American Book Review

American Book Review is an American literary journal devoted to reviewing books and discussing literary culture, with a particular emphasis on works that receive limited attention from larger review outlets. Its coverage has traditionally included fiction, poetry, and literary or cultural criticism published by small, regional, university, ethnic, avant-garde, and women's presses. The journal therefore occupies a position between a general literary review and a specialist forum for experimental, independent, and underrepresented writing. The publication was founded in 1977 by novelist Ronald Sukenick. The founding context was tied to a perceived gap in mainstream reviewing: writers associated with experimental literature were, according to accounts connected with the journal's early history, increasingly neglected by major newspapers and review venues. Sukenick and writer Raymond Federman helped finance the journal's beginnings. The word “American” was intended to signal broad coverage of writing from across the United States rather than a concentration on the New York publishing world. American Book Review has operated through several university settings during its history. It was associated with the University of Colorado at Boulder in the late 1980s, moved to Illinois State University in 1995, and transferred to the University of Houston–Victoria in 2006. Its editorial and production arrangements have consequently been linked to academic literary networks as well as to independent and experimental writing communities. Rochelle Ratner served as a longtime executive editor, helping sustain the journal through successive institutional transitions. For many years, the journal also operated the UHV/ABR Reading Series in Victoria, Texas. The series brought more than 120 writers and other speakers to the University of Houston–Victoria campus. Visiting authors read from recent work, took part in discussions with university faculty and staff, and made signed books available to audiences. This program extended the journal's role beyond print reviewing by creating a recurring public forum for literary exchange. American Book Review was initially issued as a bimonthly tabloid-style publication. Beginning with volume 43, identified with Winter 2022, it adopted a redesigned bound quarterly format. The change represented a substantial presentation and frequency adjustment while preserving the journal's editorial focus. Earlier issues were also brought into digital scholarly distribution: in 2009, an agreement involving Johns Hopkins University Press made archival issues available through Project MUSE. The journal is edited at Texas A&M University–Victoria and published and distributed by the University of Nebraska Press. Its editorial staff includes Jeffrey R. Di Leo as editor-in-chief and Jake Snyder as managing editor. In 2024, the Council of Editors of Learned Journals presented American Book Review with the Phoenix Award for Significant Editorial Achievement, recognizing its contribution to literary and scholarly editing. The publication remains an active review journal whose identity is built around discovery, critical attention, and advocacy for books and writers outside the most heavily reviewed parts of the commercial publishing system.

American Book Review began in 1977, founded by novelist Ronald Sukenick in response to what its early advocates saw as inadequate mainstream attention to experimental and otherwise neglected writers. Raymond Federman later described the founding purpose as creating a place to review books that established outlets were ignoring. Sukenick and Federman helped fund the first phase of the journal. The publication's name expressed an intention to survey writing from across the United States rather than reproduce a New York-centered view of American publishing. The journal developed as a general literary review with a distinctive commitment to fiction, poetry, and literary or cultural criticism from smaller and less commercially prominent presses. Its scope has included regional, university, ethnic, avant-garde, and women's publishing houses. This editorial orientation made American Book Review both a reviewing venue and an institutional support structure for writers and publishers operating outside the most visible commercial channels. By 1987, the journal was operating from the University of Colorado at Boulder. In 1995, publication moved to Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Accounts of the period describe the Illinois State setting as part of a broader literary and experimental-publishing network. The journal was subsequently relocated to the University of Houston–Victoria in 2006. Rochelle Ratner was associated with the publication for many years as executive editor, while later editorial leadership included Jeffrey R. Di Leo and Jake Snyder. The University of Houston–Victoria period also supported the UHV/ABR Reading Series. Over many years, the program brought more than 120 speakers to Victoria, Texas. Nationally recognized writers made extended visits to the campus, read from recent work, met in discussion with university faculty and staff, and offered signed books to attendees. The series complemented the journal's printed reviews by making literary conversation a public and educational activity. Digital access became an important part of the journal's distribution history. In 2009, American Book Review entered an arrangement with Johns Hopkins University Press that enabled past issues to be accessed online through Project MUSE. This connected the journal's archive with a major scholarly information platform while retaining its identity as a literary review publication. The journal was originally produced as a bimonthly tabloid. With volume 43, beginning in Winter 2022, it adopted a redesigned bound quarterly format. The change altered the physical presentation and publication rhythm, but the journal continued to focus on critical writing about books that may be overlooked by larger review outlets. American Book Review is now edited at Texas A&M University–Victoria and published and distributed by the University of Nebraska Press. In 2024, the Council of Editors of Learned Journals awarded the publication its Phoenix Award for Significant Editorial Achievement. The recognition reflected the journal's continuing editorial contribution rather than a change in ownership or corporate structure. American Book Review remains an active literary and academic publication whose principal significance lies in its long-running support for experimental, independent, regional, and underrepresented literary work.

• 2024

  Phoenix Award for Significant Editorial Achievement

  [1]American Book Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  The Council of Editors of Learned Journals presented American Book Review with the Phoenix Award for Significant Editorial Achievement.

• 2022

  Launch of redesigned bound quarterly format

  [1]American Book Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  Beginning with volume 43, the journal changed from its traditional bimonthly tabloid format to a redesigned bound quarterly.

• 2009

  Archival issues become available through Project MUSE

  [1]American Book Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  An agreement with Johns Hopkins University Press enabled online access to past issues through Project MUSE.

• 2006

  Move to the University of Houston–Victoria

  [1]American Book Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  The publication moved to the University of Houston–Victoria, where it was also associated with a public reading series.

• 1995

  Move to Illinois State University

  [1]American Book Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  American Book Review moved its institutional base to Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois.

• 1987

  Publication operates from the University of Colorado at Boulder

  [1]American Book Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  The journal was operating from the University of Colorado at Boulder during this period.

• 1977

  American Book Review is founded

  [1]American Book Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  Ronald Sukenick founded the journal to provide reviewing space for experimental and overlooked writers and books.

An independent-minded literary review with an academic affiliation, positioned as an advocate for overlooked, experimental, regional, independent, and underrepresented books and presses.

• Literary journal · 1977

  American Book Review

  The core publication is a literary review journal covering fiction, poetry, and literary and cultural criticism. It is especially associated with books from small, regional, university, ethnic, avant-garde, and women's presses, and has historically provided attention to experimental or otherwise underreviewed writing. The journal began as a bimonthly tabloid and adopted a redesigned bound quarterly format beginning with volume 43 in Winter 2022.

• Literary events

  UHV/ABR Reading Series

  A long-running reading and discussion program associated with the University of Houston–Victoria and American Book Review. It hosted more than 120 speakers in Victoria, Texas, including nationally recognized writers who read from recent work, participated in campus discussions, and offered signed books for purchase.

• UHV/ABR Reading Series

  Victoria, Texas · United States

  American Book Review used its association with the University of Houston–Victoria to organize a recurring public literary program featuring visiting writers, readings, campus conversations, and book signings.

  Outcome. The series hosted more than 120 speakers and expanded the journal's role from a print review outlet into a community and university literary forum.

  Source

• 2022

  Redesign and shift to quarterly publicationGeneration change

  Background

  American Book Review had traditionally appeared as a bimonthly tabloid-style journal.

  Action taken

  Beginning with volume 43 in Winter 2022, the journal adopted a redesigned bound format and a quarterly publication schedule.

  Aftermath

  The change modernized the journal's physical presentation and frequency while retaining its established editorial mission.

  Source

• 2024

  American Book Review receives the Phoenix Award for Significant Editorial Achievement[1]American Book Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Council of Editors of Learned Journals honored American Book Review with its Phoenix Award for Significant Editorial Achievement.

• 2022

  American Book Review changes to a bound quarterly format[1]American Book Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  Beginning with volume 43, associated with Winter 2022, the journal introduced a redesigned bound quarterly format after having historically appeared as a bimonthly tabloid-style publication.

1. 1American Book Reviewen.wikipedia.org