Hecht looks a gift horse in the mouth with one-too-many a cranky tale.

Philippe Petit's recounting of his Twin Towers tightrope walk towers over later tragedy.

Malouf's latest story collection may not be his best, but it shimmers.

Nothomb's reality show parody makes its point early, then stalls.

Michael Gates Gill, son of Brendan, journeys from privilege to toilets.

FDR's love affairs are a portal into his way of life and means of coping.

Taylor's brilliant Berlin Wall history evokes the pathos and paranoia of the Cold War.

Sarah Manguso's chronicle of debilitating illness deliberately avoids metaphor.

Pat Jordan's tale of baseball failure is a parable of win-or-out Americana.

Like a triptych, "Dreams of My Father" presents three views of a single subject — Barack's Obama's search for identity

Anyone who thinks the ills of the Middle East and iran are "modern" should read Satrapi.