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Christine Ro

Christine writes about books for Literary Hub, VICE, and the Ploughshares blog. She occasionally writes about other topics, because someone once told her (although it seemed implausible) that there’s life outside of books. Blog: https://www.christinero.com

The Ultimate Social-Distancing Relationship in Fiction

Taking a look at one fascinating example of social distancing relationships with Helen Schulman’s 2018 novel COME WITH ME.

Which Version of THE PLAGUE Is More Relevant to COVID-19?

Camus's THE PLAGUE and Kevin Chong's retelling touch on grimly familiar aspects of a pandemic--here's how each book resonates with our current reality.

Contemporary Censorship in New Zealand

The long, ongoing tradition of highly organized censorship in New Zealand sparks interesting questions around responsibility, taste, and expression.

50 Must-Read Comics about Friendship

Graphic novels/comics about friendship, whether that's with animals, classmates, colleagues, superheroes, ex-lovers, or ordinary flawed adults.

4 Moving Books About Caring for Aging Relatives

From Japan, India, the US and South Korea, here are a few books that explore the experiences of caring for aging relatives.

The Best Online Columns About North American English

Here are a few fascinating internet series, columns, and blogs about the North American English language (from American and Canadian perspectives).

5 Crime Novels Where the Crime Is Beside the Point

Maybe it's mood, or debate, or wit--each of these crime novels focuses not so much on the crime, but on other themes and aspects of storytelling.

Searing Literary Explorations About Racial Stereotypes

Language is the building block of stereotyping. These books and quotes dig into the ways racial stereotypes are baked into our every day vernacular.

6 Comics About Mental Illness

Fictional and autobiographical comics that illustrate how it feels to live with a mental illness.

7 Ways Libraries Are Combatting the Opioid Crisis

Anti-opioid programming is important for inclusion, awareness, and even life-saving. Here are 7 ways libraries are combatting the opioid crisis.