Lorraine Berry

2 days ago | latimes.com | Mark Athitakis |Lorraine Berry |Jessica Ferri |Bethanne Patrick |Chris Vognar

Nothing says “summer’s here!” than reading near a body of water. And what qualifies as a beach read has evolved to include more than romances and thrillers. From histories on New York’s 1960s art scene and the making of the film “Sunset Boulevard” to biographies on James Baldwin, Clint Eastwood and Bruce Lee, to gripping memoirs from Miriam Toews and Molly Jong-Fast, there’s something from every nonfiction genre.

1 week ago | latimes.com | Lorraine Berry

Book Review Awake in the Floating City By Susanna KwanPantheon: 320 pages, $28If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores. Bertolt Brecht wrote that, in the dark times, there will also be singing. In Susanna Kwan’s debut novel, she asks whether those songs may be sung if there are no choirs to sing them.

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Lorraine Berry

Bertolt Brecht wrote that, in the dark times, there will also be singing. In Susanna Kwan’s debut novel, she asks whether those songs may be sung if there are no choirs to sing them. Choirs require community, and the role of community during environmental disaster is one of the themes that runs through this thoughtful novel about art, creation and the ways we care for one another. Bo is a 40ish woman living in a San Francisco high-rise in the mid-21st century.

2 weeks ago | latimes.com | Lorraine Berry

, we told you about some of the can’t-miss panels and events happening on Saturday, April 25. From a discussion on romance literature to a talk on book bans, there’s no shortage of fun events and fantastic authors for attendees to enjoy. But on Sunday, there’s even more, so be sure to stick around to take full advantage of the book bonanza. This year’s fest is attracting some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

3 weeks ago | latimes.com | Lorraine Berry

Matthew Specktor is aware that his third book about Los Angeles is landing during a fraught time. “The pleasure of making beautiful things and reveling in beautiful things and making art is a bizarre thing in America,” Specktor said during a video call in late March. “There’s a Calvinist streak in the American spirit and nature that is so deeply mistrustful of pleasure.