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Posts tagged with ‘Novels’

HARMONY, by Keith Brooke

February 3, 2013

FUGITIVE HUMANS ON a planet under the tyrannical rule of other alien species = deftly handled space thriller.

Grade: SOLID B

HARMONY
Rebellion/Solaris
2012

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THE MIDDLESTEINS, by Jami Attenberg

February 2, 2013

RICH IN DETAIL and compassion, a gentle satire of surburban Jewish life revolves around a family in crisis.

Grade: SOLID B

THE MIDDLESTEINS
Grand Central
2012

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EVERYONE LEAVES, by Wendy Guerra (translated by Achy Obejas)

February 1, 2013

LIFE IN CUBA in the 70s and 80s, as captured in the diary of an intense young writer and artist. Fascinating.

Grade: B PLUS

EVERYONE LEAVES
Amazon Publishing
2012

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THESE THINGS HAPPEN, by Richard Kramer

January 31, 2013

A VERY NEW YORK story about a charming, disaffected teenager and his parents and their partners.  Sweet.

Grade: SOLID B

THESE THINGS HAPPEN
Unbridled Books
2012

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THE WRATH OF ANGELS, by John Connolly

January 30, 2013

ATMOSPHERIC PARANORMAL THRILLER mixes a noir detective, some seriously spooky bad guys, and vivid Maine details.

Grade: B PLUS

THE WRATH OF ANGELS: A CHARLIE PARKER THRILLER
Atria
2013

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SEVEN LOCKS, by Christine Wade

January 28, 2013

HYPNOTICALLY ATMOSPHERIC NOVEL vividly limns pre-Revolutionary New York State, draws on history and legend.

Grade: B PLUS

SEVEN LOCKS
Atria
2013

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STAKEOUT, by Parnell Hall

January 26, 2013

HILARIOUSLY HAPLESS DETECTIVE Stanley Hastings is suspected of murder, semi-eptly hunts the real killer. Fun!

Grade: B PLUS

STAKEOUT: A STANLEY HASTINGS MYSTERY
Pegasus
2013

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THE DROWNING HOUSE, by Elizabeth Black

January 22, 2013

AN ARTIST RETURNS to Galveston, Texas, and searches the island’s history and her family’s secrets. Overwrought.

Grade: B MINUS

THE DROWNING HOUSE
Knopf Doubleday/Nan A. Talese Books
2013

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SCENES FROM EARLY LIFE, by Philip Hensher

January 21, 2013

THE CREATION OF BANGLADESH as seen from a child’s perspective. Deftly handled tale with flashes of sweet humor.

Grade: B PLUS

SCENES FROM EARLY LIFE
Faber and Faber
2013

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MONSTER, by Dave Zeltserman

January 20, 2013

FASCINATING TWIST ON the Frankenstein story—a retelling from the “monster’s” point of view.  Masterful!

Grade: A MINUS

MONSTER: A NOVEL OF FRANKENSTEIN
Overlook Press
2012

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