Books

After a tragic accident, a widow faces a lifetime of what-ifs

John Powers

Live Fast won France's top literary prize in 2022. Brigitte Giraud's haunting book revisits the death of her husband in a motorcycle crash 20-odd years earlier.
What's it like to be famous? These 13 new celebrity memoirs may clue you in

Dhanika Pineda

This year brings memoirs from more than a dozen famous names — from Brooke Shields and Dawn Staley to Bill Belichick and Lionel Ritchie.
International

Rare book dealer Rebecca Romney dedicates a book to the women Jane Austen read

Adriana Gallardo

Ana Perez

"Jane Austen's Bookshelf" spotlights eight women writers, largely lost to history, who influenced the English novelist.
Arts & Culture

San Diego weekend arts events: South Bay Zine Fest, 'The Drawing Show' and origami

Julia Dixon Evans

This weekend in the arts: A new zine fest in Chula Vista; the power of drawing; installation art in Escondido; chamber music inspired by visual art; "3 Summers of Lincoln"; plus live music picks and more.
Arts & Culture

Kennedy Center evacuates due to bomb threat targeting Shen Yun

Elizabeth Blair

A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center says the threat targeted Shen Yun, a touring dance troupe that is banned in China, because it is associated with the religious group Falun Gong.
Racial Justice and Social Equity

First known cookbook by a Black American woman gets new edition 160 years later

Neda Ulaby

Malinda Russell's A Domestic Cookbook was first published in 1866. It contains least a hundred recipes for sweets, plus recipes for shampoo and cologne – and remedies for toothaches.
New novel asks: How much can a male friendship take?

Andrew Limbong

Eric Puchner's new novel, Dream State, was just named the latest Oprah book club pick. It's about a love triangle that tests the decades-long friendship of two college friends.
Tony Horwitz's widow Geraldine Brooks writes a beautiful memoir of grief

Maureen Corrigan

Horwitz died suddenly in 2019 while on a book tour. In Memorial Days, Geraldine Brooks grieves her husband — and also reflects on the life she might have lived had they not met.
3 Harry Potter fan fiction authors are coming to a bookstore near you

Dhanika Pineda

Fan fiction — unsanctioned, unofficially published works based on popular novels or films — was intentionally never mainstream. The coming months will see a trio of titles by popular Draco and Hermione — Dramione — fanfic authors.
Arts & Culture

San Diego weekend arts events: Ghost taxis, an alien painting and a new indie film series

Julia Dixon Evans

This weekend in the arts: San Diego ballet teams up with Gilbert Castellanos; Robert Xavier Burden unveils “The Alien Painting”; Burn All Books and Scanners Archive screen indie films; "Empty Ride" at the Globe; Moxie Theatre launches a new playwriting festival; Daygo Eatz; plus live music picks and more.