american book review magazine 1933

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The American Review

Copyright information, renewed contributions.

This includes all active contribution renewals through 1934. It might not show all renewals past that date.

Page information

The preparers of this page do not represent the publishers or the rightsholders of this publication. To the best of their knowledge, the information in it is correct, and complete within any limits specified above. It may still have inadvertent errors and omissions, however; if you know of any, please contact the page maintainer shown above. This page is not legal advice.

Copyright registration and renewal records -- First periodical renewals -- Deep backfile knowledge base

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Children's and Young Adult Literature

• Print Resources
• Articles & Databases
• Book Reviews
• Award Winners
• Theory & Criticism
• Fairy Tales
• Historical Research
• Examining Issues of Diverse Representations
• Graphic Novels & Comics
• Additional Resources
• New eBooks -- Young Adult and Children's Literature

Reviews - Web Sources

• The Children's Book Review Reviews of children's books categorized by age, theme, subject, genre and a number of other criteria, as well as author interviews, reviews by children and young adults and select reviews of young adult literature.
• Common Sense Media: Book Reviews Review site for movies, games, apps, tv shows, websites, music and books for children and teens. Search can be narrowed by selecting media type -- > books. Books are reviewed based on quality and appropriateness for targeted age. Only current and recently published titles available.
• Kirkus Children's Book Reviews Reviews of children's books from Kirkus Reviews, an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus.
• Kirkus Teen Book Reviews Reviews of teen books from Kirkus Reviews, an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus.

Book Review Databases

The following databases are available through the SJSU King Library to students and faculty.

• Book Review Digest Plus This link opens in a new window Indexes reviews of current fiction and non-fiction, and provides review excerpts and over 100,000 full text reviews.
• Book Review Digest Retrospective: 1905-1982 This link opens in a new window Nearly eight decades of Book Review Digest, Book Review Digest Retrospective provides excerpts from, and citations to, reviews of adult and juvenile fiction and non-fiction.
• Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD) This link opens in a new window Search articles and reviews on children's literature.
• Project Muse This link opens in a new window Search scholarly articles and reviews on children's literature.

Reviews - Journals & Print Sources

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• Last Updated: Sep 25, 2023 8:33 AM
• URL: https://libguides.sjsu.edu/childrenslit

• Research Guides
• Education Research Guide

Education Research Guide:READ 3380

• Background Info
• Online Books for Children and YA
• Using Google to Find Articles
• Literature Reviews
• Government & Statistic Resources
• Reading Levels
• Videos & Multimedia
• Citation Management
• Test Prep for Certification
• Open Educational Resources (OER) for Education

Evaluate this session

• Library Instruction Evaluation Survey

How do you find books?

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Book Reviews

The book review resources below are what we discussed in class. For a more complete list of resources, visit:

• Book Review Resources

Book Review Journals

• The Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books A subscription only journal published by John's Hopkins. One of the nation's leading children's book review journals for teachers and librarians. Search: Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
• School Library Journal The most complete provider of news, information and reviews for librarians and media specialists who serve children and young adults in school and public libraries.

Book Review Websites

• Kirkus Children's Book Reviews Reviews of children's books from Kirkus Reviews, an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus.
• Call: 361-825-2340
• Text: 361-726-4986
• Visit the Circulation Desk in Bell Library

Finding Juvenile Books

• Accelerated Reader Bookfinder Searching for books with a corresponding Renaissance Accelerated Reader 360® quiz is easy with Accelerated Reader Bookfinder®. Students, teachers, parents, and librarians can search in English or Spanish using criteria such as ATOS book level or a Lexile™ measure, interest level, title, author, fiction/nonfiction, subject, award-winners, state lists, CCSS Exemplars, and more.

Free Digital Resources for Children's Books

Looking for books that are appropriate for children? Here's a list of resources freely available to you through various organizations (many which are nonprofit).  

For more online books, visit:

• Oxford Owl Oxford Owl is an award-winning website from Oxford University Press, created to support children’s learning both at home and at school. After registering (which is free), you gain free access to many of Oxford’s ebooks for free, along with other guides and games to help children develop their reading skills.
• Unite for Literacy Ease of use, appealing layout, and you can search by categories.

BONUS: Virtual Storytime

• Storyline Online The children’s literacy website Storyline Online is run by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. This site streams featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations. Readers include Viola Davis, Chris Pine, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Costner, Annette Bening, James Earl Jones, Betty White and dozens more. Each book includes supplemental curriculum developed by a credentialed elementary educator, aiming to strengthen comprehension and verbal and written skills for English-language learners.
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• URL: https://guides.library.tamucc.edu/COEHD

American Book Review

T he American Book Review is an award-winning, internationally distributed publication specializing in reviews of published works of fiction, poetry, and literary and cultural criticism from small, regional, university, ethnic, avant-garde, and women’s presses. For over forty years, ABR has been a staple of the literary world.

Founded in 1977 by novelist Ronald Sukenick, ABR was designed to offer a unique model for reviewing books, one edited by writers themselves in an effort to reproduce the interest they took in their peers’ works of fiction, poetry, and criticism. This collective approach remained intact while responsibility for producing the journal was assumed by the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1987, by Illinois State University from 1995 to 2006, and by the University of Houston-Victoria from 2007 to 2021. ABR is now edited at the University of Houston-Victoria and published by University of Nebraska Press .

Dr. Jeffrey R. Di Leo is the current Editor-in-Chief .  Subscriptions are available through the University of Nebraska Press .

The American Book Review is an award-winning, internationally distributed publication specializing in reviews of published works of fiction, poetry, and literary and cultural criticism from small, regional, university, ethnic, avant-garde, and women’s presses. For over forty years, ABR has been a staple of the literary world.

Founded in 1977 by novelist Ronald Sukenick, ABR was designed to offer a unique model for reviewing books, one edited by writers themselves in an effort to reproduce the interest they took in their peers’ works of fiction, poetry, and criticism. This collective approach remained intact while responsibility for producing the journal was assumed by the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1987, by Illinois State University from 1995 to 2006, and by the University of Houston-Victoria from 2007 to 2021.

Dr. Jeffrey R. Di Leo is the current Editor-in-Chief . ABR is published by the University of Nebraska Press .  Subscriptions are available through the University of Nebraska Press .

Editor: Jeffrey R. Di Leo

Managing Editor:  Jake Snyder

Senior Editor: Jeffrey A. Sartain

Editorial Associate: Orlando Di Leo

Associate Editors: Frederick Luis Aldama, Charles Alexander, Mark Amerika, R.M. Berry, Christine Hume, Charles Johnson, Anthony Madrid, Gina M. MacKenzie, Cris Mazza, E. Ethelbert Miller, Christina Milletti, Doug Nufer, Brian O’Keeffe, Renee Shea, Robert T. Tally Jr., John Tytell, Barry Wallenstein, Tom Williams

Contributing Editors: Ron Arias, Michael Bérubé, Rosellen Brown, Andrei Codrescu, Rikki Ducornet, Dagoberto Gilb, C.S Giscombe, Joseph D. Haske, Russell Hoover, Clarence Major, Carole Maso, Larry McCaffery, Michael McClure, Joyce Carol Oates, Daniel T. O’Hara, Marjorie Perloff, Robert Peters, Corinne Robins, Charles Russell, Paul Schiavo, Barry Seiler, Charles Simic, Bruce Sterling, Regina Weinreich

Past Publishers: Ronald Sukenick, Charles B. Harris

The American Book Review is an award-winning, internationally distributed publication specializing in reviews of published works of fiction, poetry, and literary and cultural criticism from small, regional, university, and avant-garde presses. For over forty years, ABR has been a staple of the literary world.

Latest Issues

Reading Series

Phone: (361) 248-8245

Email: [email protected]

ABR is published by the University of Nebraska Press .

© Copyright 2021 - 2024  |   American Book Review   |   All Rights Reserved

___ Reviews, American book review magazine founded in 1933 Crossword Clue

___ reviews, american book review magazine founded in 1933 answer is: kirkus.

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Independent Book Review

A Celebration of Indie Press and Self-Published Books

30+ Top-Notch Book Review Sites for Readers & Writers

Here are 30+ top-notch book review sites for booksellers, librarians, readers, & writers. Learn more about 30 bookish companies helping spread the word about the best & latest books.

Top-Notch Book Review Sites for Readers & Writers

Book reviews are for all of us.

Readers need to know whether books with the best covers are worth the time they’re about to put into it. They find it helpful (and fun!) to check out reviews after reading the books, too, so they can see what other real-life humans had to say about it.

Authors & publishers need to get book reviews to build buzz and credibility for their product. Librarians & booksellers need to hear from trusted sources that the book they are about to buy for their collection has the capability to get picked up & to satisfy. 

Book review sites have transformed the book-recommending landscape.

We can write reviews on product pages, on social media apps, and some of us, for publications that have been around since before the internet. Book reviewing has changed. But maybe it also hasn’t.

What kind of book review sites are you looking for? Chances are, this list has you covered.

Here are 30+ book review sites to read, write, and bookmark. 

1. Independent Book Review

Does this logo look familiar? (Hint: You’re sitting on it).

IBR, the website you’re on RIGHT NOW, is all about indie books . There are so many books in the world right now, but if you feel like you keep seeing the same ones recommended over and over, start reading indie!

Independent presses & self-published authors are doing some incredible work right now. IBR reviews books, curates lists, does indie bookstore round-ups, and uses starred reviews & best-of-the-year lists to show which books are going to blow your mind.

2. Book Marks

Lit Hub rules. You already knew this.

But do you know about Book Marks? They’re a branch of the Lit Hub network, and they are an excellent way for booksellers and librarians to get shorter recaps from multiple sources and voices.

Their staff peruses book review sites and shares pull-quotes from them in book lists & more. By reading all of these sites, they can give the book a rating based on the average: “Rave, Positive, Mixed, or Pan.”

My favorite book-buying platform, Bookshop , uses Book Marks’ scale for their books’ ratings, and I love getting access to that.

3. Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly has been around since 1872. By now, they’re a review churning machine. They cover so much of the book industry in so many different ways, reviewing nearly 9,000 books per year and providing publication announcements, agency announcements, industry job listings , bestseller lists, industry stats, a self-publishing partner, and more. 

4. Kirkus Reviews

Another one that’s been around since before the internet! 1933 to be exact. Kirkus is a widely recognized publication that book buyers & librarians follow carefully. I dare you to find a bookstore or library that doesn’t have multiple books with Kirkus Reviews plastered on their front and back covers.

5. Booklist

The American Library Association runs Booklist , a platform dedicated to helping libraries, educators, and booksellers choose books. They’ve got a magazine (since 1905!), book reviews, lists, awards, and one of my favorite bookish podcasts out there: Shelf Care .

6. Library Journal & School Library Journal

As you might be able to guess, Library Journal & School Library Journal focus on librarians too! They review a ton of books, and they write often about library-related news, collection management, technology, programs, and more. If you’re an author hoping to land your book in libraries, these are essential targets.

7. BookPage

You may have seen BookPage in your local library or bookstore. Some shops provide it for free so that patrons can look through it to find which books to buy in-store. Their website is clean and intriguing and always full of the most up-to-date releases and bestsellers.

Speaking of libraries! Have you seen our gifts for librarians ?

8. Foreword

Foreword is such an enthusiastic and dedicated champion of indie books, and they’ve been doing it since the 90s! I love how much attention university presses get here too. Their reviews are well-written & thorough, in both print & digital, and I always find something to speed-purchase once the Foreword Indie winners come out.

9. LoveReading

LoveReading is a top book-recommendation website in the UK. They’ve got starred reviews, lists, staff picks, a LitFest , eBooks, and they even donate 25% of the cover price of their books to schools of your choice. It’s reader-friendly and apparent how much they appreciate the wonder of books. 

10. Washington Independent Review of Books

What’s not to love about The Independent?

Back in 2011, a group of writers & editors were frustrated by newspapers dropping book review sections and decided to do something about it. The Washington Independent Review of Books is quite a lovely something! This nonprofit posts every day: from reviews to interviews to essays and podcasts. They host events too!

11. Book Riot

Try being a reader and not finding something you love on Book Riot. Book lists, podcasts, personalized recommendations, newsletters, book deals—this site is a haven.

It doesn’t post solo book reviews like other sites, but they do share mini-reviews in book lists and talk about reading in unique & passionate ways. The Book Riot Podcast is such a winner too! I love listening to Jeff & Rebecca laugh about the latest in books & reading.

12. Electric Lit

From novel excerpts to original short fiction & poetry, they might not only be a book review site,  but they do offer a lot in the world of book recommendations. Their Recommended Reading lit mag features unique staff picks and short, insightful book reviews.

13. The Millions

The writing in The Millions is something to behold. They are an artful source for all things book reviews & recommendations. They write stunning essays about books & reading and long reviews of new and old books. They’ve got some of my favorite Most Anticip ated lists too.

What are the biggest benefits of reading ? 🧐

14. Bookforum

Did you hear? Bookforum is back ! This book review magazine announced in December 2022 that they were closing, and my heart sank a little bit. This company means so much to the publishing industry and has for 20+ years, so when I saw (last week!) that they are returning, I did more than a few jumps for joy.

Welcome back, Bookforum! Can’t wait to see what you’ve got coming for us in book world coverage.

BOMB is in it for the art. Art, literature, film, music, theater, architecture, and dance. There are reviews and interviews, and the literature section is a real delight. The reviews are like poignant essays, and the author interviews are in-depth and feature some fascinating minds.

16. The Asian Review of Books

The only dedicated pan-Asian book review publication! It’s widely cited and features some of the best in Asian books and art, so booksellers and librarians have a source to trust to stock their collections with high-quality pan-Asian lit.

Have you seen our gifts for book lovers yet?

17. Chicago Review of Books

I love so much of what Chicago Review of Books does. They have a clean & sleek design that features some of the buzziest books as well as plenty of hidden gems from our favorite indie presses. I’m a particularly big fan of the spotlight they put on books in translation .

18. Rain Taxi

I love Rain Taxi ’s style! They champion unique books, publish their own fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, and put a real emphasis on art for their magazine covers . It’s a beautiful print magazine to subscribe to, but they also share free online editions & digital archives. They even run the Rain Taxi Reading Series & Twin Cities Book Festival if you’re a real-lifer in Minnesota!

19. The Rumpus

Oh, The Rumpus ! This mostly volunteer-run online magazine publishes reviews, interviews, essays, fiction, and poetry. The reviews are in-depth and personal and heart-melting, and in addition to the site, they’ve got cool perks like the Poetry Book Club  and Letters in the Mail . The book club is where you get a pre-release book and meet the poet via Slack with other club members at the end of the month, and Letters in the Mail are actual postcards sent in the mail to you twice a month from your favorite authors.

20. Book Reporter

The selection in Book Reporter is carefully curated & enticing: hot new releases, forthcoming books, major presses, & indies. And there are plenty of unique ways to learn about them, like video interviews and monthly lists & picks. It launched in 1996 and is in The Book Report Network, which includes Reading Group Guides , a super useful resource for book clubs.

21. BookTrib .

BookTrib does such a great job of making their site browsable. The different ways you can enjoy what they offer—from book lists to giveaways to ebook deals —are difficult to keep your purchase finger off of.

23. Lit Reactor

Writers & readers—where bookish people meet! LitReactor’s book reviews are in the magazine portion of their website, and they’ve got plenty of them! Reviews, interviews, lists, introspectives, writing tips, and reading discussions. I’ve found some really unique content on Lit Reactor, like this ranking of literary parents . The website is a haven for writers especially, as there are workshops, writing blog posts, and even a forum to participate in.

24. Crime Fiction Lover

Dark alleys. Stray bullets. Hard-boiled detectives. Runaway thrills. If you’re a mystery-thriller reader, you’ve got to know about Crime Fiction Lover. They’ve got a passionate group of readers and writers talking about the best books in the genre and the ones that are soon to come out too.

25. SF Book Reviews

Speculative fiction fans unite! SF Book Reviews has been reviewing sci-fi and fantasy books since 1999, and while they’re a relatively small staff, they publish regularly, feature books of the month, and work wonders for their fantastical community.

26. Historical Novel Society

For all you historical fiction fans out there, the Historical Novel Society has reviewed more than 20,000 books in its twenty years. This one works like a membership for “writers and readers who love exploring the past.” You get a quarterly print magazine as a member, and if you’re a writer, you can join critique groups and ask for book reviews.

27. The Poetry Question

The Poetry Question writes about poetry published by indie presses and indie authors. They are a small passionate team dedicated to showing the world why indie presses continue to be a leading source for award-winning poetry.

28. Goodreads

Did you know that there are over 125 million members on Goodreads? When users review books, they can have conversations with fellow readers and follow reviewers too. If you’re looking for the biggest community, there’s no doubt Goodreads is the one. I like using sites like this because it helps you catalog books, one of my favorite ways to build a strong reading habit . 

29. The Storygraph

A big community of active users that’s Amazon free! Come review books, use half & quarter stars (!), and complete reading challenges. You got this.

29. Bookwyrm

Bookwyrm is small (around 5,000 members at the time of this writing), but doesn’t that sound kind of nice? There are active members and a genuine collective goal in talking books. Grow with it. I think you’ll be comfy here. There are other communities within the Bookwyrm umbrella too, like Bookrastinating .

30. Reedsy Discovery

I hold a special place in my heart for book review sites dedicated to helping writers! I got into this business as a book marketer, and I experienced first-hand, through hundreds of books, how hard it was to get exposure & validation for small press and self-published authors. 

Reedsy Discovery is a branch of Reedsy (the author resource company) that connects authors & reviewers so that people can read free books, sometimes receive tips for it, and authors can get more reviews in the process. Readers can choose from the latest books as well as the ones that are getting the best reviews.

31. Netgalley

Netgalley is a book review site for pre-released books. Reviewers sign up for a free account, request galleys from publishers and indie authors, and get to read them before they’re published so that they can leave reviews for the book, preferably on Amazon, Goodreads, or their blog. They also run Bookish , the editorial arm of Netgalley, which has book recommendations, interviews, and more.

32. Online Book Club

This review site combines a bunch of cool things! The 4-million member community gives me a lot of Goodreads vibes, especially with the Bookshelves app . But Online Book Club is a place for you to get eBook deals and talk about books in reviews and forums.

What are your favorite book review sites to follow? Let us know in the comments!

Thank you for reading “ Top-Notch Book Review Sites for Readers & Writers !” If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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6 comments on “ 30+ top-notch book review sites for readers & writers ”.

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Check out http://www.literaryvault.com for best book reviews and author interviews. The literary Vault is a blog run and owned by a 13-year-old passionate reader who loves to share her passion and recommendations with others.

Thank you for the information!

Book review sites serve as invaluable resources for both readers and writers, offering insightful critiques, recommendations, and discussions on a wide range of literary works. Whether you’re seeking your next captivating read or looking to promote your own book, these platforms provide a wealth of information and opportunities for engagement. https://ghostwritersplanet.com/

I think BookBrowse.com definitely deserves to be on this list!

I have used both Pacific Book Review and Hollywood Book Reviews and both have been amazing! The review was excellent and this is rally helped even increase my book sales. I would highly recommend! https://www.pacificbookreview.com https://www.hollywoodbookreviews.com

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• American Book Review

About this Journal

Founded in 1977, the American Book Review is a nonprofit, internationally distributed publication that appears four times a year. ABR specializes in reviews of frequently neglected published works of fiction, poetry, and literary and cultural criticism from small, regional, university, ethnic, avant-garde, and women's presses. ABR as a literary journal aims to project the sense of engagement that writers themselves feel about what is being published. It is edited and produced by writers for writers and the general public.

published by

Available issues, table of contents, volume 45, 2024.

• Volume 45, Number 2, Summer 2024
• Volume 45, Number 1, Spring 2024

Volume 44, 2023

• Volume 44, Number 4, Winter 2023
• Volume 44, Number 3, Fall 2023
• Volume 44, Number 2, Summer 2023
• Volume 44, Number 1, Spring 2023

Volume 43, 2022

• Volume 43, Number 4, Winter 2022
• Volume 43, Number 3, Fall 2022
• Volume 43, Number 2, Summer 2022
• Volume 43, Number 1, Spring 2022

Volume 42, 2020-2021

• Volume 42, Number 6, September/October 2021
• Volume 42, Number 5, July/August 2021
• Volume 42, Number 4, May/June 2021
• Volume 42, Number 3, March/April 2021
• Volume 42, Number 2, January/February 2021
• Volume 42, Number 1, November/December 2020

Volume 41, 2019-2020

• Volume 41, Number 6, September/October 2020
• Volume 41, Number 5, July/August 2020
• Volume 41, Number 4, May/June 2020
• Volume 41, Number 3, March/April 2020
• Volume 41, Number 2, January/February 2020
• Volume 41, Number 1, November/December 2019

Volume 40, 2018-2019

• Volume 40, Number 6, September/October 2019
• Volume 40, Number 5, July/August 2019
• Volume 40, Number 4, May/June 2019
• Volume 40, Number 3, March/April 2019
• Volume 40, Number 2, January/February 2019
• Volume 40, Number 1, November/December 2018

Volume 39, 2017-2018

• Volume 39, Number 6, September/October 2018
• Volume 39, Number 5, July/August 2018
• Volume 39, Number 4, May/June 2018
• Volume 39, Number 2/3, January/April 2018
• Volume 39, Number 1, November/December 2017

Volume 38, 2016-2017

• Volume 38, Number 6, September/October 2017
• Volume 38, Number 5, July/August 2017
• Volume 38, Number 4, May/June 2017
• Volume 38, Number 3, March/April 2017
• Volume 38, Number 2, January/February 2017
• Volume 38, Number 1, November/December 2016

Volume 37, 2015-2016

• Volume 37, Number 6, September/October 2016
• Volume 37, Number 5, July/August 2016
• Volume 37, Number 4, May/June 2016
• Volume 37, Number 3, March/April 2016
• Volume 37, Number 2, January/February 2016
• Volume 37, Number 1, November/December 2015

Volume 36, 2014-2015

• Volume 36, Number 6, September/October 2015
• Volume 36, Number 5, July/August 2015
• Volume 36, Number 4, May/June 2015
• Volume 36, Number 3, March/April 2015
• Volume 36, Number 2, January/February 2015
• Volume 36, Number 1, November/December 2014

Volume 35, 2013-2014

• Volume 35, Number 6, September/October 2014
• Volume 35, Number 5, July/August 2014
• Volume 35, Number 4, May/June 2014
• Volume 35, Number 3, March/April 2014
• Volume 35, Number 2, January/February 2014
• Volume 35, Number 1, November/December 2013

Volume 34, 2012-2013

• Volume 34, Number 6, September/October 2013
• Volume 34, Number 5, July/August 2013
• Volume 34, Number 4, May/June 2013
• Volume 34, Number 3, March/April 2013
• Volume 34, Number 2, January/February 2013
• Volume 34, Number 1, November/December 2012

Volume 33, 2011-2012

• Volume 33, Number 6, September/October 2012
• Volume 33, Number 5, July/August 2012
• Volume 33, Number 4, May/June 2012
• Volume 33, Number 3, March/April 2012
• Volume 33, Number 2, January/February 2012
• Volume 33, Number 1, November/December 2011

Volume 32, 2010-2011

• Volume 32, Number 6, September/October 2011
• Volume 32, Number 5, July/August 2011
• Volume 32, Number 3, March/April 2011
• Volume 32, Number 2, January/February 2011
• Volume 32, Number 1, November/December 2010

Volume 31, 2009-2010

• Volume 31, Number 6, September/October 2010
• Volume 31, Number 5, July/August 2010
• Volume 31, Number 4, May/June 2010
• Volume 31, Number 3, March/April 2010
• Volume 31, Number 2, January/February 2010
• Volume 31, Number 1, November/December 2009

Volume 30, 2008-2009

• Volume 30, Number 6, September/October 2009
• Volume 30, Number 5, July/August 2009
• Volume 30, Number 4, May/June 2009
• Volume 30, Number 3, March/April 2009
• Volume 30, Number 2, January/February 2009
• Volume 30, Number 1, November/December 2008

Volume 29, 2007-2008

• Volume 29, Number 6, September/October 2008
• Volume 29, Number 5, July/August 2008
• Volume 29, Number 4, May/June 2008
• Volume 29, Number 3, March/April 2008
• Volume 29, Number 2, January/February 2008
• Volume 29, Number 1, November/December 2007

Volume 28, 2006-2007

• Volume 28, Number 6, September/October 2007
• Volume 28, Number 5, July/August 2007
• Volume 28, Number 4, May/June 2007
• Volume 28, Number 3, March/April 2007
• Volume 28, Number 2, January/February 2007
• Volume 28, Number 1, November/December 2006

Volume 27, 2005-2006

• Volume 27, Number 6, September/October 2006
• Volume 27, Number 5, July/August 2006
• Volume 27, Number 4, May/June 2006
• Volume 27, Number 3, March/April 2006
• Volume 27, Number 2, January/February 2006
• Volume 27, Number 1, November/December 2005

Additional Information

Additional materials.

Additional Issue Materials

• Editorial Board -- Volume 41, Number 5, July/August 2020
• Editorial Board -- Volume 41, Number 4, May/June 2020
• Editorial Board -- Volume 41, Number 3, March/April 2020
• Editorial Board -- Volume 41, Number 2, January/February 2020
• Editorial Board -- Volume 41, Number 1, November/December 2019
• Editorial Board -- Volume 40, Number 6, September/October 2019
• Editorial Board -- Volume 40, Number 5, July/August 2019
• Editorial Board -- Volume 40, Number 4, May/June 2019
• Editorial Board -- Volume 40, Number 3, March/April 2019
• Editorial Board -- Volume 40, Number 2, January/February 2019
• Editorial Board -- Volume 40, Number 1, November/December 2018
• Editorial Board -- Volume 39, Number 6, September/October 2018
• Editorial Board -- Volume 39, Number 5, July/August 2018
• Editorial Board -- Volume 39, Number 4, May/June 2018
• Editorial Board -- Volume 39, Number 2/3, January/April 2018
• Editorial Board -- Volume 39, Number 1, November/December 2017
• Editorial Board -- Volume 38, Number 6, September/October 2017
• Editorial Board -- Volume 38, Number 5, July/August 2017
• Editorial Board -- Volume 38, Number 4, May/June 2017
• Editorial Board -- Volume 38, Number 3, March/April 2017
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The Most by Jessica Anthony review – cracks just beneath the surface of an all-American family

What happens when well-behaved middle-aged women suddenly ache to test new waters

The Most is the fourth novel from Maine resident Jessica Anthony, described by literary giant Richard Russo as one of the most inventive writers working today. Witty, provocative, rich with insight and deep with melancholy, it features a ‘normal’ 1950s middle class American family with multiple cracks just below the surface. Though the tale might seem standard, Anthony throws enough unpredictable spokes in the wheel to keep us curious and committed until the end. 

Kathleen Beckett is a mother of two who used to be a tennis champion but gave it all up to be a mother and housewife. Kathleen’s handsome husband Virgil is an insurance salesman, the kind who plays golf with the company partners, goes drinking with the in-crowd, and enjoys the lustful stares his good looks often elicit. He is not beyond having extramarital affairs but has the decency to call a halt when things advance to semi-seriousness, which he considers a sign of familial commitment. 

Kathleen has so far been a success as a wife and mother, her organisational skills and ability to keep their house immaculate much appreciated. She admits she married Virgil “because he was easy” and because he was both risk and conflict averse (and thus the opposite of her own feuding parents). Family life simply slipped into place for both of them, based on a set of assumptions about what other people did and how women fitted into men’s work and play priorities. 

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So when, one day in November 1957, Kathleen goes into the communal garden swimming pool and refuses to get out, Virgil is understandably concerned. 

While Kathleen floats in the water, gazing up at a sky into which the Russians have just sent Sputnik 2, we are filled in on her backstory, the people and passions – as well as the tennis career – that she has given up for marriage. We learn about the family deaths she has endured, the childhood marked by acute loneliness, and the past love affairs she still has pangs for. We also learn about Virgil’s war experiences and his awkward relationship with his father.

It is not a new set-up: the bored housewife ripe for temptation; the dull, rigid, unseeing husband. Indeed, there are shades of Anne Tyler’s Ladder of Years , in which a dissatisfied housewife suddenly walks out on her family. Both consider what happens when well-behaved middle-aged women suddenly ache to test new waters, ones not pre-approved by their husbands or children.

But Anthony gives the ostensibly same old story a brand-new spin. There are surprising reasons for Kathleen’s direct actions, secrets she has not shared with her husband. And Virgil too has made sacrifices and harboured regrets; he is not the cut-and-paste selfish husband he initially seems. The prose sizzles with intelligence and humour and there is great pathos too. Let’s hope those qualities are retained when they make the inevitable movie.

The Most by Jessica Anthony is out now (Transworld, £12.99). You can buy it from  The Big Issue shop  on Bookshop.org, which helps to support The Big Issue and independent bookshops.

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