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At first glance, poet Tess Taylor was skeptical of Brenda Hillman's 17-year, four-book series of poems on the elements. But Taylor fell for the strange and spiraling verses in Seasonal Works with Letters on Fire, which was longlisted for the National Book Award. "I commend you to this lively, defiant, blazing book," she says.

Claudia Roth Pierpont's new Roth Unbound looks at themes in the work of Philip Roth (no relation). All the themes, in every book by the famously prolific writer. Reviewer Heller McAlpin says it's "a dazzling if sometimes exhausting journey" that dutifully addresses Roth's foibles as well as his talent.

Amy Tan's fans will find familiar themes in her new novel, The Valley of Amazement: mothers and daughters, multi-generational secrets, Chinese-American identity. But Jane Ciabattari says the new work, which centers on an American madam in Shanghai and her courtesan daughter, is more sophisticated than Tan's previous novels.

Many readers know and love One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera. But critic Juan Vidal suggests you not overlook Gabriel Garcia Marquez's dynamic, poetic short stories.

Former Secret Service agent Dan Emmett's memoir, Within Arm's Length, chronicles his 21 years on the job. But critic J.P. O'Malley says good government agents don't necessarily make good storytellers.

Comics fans and car buffs alike will enjoy Drawn & Quarterly's new collection of early Gasoline Alley strips, which capture an America at the dawn of its national love affair with the automobile.

The Vacationers is a cinematic family drama set on the picturesque island of Mallorca. While the narrative arc verges on predictable, the book's screwball charms make for a pleasant diversion.

Legendary food writer Ruth Reichl stumbles on her first foray into fiction, with a novel about food, love and redemption that critic Heller McAlpin calls "as predictably sweet as packaged cakes."

Robbins applies his signature verbal gusto to his own life in a new memoir — and reviewer Jason Sheehan says your enjoyment may depend on how much you really want to hear about Robbins himself.

The award-winning author Anthony Doerr's newest novel approaches old history with two unfamiliar perspectives: a blind French girl and a German orphan. He says WWII history is as important as ever.