Physical and symbolic lines have long divided the island of Hispaniola. On the one side is Haiti, on the other, the Dominican Republic — two vastly different countries that have had a turbulent history. The Dominican Republic, which has a population of about 10 million, has both benefited from and…
Read any good books lately? For lit nerds and wordsmiths, October begins the real countdown to Miami Book Fair International (MBFI), which runs from November 15 through 22. For one week, the Magic City get its Woodstock, its Comic-Con, its World Series, its U.S. Open. Big names like Isabel Allende,…
There are children today entering their teenage years who will never understand what it was like to be an American on the morning of September 11, 2001. Personally, I’ll never forget a coworker who told me, eyes burnt from crying when I arrived at work that morning, oblivious of the…
Born in Bombay, India, Salman Rushdie has made a name for himself over the last few decades in both traditional and nontraditional ways. The traditional: Win the Booker Prize. Get knighted. Non-traditional: Work with U2. Go into hiding after publishing The Satanic Verses and appearing on an Al Qaeda hit…
For the first USpeak Flash Fiction & Poetry Performance Series of the 2015/16 year, students and the community at large are in for a treat. Local writer and new University of Miami Creative Writing faculty member Chantel Acevedo is back after years away, and will read from her new book,…
Miami poet Richard Blanco announced that he will read a poem in honor the reopening of the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba. The inaugural poet made the announcement on his Facebook page. “I’ve had to keep this a secret for months, but it’s finally out: the US Department of State…
“Havana vanities come to dust in Miami. On the August night in 1933 when General Gerardo Machado, then president of Cuba, flew out of Havana into exile, he took with him five revolvers, seven bags of gold, and five friends, still in their pajamas.” -Miami by Joan Didion Many outsiders…
Ever feel like people don’t get you or where you come from? Ever feel like the city you call home doesn’t belong in the U.S., doesn’t belong anywhere? Congratulations: You must be from Miami. The following seven books are about the city you call casa, about the best and worst…
In many respects, Jeanine Capó Crucet’s debut novel, Make Your Home Among Strangers, is a classic coming of age tale. Lizet Ramirez is the daughter of Cuban immigrants, born and raised in Miami, she leaves the proverbial nest to attend Rawlings College, an elite East Coast University. While at Rawlings, Lizet must learn…
For the first time since its inception in 2011, Jai-Alai Magazine is accepting online submissions in short essays, poetry, fiction, translation, and art. New Times spoke with the magazine’s editor José A. Villar-Portela to discuss writing, and why Miami “is a place that’s no place.” New Times: How did you…
Feeling a little blasé about your bookshelf contents? Want something fresh to read but don’t know where to start? Ready to get that new Harper Lee novel, but want something more obscure as well? The following seven book recommendations have a little something for everyone, from families in exile to…
To celebrate the publication of Harper Lee’s second novel, Go Set a Watchman, Books & Books is partnering with the Coral Gables Art Cinema for a free screening of 1962’s To Kill a Mockingbird on Tuesday. Starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch, Horton Foote won an Oscar for his adaptation…
Jeff Lindsay has likely painted weird Florida with finer brushstrokes than nearly any other author. After seven best-selling books about Miami-based serial killer Dexter Morgan, Lindsay is back to say goodbye to his beloved anti-hero. In his latest in the series, Dexter is Dead, Lindsay gives Dexter an ending worthy…
Just like sea levels, Miami’s book culture is on the rise. Ever since the first Miami Book Fair International was held in 1984 (originally dubbed Books by the Bay), the fair has steadily grown into what is today—namely, an eight-day playground for authors, publishers, agents, writers, readers, and everyone in…
If you’re familiar with the New York Times bestseller lists, you’ve likely heard of Meg Cabot. A bestselling author of books for both adults, tweens, and teens, Cabot has a knack for creating addictive series. From the supernatural-inspired stories of The Mediator, to the mysteries surrounding former teen pop star…
No matter how you slice it, Cuba is a complicated topic to breach — especially if you live in Miami. Depending on where you were born, when (if) you came over, and what generation you fall into, the island has always been close, yet seemingly of another world. For all…
On a sweltering summer night in Miami, is there anything better than listening to a discussion about books, small presses, and the history of Jai-Alai? Last Thursday, an eclectic mix of mostly young attendees settled atop plush couches in The Standard Spa, Miami Beach lobby for a lecture given by…
Rejoice, Miami. We’re about to get a hell of a lot more literary starting June 21. For over 15 years, Voices of Our Nation Arts Foundation (VONA) has offered workshops to writers of color, launched community writing programs and events, hosted faculty readings, and more. Originally based out of San…
On Monday night, Books & Books and Temple Judea hosted a discussion between beloved YA writer Judy Blume and WLRN’s editorial director and arts reporter Alicia Zuckerman. There aren’t too many authors that can draw a crowd of die-hard, life-long readers, but Blume—whose books include the childhood classic, Are You…
Summertime means longer daylight hours, no school (for the lucky ones), and plenty of leisurely holiday time. Unlike the lackluster blockbuster season where schlock reigns, these next few months are a time to bask in the literary hits of spring and anticipate stellar new releases chock full of fantasy, romance,…
If you think the Holocaust is a subject better left untouched, then you haven’t read The Book of Aron by Jim Shepard. You should, not just because it’s well crafted, but also because he’s one of our finest (and most overlooked) writers. Currently a professor at Williams College, he’s penned…
Nearly two decades have passed since Chuck Palahniuk published his iconic, anti-materialistic novel Fight Club. Adapted by David Ficher into a 1999 film, the book and movie achieved cult status, fans begged Palahniuk for a sequel. The novel left our unnamed narrator in a mental hospital, shot in the face by his…
