Kate Cray

The Books Briefing: Humor, Mined From the Absurd

Times are dark. Laughter can provide a respite: Your weekly guide to the best in books

• Kate Cray
• January 15, 2021

The Books Briefing: The Propulsive Power of Desire

Lustful monologues, youthful longings, and “unruly appetites”: Your weekly guide to the best in books

• Kate Cray
• January 1, 2021

The Books Briefing: What Stories About Immigration Reveal About America

The beauty of fragmented, incomplete narratives: Your weekly guide to the best in books

• Kate Cray
• December 11, 2020

The Books Briefing: How to Tell the Story of a Family

Feuding brothers, possessive aunts, and honest discussions: Your weekly guide to the best in books

• Kate Cray
• November 27, 2020

The Books Briefing: Read to Find Focus, Even During a Pandemic

Suggestions for a wandering mind: Your weekly guide to the best in books

• Kate Cray
• November 13, 2020

Is This the End of the Election Night Watch Party?

Americans have gathered during significant political moments since the mid-1800s. But with so much at stake this year, many will remain anxious and alone at home.

• Kate Cray
• November 3, 2020

The Books Briefing: When Poets Write Novels

A background in poetry can enrich the process of writing fiction: Your weekly guide to the best in books

• Kate Cray
• October 30, 2020

The Books Briefing: How Horror Stories Empower Kids

Gruesome novels and chilling tales about ghoulish monsters and other dangers: Your weekly guide to the best in books

• Kate Cray
• October 23, 2020

How Do You Find a Home for a Foster Child at a Time Like This?

A system designed to respond to emergencies can never completely pause, even during a global pandemic.

• Kate Cray
• October 11, 2020

The Books Briefing: The Writers Whom History Forgot

Beloved but overlooked works from the past provide a rich source of reading material: Your weekly guide to the best in books

• Kate Cray
• October 9, 2020

The Books Briefing: The Lives Behind the Legal Decisions

What Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s fandom knew: Your weekly guide to the best in books

• Kate Cray
• September 25, 2020

The Books Briefing: How to Remake America

A look at the country's profound fractures and what it might take to mend them: Your weekly guide to the best in books

• Kate Cray
• September 18, 2020

The Books Briefing: The Legacy of a Political Speech

Reflecting on the art of speechwriting during the Democratic National Convention: Your weekly guide to the best in books

• Kate Cray
• August 21, 2020

The Books Briefing: The Writers Who Don’t Work Alone

Writing is sometimes seen as a solitary pursuit, but co-authors, editors, and friends enrich the process: Your weekly guide to the best in books

• Kate Cray
• August 7, 2020

The Books Briefing: What Is a Political Memoir For?

What we can learn from books by politicians and their family members: Your weekly guide to the best in books

• Kate Cray
• July 24, 2020

The Books Briefing: What to Read If You’re Looking for Something to Read

An omnibus reading list, from classic novels to poems to short stories: Your weekly guide to the best in books

• Shan Wang, Kate Cray, Rosa Inocencio Smith, and Myles Poydras
• July 17, 2020

The Books Briefing: How to Read a Classic Today

To Kill a Mockingbird’s legacy is far from the only one readers must reckon with: Your weekly guide to the best in books

• Kate Cray
• July 10, 2020

The Books Briefing: How to Tell a Story About Florida

Examining some of Florida’s many narratives more carefully can lead to a richer understanding of the state, the country, and the nature of storytelling itself.

• Kate Cray
• June 26, 2020

Something We Can All Agree On? Corporate Buzzwords Are the Worst.

After publishing an article on office jargon, we asked you for your most loathed examples.

• Kate Cray
• May 5, 2020

How the Coronavirus Is Influencing Children’s Play

Play is children’s language, and parents shouldn’t be concerned if the pandemic has been showing up in kids’ games lately.

• Kate Cray
• April 1, 2020