Books

Book review: ‘Gator Country: Deception, Danger, and Alligators in the Everglades,’ by Rebecca Renner

Renner is a natural storyteller, and she does superlative service to wild Florida

By Jessica Bryce Young

Nov 22, 2023

It takes a cool eye to look at all sides of a situation when you have skin in the game. Nature writer (and erstwhile Orlando Weekly contributor) Rebecca Renner grew up in, and passionately loves, Florida's wildly varied ecology — its "temperate forests, savannas, grasslands, marshes and swamps, pineland scrub and hardwood hammocks, estuaries, rivers, beaches, and springs."

Book review: ‘Gator Country: Deception, Danger, and Alligators in the Everglades,’ by Rebecca Renner

Book review: ‘How to Live: A Memoir-in-Essays,’ by local author Kelle Groom

Groom’s ‘memoir in essays’ could almost be called a memoir in poems, so lyrical is her language

By Jessica Bryce Young
Nov 22, 2023
A new history of punk in South Florida makes a perfect gift for those on the 'naughty' list

Fun in the sun?

By Brian Costello
Nov 17, 2023
‘The Sam Rivers Sessionography’ attempts to contain the entire arc of the renowned reed player’s career

Author Rick Lopez drops a damn doorstop of free jazz history

By Matthew Moyer
Oct 3, 2023
Orlando Pulse survivor Brandon Wolf discusses his new memoir, ‘A Place for Us’

His recent move to D.C. means we’ve ‘gained a new national resource.’

By Ida V. Eskamani and Matthew Moyer
Sep 27, 2023
Release party for Ryan Rivas’ latest book, ‘Lizard People,’ at Zeppelin this weekend

Ready for a book that might make you uncomfortable?

By Jessica Bryce Young
Sep 20, 2023
Orange County Public Library to bring comics titans Neil Gaiman and Art Spiegelman to Orlando

The men behind 'Sandman' and 'Maus' will talk writing (and maybe censorship)

By Matthew Moyer
Jun 29, 2023
Two powerhouse literary talents unite this weekend to talk superheroes, race and gender in Chesya Burke’s new book ‘Hero Me Not’

Mikki Kendall (‘Hood Feminism’) and Chesya Burke meet up at East End Market

By Jessica Bryce Young
Apr 26, 2023
Orlando bookstores celebrate Independent Bookstore Day this weekend

Expect exclusive merch (tote bags, book people!), deals and more

By Reina Nieves
Apr 25, 2023
Orlando Book Festival brings author panels and more next weekend

Plus writing activities and keynote speech from R.L. Stine

By Reina Nieves
Apr 3, 2023
In 'An Autobiography of Whiteness,' author Baynard Woods reckons with and rejects the privilege of his race

By Jessica Bryce Young
Aug 24, 2022
An excerpt from 'Inheritance: An Autobiography of Whiteness'

Chapter 24: Charlottesville

By Baynard Woods
Aug 24, 2022
Ex-Talking Head Chris Frantz returns to the rappinghood with his new memoir

What are words worth?

By Bill Forman
Aug 19, 2020
In the final week of Rollins College's Winter With the Writers, the National Book Foundation seeks to diversify the literary conversation

By Rebecca Renner
Feb 26, 2020
Craig Pittman’s latest Sunshine State saga tracks the resurrection of the Florida panther

By Cathy Salustri
Jan 29, 2020
Fill out your gift list with local Orlando fiction and history

By Jessica Bryce Young
Dec 4, 2019
'Fox & Friends' co-host Brian Kilmeade has a book signing in the Villages

By Solomon Gustavo
Nov 22, 2019
Orlando Story Club will let randomly selected storytellers get audiences 'Spooked!'

By Wavanie Henry
Oct 2, 2019
Colson Whitehead’s latest novel fictionalizes Florida’s infamous Dozier School

House of horrors

By Jessica Bryce Young
Jul 24, 2019
Florida-based books by Florida-born women capture the state in all its ugly beauty

Diving into the wreck

By Jessica Bryce Young
May 1, 2019
Dystopian novel 'Your Robot Dog Will Die' challenges our beliefs about cruelty and kindness

By Cathy Salustri
Jan 9, 2019
All-star Orlando librarian Kristen Arnett talks to Susan Orlean about paper, fire and the allure of circulating materials

'Libraries are essential'

By Kristen Arnett
Oct 24, 2018
Rollins' Winter With the Writers is a monthlong reading series worth binge-attending

Winter's tale

By Ryan Rivas
Jan 31, 2018
Three books that investigate the terrors and pleasures of the corporeal

Body text(s)

By Ryan Rivas
Jan 3, 2018
A handful of music books that would look good under the tree, under your cup of coffee, under the blankets

This is my truth, you tell me yours

By Matthew Moyer
Dec 20, 2017
In Burrow Press' latest, Floridians talk smack about Florida, but woe betide the outlander who does the same

Florida man, c’est nous

By Jessica Bryce Young
Nov 29, 2017