories and sophomore novels galore, all guaranteed to prove companionable in this sweetest of… Read More

20 Books Every Woman Should Read in Her 20s

Recently, we stumbled upon this list of “fun” books that every woman should read in her 20s — needless to say, if you’re even a casual visitor to this space, the books (Confessions of a Shopaholic, Bitches on a Budget) aren’t exactly the ones we’d choose. So, perhaps rather predictably, we decided to put together our own list instead. Now, don’t forget, these are books for women in their 20s — we assume you’ve already read as much Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott as you care to, we expect that you’ve already tackled To Kill a Mockingbird and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Jane Eyre. And though women should read all books about all kinds of things and by all kinds of authors, this list sort of necessarily skews towards  both female writers and characters, given the topic of the day. Click through to check out our reading list — and since every woman should read more than 20 books in her 20s (hundreds, ladies!), add your own favorites in the comments. … Read More