Category Archives: literary fiction
All Things Bright and Strange – James Markert
I’m not going to try to knock out a synopsis of this book. There’s a lot, and it’s both complicated and very simple; there are holes in the plot, and predictability, but also genuine creepy horror elements and interesting characterization. … Continue reading
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Tagged All Things Bright and Strange, James Markert, NetGalley
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Pride and Prometheus – John Kessel
I haven’t posted here since November?? Oops. I don’t really have any excuses (life, the universe, and everything)… and I’ll have to try to do better. Or Netgalley will boot me. Speaking of which: I have to give a lot … Continue reading
Beartown – Fredrik Backman
This book wrecked me. It kept me up until three in the morning, and though I dreaded picking it up again the next day I did – thank God I started this on a Saturday – and I finished it … Continue reading
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Tagged Beartown, Bjornstad, fiction, Fredrik Backman, NetGalley
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Lockdown – Laurie R. King
In my eyes, Laurie R. King can do no wrong. She has been on my Indispensables List for over two decades, and she is absolutely one of those writers whom I will follow anywhere. I doubt I would normally read … Continue reading
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Tagged Laurie R. King, Lockdown, NetGalley, school shooting
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The Night Strangers – Chris Bohjalian, Alison Fraser, Mark Bramhall
Lesson learned: don’t read reviews before reading the book. I know this; I just sort of forget sometimes. Don’t do that. There’s a lot of negativity out there about this book – and spoilers. Totally pointless note to start: I’m … Continue reading
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Tagged Alison Fraser, audiobook, CD's, Chris Bohjalian, Mark Bramhall, The Night Strangers
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The Second Mrs. Hockaday – Susan Rivers
Extraordinary. This was the first of two books I coincidentally read in recent months which described the horrors of the Southern homefront during the Civil War. Here the horrors were more tangential, dealt with more matter-of-factly, never the main focus … Continue reading
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Tagged NetGalley, Susan Rivers, The Second Mrs. Hockaday
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Somehow Good – William Frend de Morgan – Helen Taylor
I was wandering through Librivox, and in looking for something comforting found some recordings of E. Nesbit novels by a narrator new to me, Helen Taylor. You never know what you’re going to get with volunteer readers, but Helen Taylor … Continue reading
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Tagged Helen Taylor, Librivox, Somehow Good, William Frend de Morgan
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The Guest Room – Chris Bohjalian
“And there’s more.” “How? Seriously, Richard, how could there possibly be more?” It’s an excellent question, asked by Kristin Chapman, wife of Richard, brother of Phillip who is getting married in a couple of weeks. You see, Richard is his … Continue reading
Love and the Art of War – Dinah Lee Küng
What a fun premise: Meek librarian discovers her beloved husband might be having an affair and reacts in the only way she is equipped for: signs up for a local seminar. However, though she signs up for “Mending Marriage or … Continue reading
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Tagged Art of War, Dinah Lee Küng, Love and the Art of War, Sun Tzu
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Tournament – Shelby Foote, Tom Parker
The audiobook, narrated by Tom Parker (not, sadly, the author – though Mr. Parker does do a wonderful job, I just missed Shelby Foote), begins with a lengthy 1986 preface by the author in which he discusses the genesis of … Continue reading
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Tagged Jordon County, Shelby Foote, Tom Parker, Tournament
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