Book reviews and more!

THE METROPOLIS CASE, by Matthew Gallaway

March 25, 2011

THE GREAT AMERICAN Opera Novel is sprawling, sensual, erudite, campy, and not for everyone–just like opera!

Grade: B PLUS

THE METROPOLIS CASE
Crown
2010

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THE KENKEN KILLINGS, by Parnell Hall

March 24, 2011

THE DELIGHTFULLY CANTANKEROUS Puzzle Lady is back in her 12th mystery. Lots of fun, as ever, and a strong plot.

Grade: B PLUS

THE KENKEN KILLINGS
St. Martin's/Minotaur
2011

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FALLING APART IN ONE PIECE, by Stacy Morrison

March 23, 2011

CANDID, UPBEAT MEMOIR of divorce from a women’s magazine editor surprised by her husband’s choice to leave.

Grade: SOLID B

FALLING APART IN ONE PIECE: ONE OPTIMIST'S JOURNEY THROUGH THE HELL OF DIVORCE
Simon and Schuster
2010

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WORLD’S GREATEST SLEUTH, by Steve Hockensmith

March 22, 2011

YEE-HAW! THE HOLMES on the Range boys vs. rival detectives at Chicago’s 1893 Exposition. Lots of thrills here!

Grade: A MINUS

WORLD'S GREATEST SLEUTH! A HOLMES ON THE RANGE MYSTERY
St. Martin's/Minotaur
2011

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THE WORLD THAT NEVER WAS, by Alex Butterworth

March 21, 2011

ENGAGING HISTORY of the early 20th century’s most influential anarchists, communists, Utopians, fringe thinkers.

Grade: B PLUS

THE WORLD THAT NEVER WAS: A TRUE STORY OF DREAMERS, SCHEMERS, ANARCHISTS, AND SECRET AGENTS
Pantheon
2010

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HALF BAKED, by Alexa Stevenson

March 20, 2011

THOUGHTFUL, WARM-HEARTED, and snarky memoir of high-risk parenting by the mother of an extremely premature baby.

Grade: SOLID B

HALF BAKED: THE STORY OF MY NERVES, MY NEWBORN, AND HOW WE BOTH LEARNED TO BREATHE
Running Press
2010

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INDIA BLACK, by Carol K. Carr

March 19, 2011

ROLLICKING HISTORICAL MYSTERY adds a salty madam of a heroine to the usual Victorian intrigue.

Grade: SOLID B

INDIA BLACK
Penguin/Berkley
2011

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THE NAIVE AND THE SENTIMENTAL NOVELIST, by Orhan Pamuk

March 18, 2011

A JOURNEY INSIDE the power and processes of reading and writing, delicately led by Turkish Nobelist Orhan Pamuk.

Grade: B PLUS

THE NAIVE AND THE SENTIMENTAL NOVELIST
Harvard University Press
2010

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CHARLIE CHAN: THE UNTOLD STORY… by Yunte Huang

March 17, 2011

CHARLIE CHAN LIVES in this utterly absorbing look at the real Hawai’i cop who inspired the fictional detective.

Grade: A MINUS

CHARLIE CHAN: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE HONORABLE DETECTIVE AND HIS RENDEZVOUS WITH AMERICAN HISTORY
W. W. Norton & Company
2010

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I DON’T CARE ABOUT YOUR BAND, by Julie Klausner

March 16, 2011

SNARK MEETS SELF-HELP in this comedian’s memoir of her past relationship disasters. Some laughs, some insights.

Grade: SOLID B

I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR BAND
Gotham
2010

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