‘The Search Committee’ Is a Subtle Rebuke of the Border Literary Canon
José Skinner’s fast-paced satire delivers sharp insights gleaned from years lived in Mexico and the Rio Grande Valley.
book reviews
A Brief History of Junk Science and Bad Forensics
“Texas has a long history with the use of unreliable evidence. [It also has made] unique efforts to address that searing history.”
‘The Fishermen and the Dragon’ Uncovers Racist Conflict in Galveston Bay History
A new nonfiction book reveals dark details of a clash between white and Vietnamese shrimpers, corporate polluters, and the KKK in Texas.
Ann Richards’ Legacy Is a Light for Dark Times
The "One Ann Only," a new collection of photographs and quotes, captures the unforgettable singularity of Texas’ last Democratic governor.
Heroin, Cornell, Prison, and Journalism
In ‘Corrections in Ink,’ star criminal justice reporter Keri Blakinger skillfully tells the story of her own unusual life.
The Observer Recommends 10 Texas Books of 2021
From correcting the record on racism and Texas history, to queer love on the border, to the #MeToo movement in federal courts, we rounded up some of our favorite books this year.
‘On the Porch’ Celebrates Terlingua and Its Residents
Deep in a mountainous landscape, West Texas-born musician W. Chase Peeler stumbles upon a gold mine of music makers who prefer life off the grid.
One Hundred Years Ago, A Flood Reshaped San Antonio. A New Book Shows How Little Has Changed.
Char Miller’s 'West Side Rising’ delves into the man-made side of the 1921 flood.
A Vampire Book That Does Not Suck
Written in the style of an oral history, Raymond A. Villareal’s novel quaffs greedily from the arteries of its literary antecedents.
‘The Red Caddy’ Is Charles Bowden’s Pithy, Witty Posthumous Tribute to Edward Abbey
Bowden and Abbey were both fearless, larger-than-life types with a taste for tequila, an eye for women and a big problem with authority.