Talking Books: Inside Ron Charles New Chapter
When The Washington Post shuttered its Book World section this winter, Ron Charles was laid off after more than twenty years as a book critic. Now writing on Substack, covering books and literary culture, Charles brings the same signature humor and engaging approach that make his reviews and publishing news accessible.
Charles shares some of his favorite titles, behind-the-scenes insights into his reviewing process, and what readers can expect from his new platform.
Book Club Cookbook: What will readers find on your Substack?
Ron Charles: On Tuesday, I review a new literary novel—recently it was No Way Home by T.C. Boyle. On Friday, I publish literary reviews of topical issues, books adapted for movies or television shows, holiday-related topics, and awards— a grab bag of things that interested me about the publishing world that week. Writing the (Washington Post Book Club) newsletter, I was fairly polemical and honest. I wanted it to be frank and personable—focused on what interested me and how politics and publishing intersect. And I’ve continued to do that here.
BCCB: What has surprised you about the transition?
Ron Charles: I didn’t have weeks of moping around—I just started writing that day. I didn’t know what else to do. I’ve been pleasantly surprised. I can’t be grateful enough for how people have come out to support me—old friends, authors, and readers. That’s been an unspeakable joy. Of course, being laid off so publicly drew a lot of attention. If I had retired, it probably wouldn’t have been noticed. But being swept up with hundreds of journalists—and having it become an international story—was something else.
BCCB: How do you select books to review?
Ron Charles: At the newspaper, if you wrote a review, people would read it. I felt a little freer to choose books regardless of their popularity. Now, readers have to click first. They see the title and the author, then decide whether to read the review. Now that I’m fighting for readers every week on my own, I'm asking: Is this a book people will be interested in?
BCCB: What’s a favorite recent read?
Ron Charles: The Slip by Lucas Schaefer. It's about boxing, which I have absolutely no interest in—but it completely won me over. It’s a big, ambitious novel about race and identity, and it felt incredibly relevant. I took a chance on it, and it ended up being my favorite book of the year.
BCCB: What recently published book would you want to discuss with a book club?
Ron Charles: A debut novel, Woody Brown's Upward Bound. It’s about a young man with autism who communicates through a letterboard. It’s incredibly moving and takes you to places most of us have never been. It’s based on his life but reads like fiction. When I chose it, nobody had heard of it—but later it was picked by a major celebrity book club.
BCCB: Can you share some other new or forthcoming titles you like?
Ron Charles: Elizabeth Strout’s new book, The Things We Never Say, is wonderful, as is Tom Perrotta’s Ghost Town. And Maria Semple's rom-com Go Gentle is also very charming.
BCCB: Are there genres that have surprised you in their popularity?
Ron Charles: Romantasy. I haven’t been able to get into it yet—mostly because of time—but I want to see what everyone’s talking about. The readership seems to be mostly younger women, but it’s starting to broaden. A lot of the books are in series, and are longer, and I’m late—I need to jump in at the beginning.
BCCB: What causes a book to break out?
Ron Charles: If I knew that, I’d be a billionaire. It’s lightning in a bottle—it’s not really discernible. Think of A Gentleman in Moscow. A wonderful, charming book—but it started very slowly and stayed on the bestseller list for more than two years. And yet it just kept selling and selling.
BCCB: Is there an author you’ve particularly enjoyed hearing speak?
Ron Charles: Your favorite author isn’t always great in person. But some really are. Ann Patchett is wonderful both in print and in person. And Susan Orlean is fantastic. She absolutely possesses a room.
BCCB: How often do you put down a book?
Ron Charles: Rarely—maybe once a year. By the time I realize a book isn’t something I want to review, I’ve already invested a lot of time. I only have a few days each week, so I have to think: this book has already taken two of those days—am I really going to start another with the one day left? So most of the time, I keep going—sometimes reluctantly.
BCCB: Have you participated in a book club, and if so, what types of books provoke interesting book club discussions?
Ron Charles: Yes. The books we all loved didn’t always lead to the best discussions. Once everyone agrees, there’s not much to say. One of our best discussions was about The Bridges of Madison County, which we didn’t think was very good—but it sparked a great conversation about relationships, adultery, and even the photographs in the book. Sometimes, the most divisive books make for the best discussions.
BCCB: Where do you turn to learn about new books?
Ron Charles: I read Publishers Weekly and Kirkus—they’re very reliable. I also love The Guardian’s book section.