An Ode to Austin’s Unsung Proletariat
A new novel about workers at an organic grocery store asks us to consider questions of labor and dignity in the Texas capital.
Reviews
Talking is Golden
Stars Judith Ivey and Sheila McCarthy on matters worth discussing in Sarah Polley’s emotive feminist feature, Women Talking.
‘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.
A ‘Love Letter’ To Texas Wildlife
From ocelots to egrets, Deep in the Heart features breathtaking footage of 12 of the state's rarest animals.
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.
In ‘Keeping House,’ the Unseen Is at the Forefront
Austin-based Veronica Ceci makes timely art about those who clean up other people’s messes.
‘Machete’ Carves Out Moments of Tenderness in a Violent Time
Through a variety of poetic forms and a wide range of cultural references, Tomás Q. Morín’s work is meticulously researched and wonderfully intimate.
In ‘Missing in Brooks County,’ The Missing Migrant Crisis Haunts South Texas
The documentary in Falfurrias is sinister and spiritual.
‘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.