Books

Book critic John Leonard reviews "The Runaway Soul," the long-awaited first novel from writer Harold Brodkey. (It's published by Farrar Strauss).

Critic-at-Large Maureen Corrigan reviews Greil Marcus' new book, "Dead Elvis: A Chronicle of a Cultural Obsession." (Doubleday)

Book critic John Leonard reviews Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes' new book, "The Campaign."

Book critic John Leonard reviews Martin Amis' new novel, "Time's Arrow." It's the story of a former Nazi doctor who looks back on the horror he committed during the Holocaust.

Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "BAD, or the Dumbing of America," by Paul Fussell. In his book, Fussell decries the decline of quality and taste in everything from movies to education. (It's published by Summit Books).

Book critic John Leonard reviews "The Song Dog," by James McClure, and "Personal Effects," by Marissa Piesman.

World music critic Milo Miles checks out "Samba," writer Alma Guillermoprieto's (geair-mo-prer-toe) new book on Brazil's most famous musical form, and how it pervades Brazilian life and culture.

Book critic John Leonard reviews Jimmy Breslin's new biography of Damon Runyon.

World music critic Milo Miles reviews some current books on African music. His big recommendation is "Sweet Mother: Modern African Music," by Wolfgang Bender (published by University of Chicago Press).

Maureen Corrigan reviews "Low Life," by Luc Sante (pronounced "luke sahn-tay"). The book explores the every-day existence of New Yorkers a century ago.