The lineup of media to be released for the rest of the year is rolling out. From “Barbie” and “Super Mario” to “The Mandalorian” and a new Zelda game, people are talking about the releases...

“Babel” by R.F. Kuang was one of my most anticipated reads of this year. It promised everything I love in a book: magic systems, a poignant narrative, diverse characters, a rich academic setting and...