Author Archives: karen

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Los Angeles Times includes The Words of Dr. L on list, “Books to Read in May 2025”

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Bethanne Patrick of the Los Angeles Times says: “Bend it like Bender and you get stories that are straight out of “Black Mirror” — sci-fi that’s immediately relevant — yet unlike that bleak series, Bender’s work always includes timeless empathy … Continue reading

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Chicago Review of Books includes The Words of Dr. L on on list: “12 Must-Read Books of May 2025”

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Michael Welch of The Chicago Review of Books says: “National Book Award finalist Bender’s third story collection examines the fundamental relationships that make up a life. Insights pierce depictions of the intrinsic connections of parents and children, family and friends. … Continue reading

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Alta magazine includes The Words of Dr. L on list of new books for May

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The Words of Dr. L is on Alta’s list of books by authors on and of the West; you can see the whole list here.

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Kirkus Reviews included The Words of Dr. L as one of 20 Best Books to read in May

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The Words of Dr. L is listed as one of 20 Best Books to read in May by Kirkus Reviews. You can read the whole list here.

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Book Tour for The Words of Dr. L

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I’ll be reading in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Iowa City for The Words of Dr. L. Info on each reaching here and in the events column.

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“Beautifully crafted stories”–The Words of Dr. L is reviewed in Shelf Awareness

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 “In these beautifully crafted dozen stories, a National Book Award finalist examines the recent past and near future, and the choices human beings make in order to be in community with one another.” You can read the full review in … Continue reading

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The Words of Dr. L is an Editor’s Pick in Kirkus Reviews

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The Words of Dr. L was featured as an Editor’s Pick in Kirkus Reviews, the April 1 issue! Here is the page where it was featured.

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The Words of Dr. L gets great Publishers Weekly Review

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Publisher’s Weekly says about “The Words of Dr. L:” Bender’s impressive latest (after The New Order) explores relationships between friends and family with a mix of speculative and realist tales. The narrator of “The Words of Dr. L” lives in a … Continue reading

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The Words of Dr. L gets a starred Kirkus review!

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“Highly original stories that speak to the challenges of being human in the 21st century.” Love this starred review from Kirkus for The Words of Dr. L. You can read the whole review here.

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My essay, “The Replica Therapy Couch,” appears in The Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association

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A new essay, “The Replica Therapy Couch,” appears in The Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Assocation. Here is a link to the opening.

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Final cover for The Words of Dr. L

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Here is the final cover for The Words of Dr. L, with blurbs from Carolyn Ferrell and Matthew Klam.

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Praise from Matthew Klam for The Words of Dr. L

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Grateful to Matthew Klam for this blurb for The Words of Dr. L: “Karen Bender’s stories deftly explore our current American moment, a troubling one that verges on insanity. Bender is concerned with love, family, and motherhood, and in these … Continue reading

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Praise from Carolyn Ferrell for The Words of Dr. L

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Grateful to Carolyn Ferrell for her blurb for The Words of Dr. L. “Karen Bender’s brilliant new collection of stories is devastating in its human truths yet not without hope. In worlds where nouns are capitalized (Confusion, Separation, Protection) and … Continue reading

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The Words of Dr. L included on “Most Anticipated Books in 2025” list on Lithub

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My third collection, The Words of Dr. L, appears on Lithub’s list of Most Anticipated Books in 2025. You can see the full list here.

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Cover reveal for my third collection, “The Words of Dr. L and Other Stories!”

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I’m excited to share the cover for my third collection, The Words of Dr. L and Other Stories, to be published by Counterpoint Press in May, 2025. Here is a link to see the beautiful cover and find out more … Continue reading

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