Book Review | ‘White River Crossing’ by Ian McGuire
A page-turning tale about a perilous expedition for gold in the sub-arctic Canadian wilderness of 1766.
Staff Writer
40 articles
A page-turning tale about a perilous expedition for gold in the sub-arctic Canadian wilderness of 1766.
By David Starkey ·
An Irish historical novel and hymn to the importance of natural spaces, from the author of ‘Hamnet’.
By David Starkey ·
A lavish monograph retraces the 60-year career of one of the leading artists of contemporary painting.
By David Starkey ·
A meditation on what’s lost and what endures.
By David Starkey ·
Author cranks up the volume with an ode to random music.
By David Starkey ·
Author Eleni Sikelianos discusses her new book at Santa Barbara Museum of Art on May 21.
By David Starkey ·
Series of notebooks is "a complete gem."
By David Starkey ·
A stellar collection of micro-memoirs from a gifted observer.
By David Starkey ·
Ordinary people making poor choices are a running theme in this award-winning short story collection.
By David Starkey ·
America was troubled — and trouble — from the very start.
By David Starkey ·
Literary morsels from more than 100 Santa Barbara–area poets are featured in 'A Feast for Santa Barbara: Poets Celebrate Food & Drink,' edited by George Yatchisin, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate.
By David Starkey ·
Dialogue between paintings and poets sparked collaboration.
By David Starkey ·
A thought-provoking look at three centuries of Italy’s artists.
By David Starkey ·
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of one of Bruce Springsteen’s most iconic albums.
By David Starkey ·
Short story collection from lauded Turkish writer shines.
By David Starkey ·
The California Review of Books’s team shares their picks for the best books of the year.
By David Starkey ·
Santa Barbara Poet Laureate David Starkey (2009-2011) shares his favorite poetry books of 2025.
By David Starkey ·
A collection of stories that stands with the author’s finest work.
By David Starkey ·
Acclaimed poet Dana Gioia talks about words and music, with an upcoming visit to UCSB.
By David Starkey ·
Spending some prime time with the late John Prine.
By David Starkey ·
A significant literary historical document, that’s also a fun read.
By David Starkey ·
Brooks latest is a beautifully written memoir about the loss of a spouse.
By David Starkey ·
A charmingly funny book length comic for adults, ‘Insectopolis’ gives insects a platform to tell their stories.
By David Starkey ·
An exploration of the mystery of how a poor young man inspired a religion that reshaped the world.
By David Starkey ·
From Pulitzer Prize winner Hiltzik, a new history of California that’s not always flattering.
By David Starkey ·
Humble, discarded objects form a portrait of America assembled from its roadways and sidewalks, an archaeology of dispossession.
By David Starkey ·
A lively and pertinent correspondence from two writers.
By David Starkey ·
A poet even in her personal missives, this new collection is a research opus the rest of us can enjoy.
By David Starkey ·
Booker-nominated novelist captures the elusive nature of our strongest emotions, in prose.
By David Starkey ·
Michael Seabaugh talks about his latest book, “Gwendolyn & Eddie.”
By David Starkey ·
The illustrated notebooks of a Nobel Prize winner.
By David Starkey ·
An exploration of the trials and joys of gender transition.
By David Starkey ·
One man’s experiences living in Malta, interspersed with personal narrative.
By David Starkey ·
A compelling and insightful read about the New York art world from an artist’s perspective.
By David Starkey ·
Living literature disguised as art criticism.
By David Starkey ·
Here are 31 single author volumes of poetry that our reviewer recommends.
By David Starkey ·
An exploration of the process of creation from multiple angles.
By David Starkey ·
Complex characters populate the Pulitzer Prize–winning author’s latest novel.
By David Starkey ·
Her newest novel takes us back into the world of Strout’s beloved characters, full of complexities and quirks.
By David Starkey ·
Santa Barbara–based filmmaker Andrew Davis discusses his new novel, “Disturbing the Bones.”
By David Starkey ·