Old Lady
Youth Lab
The Reading Room

Hazel Reads Three

Fifty years of reading, and a verdict on every title. Each episode is a themed three: one she'd champion, one that divides the room, and now and then one to skip, respectfully, with somewhere better to go. Hazel reads them so you don't have to read all three.

Episode 16

Cozy, clever, comforting

For the nights you want good company.

  • We Solve MurdersREAD IT
  • Remarkably Bright CreaturesFOR SOME
  • The CliffsSKIP IT
 Episode 15

Nonfiction that reads like a thriller

True, and you won't put it down.

  • The WagerREAD IT
  • Poverty, by AmericaREAD IT
  • The Anxious GenerationFOR SOME
 Episode 14

The debuts everyone bet on

First novels worth the noise.

  • Martyr!READ IT
  • The Ministry of TimeFOR SOME
  • RejectionSKIP IT
 Episode 13

Love, later in life

Not the first time. Often the truer one.

  • Long IslandREAD IT
  • Tom LakeREAD IT
  • The Wedding PeopleFOR SOME
 Episode 12

The American epic

Big country, long memory.

  • The Heaven & Earth Grocery StoreREAD IT
  • North WoodsREAD IT
  • The Covenant of WaterFOR SOME
 Episode 11

Short and devastating

Slim books that leave a mark.

  • The SafekeepREAD IT
  • IntermezzoFOR SOME
  • Creation LakeSKIP IT
 Episode 10

Big families, bigger secrets

Houses full of the unsaid.

  • The Bee StingREAD IT
  • WellnessFOR SOME
  • Hello BeautifulSKIP IT
 Episode 9

Four years back, still standing

The 2022 shelf that earned its keep.

  • Lessons in ChemistryREAD IT
  • TrustREAD IT
  • Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and TomorrowFOR SOME
 Episode 8

Memoirs with a spine

People who had something to survive.

  • PatriotREAD IT
  • KnifeREAD IT
  • Sonny BoyFOR SOME
 Episode 7

For the mystery lovers

Three to keep the light on.

  • The Grey WolfREAD IT
  • All the Colors of the DarkFOR SOME
  • The WaitingSKIP IT
 Episode 6

History, women at the center

The past, told by the ones usually left out.

  • The Frozen RiverREAD IT
  • The Berry PickersFOR SOME
  • The Briar ClubSKIP IT
 Episode 5

The prize winners

The ones the juries got right.

  • OrbitalREAD IT
  • JamesREAD IT
  • Prophet SongFOR SOME
 Episode 4

Midlife, unflinching

Women looking straight at the middle of things.

  • Tell Me EverythingREAD IT
  • All FoursFOR SOME
  • The HusbandsSKIP IT
 Episode 3

The book club won't stop

Three everyone's arguing about at the table.

  • The God of the WoodsREAD IT
  • The WomenFOR SOME
  • The HousemaidSKIP IT
 Episode 2

The Booker's in

The Booker runs all fall. Three of the season's most talked-about novels, and where Hazel lands on each.

  • The DisappearersREAD IT
  • Under the FallsFOR SOME
  • The French IllusionSKIP IT
 Episode 1

New this season

Three new novels. Hazel read them so you don't have to read all three.

  • WhistlerREAD IT
  • FleshFOR SOME
  • The Secret of SecretsSKIP IT

Hazel lives on the page; her circle meets in the Reading Room. Back to the Reading Room