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DIVIDE by Jessa Russo

April 21, 2014

A CLEVER FAIRY-TALE REBOOT features a young woman fighting an ancient curse, half-brothers vying to save her. B PLUS

DIVIDE
self-published
2014

Grade: B PLUS

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DEPT. OF SPECULATION by Jenny Offill

April 20, 2014

A DELICATELY WROUGHT PORTRAIT of a marriage traces the ups and downs of love in spare yet poetic prose. SOLID B

DEPT. OF SPECULATION
Knopf
2014

Grade: SOLID B

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A KING’S RANSOM by Sharon Kay Penman

April 19, 2014

A RICH TAPESTRY OF HISTORY comes alive in this vividly told saga of Richard the Lionhearted’s last years. B PLUS

A KING’S RANSOM
A Marian Wood Book/Putnam
2014

Grade: B PLUS

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THE RUNESTONE INCIDENT by Neve Maslakovic

April 18, 2014

APPEALING TIME-TRAVEL TALE with spunky heroine, intriguing premise, Minnesota local color, but uneven pacing. B MINUS

THE RUNESTONE INCIDENT
47North
2014

Grade: B MINUS

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INFLUX by Daniel Suarez

April 17, 2014

HIGH-TECH CONSPIRACY THRILLER is packed with suspense, grandly over the top in the best Crichton tradition. B PLUS

INFLUX
Dutton Books
2014

Grade: B PLUS

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CUT ME LOOSE by Leah Vincent

April 16, 2014

THE HEARTBREAKS, EXHILARATIONS of one woman’s journey from an ultra-Orthodox childhood to a more secular life. B PLUS

CUT ME LOOSE : SIN AND SALVATION AFTER MY ULTRA-ORTHODOX GIRLHOOD
Nan A. Talese
2014

Grade: B PLUS

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NEW LIFE, NO INSTRUCTIONS by Gail Caldwell

April 15, 2014

THOUGHTS ON FACING LIFE challenges–from hip replacement to the joy of a new dog–with grace. Charming, wry. B PLUS

NEW LIFE, NO INSTRUCTIONS
Random House
2014

Grade: B PLUS

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FIX YOU by Carrie Elks

April 14, 2014

A TRANSATLANTIC ROMANCE SET against the backdrops of music journalism in London, big finance in New York. SOLID B

FIX YOU
self-published
2014

Grade: SOLID B

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GAME FOR FIVE by Marco Malvaldi

April 12, 2014

AN UNLIKELY QUINTET OF SLEUTHS (four elderly Italian barflies and a young bartender) solve a local murder. B PLUS

GAME FOR FIVE
Europa Editions, Incorporated
2014

Grade: B PLUS

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BLOOD WILL OUT by Walter Kirn

April 11, 2014

THE WILD, ALMOST HALLUCINOGENIC story of writer Walter Kirn’s friendship with murderer “Clark Rockefeller”. A MINUS

BLOOD WILL OUT
Liveright Publishing Corporation
2014

Grade: A MINUS

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