Book reviews and more!

Posts tagged with ‘Novels’

THE ROUND HOUSE, by Louise Erdrich

October 20, 2012

POWERFUL, DELICATELY SKETCHED portrait of an Ojibwe family in crisis, through the eyes of a 13-year-old boy.

Grade: A MINUS

THE ROUND HOUSE
HarperCollins
2012

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THE RUINS OF LACE, by Iris Anthony

October 18, 2012

UNUSUAL HISTORICAL DRAMA revolves around the smuggling trade that trafficked Flemish lace into 1630s France.

Grade: B MINUS

THE RUINS OF LACE
Sourcebooks
2012

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A BIT OF DIFFERENCE, by Sefi Atta

October 17, 2012

QUIETLY COMPELLING NOVEL focuses on a Nigerian expatriate in London, and her sense of alienation even at home.

Grade: B PLUS

A BIT OF DIFFERENCE
Interlink Publishing Group
2012

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HIDDEN THINGS, by Doyce Testerman

October 16, 2012

VIVID CONTEMPORARY FANTASY follows a detective’s search for her missing partner. Scary creatures, noir zing!

Grade: B PLUS

HIDDEN THINGS
Harper Voyager
2012

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GUN DEALERS’ DAUGHTER, by Gina Apostol

October 15, 2012

A FILIPINA HEIRESS TURNED revolutionary takes center stage in a novel marvelously evocative of the Marcos era.

Grade: A MINUS

GUN DEALERS' DAUGHTER
W. W. Norton & Company
2012

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IMMOBILITY, by Brian Evenson

October 12, 2012

POST-APOCALYPTIC THRILLER’S ANTIHERO is amnesiac, recently unfrozen—still a quintessentially noir detective.

Grade: B PLUS

IMMOBILITY
Tor
2012

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THE INVITATION, by Anne Cherian

October 11, 2012

CHARMING COMEDY OF MANNERS finds four Indian expats to the US dealing with midlife crises, culture clashes.

Grade: SOLID B

THE INVITATION
W. W. Norton & Company
2012

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12.21, by Dustin Thomason

October 10, 2012

GRANDLY TOPICAL APOCALYPSE in the Michael Crichton tradition features Mayan predictions of 2012 doom come true.

Grade: SOLID B

12.21: A NOVEL
The Dial Press
2012

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BROKEN HARBOR, by Tana French

October 8, 2012

TOP-NOTCH IRISH MYSTERY centers on a family killing and the troubled detective investigating the deaths.

Grade: B PLUS

BROKEN HARBOR
Viking
2012

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THE SECOND EMPRESS, by Michelle Moran

October 7, 2012

JUICY COURT INTRIGUE, this time revolving around Napoleon’s second wife, Maria Luisa of Austria. Delightful!

Grade: SOLID B

THE SECOND EMPRESS: A NOVEL OF NAPOLEON'S COURT
Crown
2012

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