Connect with us

Culture

21 Questions About Literature and Life in the 21st Century (So Far)

Published

on

21 Questions About Literature and Life in the 21st Century (So Far)

Literature has always reflected society, and as the Book Review’s survey “100 Best Books of the 21st Century” reveals, many titles on the list are intertwined with major events and trends of the young millennium. With that in mind, this beefy quiz — a group effort by several members of the Book Review’s staff — challenges you to show how closely you’ve been paying attention to books, history and pop culture the past few decades.

All the questions are multiple choice, so tap or click your way down the quiz. And when you get to the end and collect your score, you’ll get a list of links for related reading and other digital ephemera. Are you ready, Player One?

Culture

Do You Know the Notable Buildings Mentioned in These Books?

Published

on

Do You Know the Notable Buildings Mentioned in These Books?

A strong sense of place can deeply influence a story, and in some cases, the setting can even feel like a character itself. This week’s literary geography quiz highlights buildings that inspired authors, often to the point of including the structures in their novels. (Many of the buildings are still open to visitors.) To play, just make your selection in the multiple-choice list and the correct answer will be revealed. At the end of the quiz, you’ll find links to the books if you’d like to do further reading.

Continue Reading

Culture

Video: 250 Years of Jane Austen, in Objects

Published

on

Video: 250 Years of Jane Austen, in Objects

new video loaded: 250 Years of Jane Austen, in Objects

To capture Jane Austen’s brief life and enormous impact, editors at The New York Times Book Review assembled a sampling of the wealth, wonder and weirdness she has brought to our lives.

By Jennifer Harlan, Sadie Stein, Claire Hogan, Laura Salaberry and Edward Vega

December 18, 2025

Continue Reading

Culture

Try This Quiz and See How Much You Know About Jane Austen

Published

on

Try This Quiz and See How Much You Know About Jane Austen

“Window seat with garden view / A perfect nook to read a book / I’m lost in my Jane Austen…” sings Kristin Chenoweth in “The Girl in 14G” — what could be more ideal? Well, perhaps showing off your literary knowledge and getting a perfect score on this week’s super-size Book Review Quiz Bowl honoring the life, work and global influence of Jane Austen, who turns 250 today. In the 12 questions below, tap or click your answers to the questions. And no matter how you do, scroll on to the end, where you’ll find links to free e-book versions of her novels — and more.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending