Tara Cheesman

Tara Cheesman reads books. Sometimes she writes about the books she reads. It's all a bit arbitrary. Most of this reading and writing happens in a small brick house in the Pennsylvania city where she lives with her husband, two dogs and an ever-expanding library of books translated from languages she doesn’t speak or understand. She's currently considering getting a tortoise, because tortoises seem like good company. When not reading, writing or tending to her extensive collection of wooden pencils, Tara spends her time exploring cities in search of bookshops and art exhibits. She was a panelist at the 2015 PEN World Voices Festival and is a member of the National Book Critics Circle. Since 2009 she’s written the blog BookSexy Review. You can find her on Twitter @BookSexyReview. (Please feel free to tweet her your opinions on both books and pencils).

The Spanish Civil War: Required Reading for a Political Battle Royale

Must-read fiction and nonfiction for those who want to know more about the Spanish Civil War.

The Mitford Sisters: Their World and Ours

Books by and about the glamorous, controversial, and often politically detestable Mitford sisters.

If You Love the Book, Do You Really Care What Got Lost In Translation?

If you read a book and love it, does it matter if the translator got some of it wrong?

Interview: Imbolo Mbue, Author of BEHOLD THE DREAMERS

We chat with Imbolo Mbue, author of the latest Oprah Book Club Pick BEHOLD THE DREAMERS

5 Works in Translation You Might Have Missed from the First Half of 2017

These 5 excellent works in translation are worth checking out if you missed them.

How Cities Get Made: 5 Books On Cities & Urban Planning

Books on how cities get made.

Riot Round Up: Best Books We Read in May

Book Riot contributors and editors tell you about their favorite books they read in May (old and new releases)!

Exploring Japan Through 6 Books

Explore Japan through these six books, some of which are in translation.

2017 PEN America Festival & Why It Should Matter If the President Reads

On the importance of words to the American experiment, and why we need a President who cares about them.

4 French Feminist Writers Celebrating Women

Four books from French writers, all celebrating the life of women.