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Posts tagged with ‘Novels’

THOSE WE LOVE MOST, by Lee Woodruff

January 18, 2013

A CHILD’S SUDDEN DEATH fractures a family, reveals its secrets. Upper-middle-class melodrama, a bit formulaic.

Grade: B MINUS

THOSE WE LOVE MOST
Hyperion
2012

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THE BEST OF YOUTH, by Michael Dahlie

January 17, 2013

OFFBEAT TRAGICOMEDY OF manners about a hapless young man with plenty of money and too many literary ambitions.

Grade: B PLUS

THE BEST OF YOUTH
W. W. Norton & Company
2013

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IT’S FINE BY ME, by Per Petterson

January 16, 2013

SPARE, INTENSELY COMPELLING novel of a hard-luck young man growing up in 1970s Oslo.  Not a word wasted!

Grade: A MINUS

IT'S FINE BY ME
Graywolf Press
2012

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THE CONSTANTINE AFFLICTION, by T. Aaron Payton

January 15, 2013

CRACKLING STEAMPUNK THRILLER mashes up literary references, alchemy, clockwork robots, and lots of other fun.

Grade: SOLID B

THE CONSTANTINE AFFLICTION
Night Shade Books
2012

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DEATH IN THE FLOATING CITY, by Tasha Alexander

January 13, 2013

AN ENGLISH LADY SLEUTH investigates an early 20th century murder in Venice, unravels a 15th century mystery.

Grade: SOLID B

DEATH IN THE FLOATING CITY: A LADY EMILY MYSTERY
St. Martin's/Minotaur
2012

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LOVE’S WINNING PLAYS, by Inman Majors

January 12, 2013

GENTLY CYNICAL TALE of big college football sends a diffident grad student roadtripping with a legendary coach.

Grade: B PLUS

LOVE'S WINNING PLAYS
W. W. Norton & Company
2012

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HELL OR HIGH WATER, by Joy Castro

January 10, 2013

A REPORTER BATTLING inner demons investigates a murder, interviews sex offenders. Vivid New Orleans details.

Grade: SOLID B

HELL OR HIGH WATER
St. Martin's/Thomas Dunne
2012

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THE LAST HICCUP, by Christopher Meades

January 9, 2013

OFFBEAT, DARK SATIRE about a little Russian boy afflicted with hiccups and the odd ducks who try to cure him.

Grade: SOLID B

THE LAST HICCUP
ECW Press
2012

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NEXUS, by Ramez Naam

January 8, 2013

FAST-PACED FUTURE THRILLER revolves around an experimental drug that can be used for mind control. Chilling!

Grade: SOLID B

NEXUS
Angry Robot
2012

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A PRIVATE VENUS, by Giorgio Scerbanenco

January 6, 2013

A DISGRACED DOCTOR UNCOVERS a sordid web of crime in this classic Italian sixties pulp novel (newly translated).

Grade: B PLUS

A PRIVATE VENUS
Hersilia Press
2012

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