JEFF IN VENICE, DEATH IN VARANASI

A New York Times Notable Book A Best Book of the Year: The Economist, The New Yorker, San Francisco Chronicle, Slate.com, and Time I n Venice, at the Biennale, a jaded, bellini-swigging journalist named Jeff Atman meets a beautiful woman and they embark on a passio nate affair. In Varanasi, an unnamed journalist (who may or may not be Jeff) joins thousands of pilgrims on the banks of the holy Ga nges. He intends to stay for a few days but ends up remaining for months. Their journey--as only the irrepressibly...