Julie Chan Is Dead, by Liann Zhang
Good beginning, then takes a turn to an asinine ending. Forgettable, avoidable.
Read MoreHow to Read a Book, by Monica Wood
Monica Wood makes us deeply care about three main characters, looking for hope, sharing their love, and seeking meaning in their lives, just like us all.
Read MoreThe Wedding People, by Alison Espach
An amusing tale of redemption for two women, who dare to cast aside expectations and appearances, for honest, fulfilling lives. It’s fun, too.
Read MoreDon't Cry For Me, by Daniel Black
Deceptively simple story, told as letters from a dying father to his estranged son. Feels like a modern classic, father-son relationships, relatable to all.
Read MoreButter, by Asako Yuzuki
Fascinating psychological mystery linking food, serial murder, and Japanese culture.
Read MoreDemon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver
A novel of poverty and drug abuse in Appalachia, made tolerable by the wit of a survivor, a memorable character.
Read MoreLong Island, and Brooklyn, by Colm Toibin
Read Brooklyn and Long Island as a pair, the story of emigrant Eilis Lacey, and her life in Ireland and the United States, from the Fifties to the Seventies.
Read MoreLibby Lost and Found, by Stephanie Booth
Great premise, but fails to deliver. Fun, light read, but oh, what it could have been.
Read MorePlayground, by Richard Powers
Powers brings his wonder and awe as a writer to Earth’s oceans in this story of ecological peril and human relationships, both fragile.
Read MoreFamily Furnishings: Selected Stories, 1995-2014, by Alice Munro
My homage to Nobel winning author Alice Munro, who died this year, 2024.
Read MoreLying Awake, by Mark Salzman
A beautiful, well-crafted novel of the calling and spiritual life of a Carmelite nun living an austere life removed from the world. Salzman does everything right with this inspiring book.
Read MoreTell Me Everything, by Elizabeth Strout
The latest installment in Strout’s story of Lucy Barton, Olive Kitteridge, and Bob Burgess, characters you will come to know and love.
Read MoreCreation Lake, by Rachel Kushner
A depressing story of a disenchanted female secret agent, deployed to undermine a commune seeking to thwart destructive corporate plans. Pacing is too slow, protagonist too unlikeable.
Read MoreConclave, by Robert Harris
Due to be released as a movie in November 2024, be sure to read this page-turning suspense novel now.
Read MoreSandwich, by Catherine Newman
Don’t make my mistake: NOT a tale of generations, but rather a consoling support for abortion as a means to choose the life you want. Reader, you are warned.
Read MoreBear, by Julia Phillips
A modern day fairy tale, set in the natural beauty of San Juan Island, Washington state, when a bear intrudes on the lives of two sisters. Expect this book to get award nominations.
Read MoreRecent Reads: Brief Mentions
A grab bag of my recent reads that might make for good additions to your summer reading list.
Read MoreErasure, by Percival Everett
Effective satire of our views of race, the publishing world and society as a whole. Read this after you view American Fiction, the film adaptation.
Read MoreCome & Get It, by Kiley Reid
I read this as a satirical take on Gen Z, their values, and perhaps a critique on how much parental coddling has made this a fragile generation.
Read MoreTable for Two, by Amor Towles
Enjoy Towles’ collection of well-crafted short story gems, each filled with great humor and clever plot twists.
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