GET READY FOR SUMMER ESCAPES

It may be the end of April, but before you know it summer will be upon us..Here's a preview of books that will be debuting just in time for beach weather.

Stephen King fans can expect a fastpaced read...no surprise there!  I'm a Curtis Sittenfeld fan (Remember Prep?) and anticipate this convoluted new one! I've never heard of author David Yoon, but  Snow Hunters sounds like an intriguing read.

So get your mindset ready for the newly anticipated books of summer!

 

Sisterland
Curtis Sittenfeld

Hovering in that wildly desirable land where literary meets commercial, Sittenfeld is a writer who has fans waiting for her next novel and this summer delivers a page-turner about psychic twin sisters who have taken different views of “the gift.” They both arrive in their hometown, St. Louis, to confront the fallout from a startling prediction and their own relationship.

 



Snow Hunters
Paul Yoon

In his debut novel, Yoon tells the story of a North Korean soldier who defects at the end of the Korean War, leaving everything behind him to build a new life on the coast of Brazil. The collection Once the Shore showcased Yoon’s piercing powers of story and language; this novel continues his stunning trajectory with prose so pristine it feels supernatural.





Joyland 
Stephen King

Set in a small-town North Carolina amusement park in 1973, Joyland tells the story of the summer in which college student Devin Jones comes to work as a carny and confronts the legacy of a vicious murder, the fate of a dying child, and the ways both will change his life forever.













For More Information:

www.publishersweekly.com

www.curtissittenfeld.com

www.phillipian.net.News

www.stephenking.com

Thankyou Publishers Weekly for contributing to this post.












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INTERESTING OR UNINTERESTING? (04/24/2013)

I just started The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer and am reserving judgement until I have read more. So far I can relate to the characters, the summer camp theme and the issues that are being addressed in the first few chapters.

What's this all about, you ask? It's a novel about a group of talented teenagers who meet at a summer camp in the seventies. They remain friends and their lives circle one another as the years pass. I would call it a coming of age story...a particular era focused on privileged people dealing with loss of innocense, friendship, art, sexual angst, and envy. (To mention a few..)

I look forward to getting into The Interestings and after a few chapters, I already feel I have a special understanding of the characters. I too had a special group of friends that originated at a summer camp..but that may be the only parallel....

The reviews by fellow bloggers, critics, the New York Times Book Revue have been flawless....

Stay tuned....


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/21/books/review/the-interestings-by-meg-wolitzer.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

www.megwolitzer.com

PULITZER PRIZES 2013

The Pulitzer Prizes were announced on Monday. Following is the list of winners in Fiction, Drama and History. (Personally I liked a few of the finalists better.)


FICTION
ADAM JOHNSON
“The Orphan Master’s Son”

Mr. Johnson, 45, was cited by the board for an “exquisitely crafted novel that carries the reader on an adventuresome journey into the depths of totalitarian North Korea and into the most intimate spaces of the human heart.”
While writing the novel, Mr. Johnson said, he read propaganda and books approved by the regime. He eventually included Kim Jong-il, the late North Korean leader, as a character in the book. “I came to, not feel for him, but to see a human dimension in him,” he said. “He was a very cunning person, a very witty person. He had flaws like all people. The more I studied him the more I realized that he was a very human figure.”

Finalists Nathan Englander, “What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank”; Eowyn Ivey, “The Snow Child.”

(I preferred both finalists...The Snow Child was my favorite.) 



DRAMA
AYAD AKHTAR
“Disgraced”

Mr. Akhtar, 42, a Pakistani-American, grew up admiring the films of Woody Allen and longed to set a play “in that milieu of the moneyed intelligentsia of New York — but with a character who shared my ethnicity.” In “Disgraced,” that character is Amir, a successful corporate lawyer whose deep-seated self-loathing is fully revealed at a dinner party that is classic Manhattan, with talk of art and money giving way to suspicion and hatred.

Mr. Akhtar is also a novelist and actor, and is now at work on his second novel while preparing his next play, “The Who & The What,” for its world premiere in California next winter. If “Disgraced” was a metaphorical riff on “Othello,” the next play is a similar meditation on “The Taming of the Shrew,” he said on Monday. “Both plays are about Muslim Americans,” he said, “but the new one is a comedy.”

Finalists Gina Gionfriddo, “Rapture, Blister, Burn”; Amy Herzog, “4000 Miles.”



HISTORY
FREDRIK LOGEVALL
“Embers of War: The Fall of an Empire and the Making of America’s Vietnam”

How did the United States get drawn into war in Vietnam, ignoring France’s bitter post-World War II experience there? In a follow-up to a book focused on America’s role in Vietnam in the 1960s, “Choosing War,” Mr. Logevall, a professor of history at Cornell, has provided what his Pulitzer citation called “a balanced, deeply researched history” of that long, unintended slide into a conflict that proved unwinnable
Finalists Bernard Bailyn, “The Barbarous Years: The Peopling of British North America: The Conflict of Civilizations, 1600-1675; John Fabian Witt, “Lincoln’s Code: The Laws of War in American History.”

BIOGRAPHY
TOM REISS
“The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo”

Alexandre Dumas’s famous novel was inspired by the life of his father, Thomas-Alexandre, who was born to a slave woman in Haiti but rose to a general’s rank in the French Army until he incurred the enmity of Napoleon.

“For me the great thrill of this book is that I pulled somebody out of the pages of fiction, who was forgotten about in fact, and showed his exploits to be a true story,” said Mr. Reiss, who learned of his prize while sitting in a dentist’s chair. “It’s swashbuckling, but for a purpose. He was the highest-ranking black leader in a white society until modern times and really a very serious revolutionary.”

Finalists Michael Gorra, “Portrait of a Novel: Henry James and the Making of an American Masterpiece”; David Nasaw, “The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life


 

 

BOSTON MARATHON (04/16/2013)

So many of us have been deeply affected by the recent tragedy at the Boston Marathon. My family is closely involved in the Marathon as participants and as observers. 

One of my sons mentors the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society Team in Training and has also run in memory of a close friend. His kids and wife volunteer, and other family members live and work in the area..... Some were close to the finish line.

It's been traumatic for everyone and I'm thankful they are  physically ok.. the emotional part is another story.

I worry about all our children and those who were affected by this senseless attack. In life there are many questions we cannot fully answer, but there are ways that can lessen the emotional aspects, especially for children.

Hopefully the following will be helpful and contribute to the slow healing process we all face.


Remind children that they are safe. Highlight the special things that make school safe.

Take the time to talk. Let kids talk about their feelings and assure them what they are feeling is normal. Remember that some children may not want to talk about their feelings. Encourage these children to express themselves through writing, art, and other projects.

Use language children will understand. Keep your explanations developmentally appropriate. Young children need simple information they can understand and need to be reminded that they are safe. Older children will have questions and will need an opportunity to express their range of emotions.

Watch for shifts in behavior. It’s important to remember that everyone shows emotion in different ways. Be aware of the changes in behavior and mood that can indicate a child’s level of anxiety or discomfort.

Maintain a sense of normalcy. An important part of helping children feel safe is providing a normal and positive environment. School and routines provides children with the positive structure they need.

Monitor and limit television and news. Developmentally inappropriate information and overexposure to news of the event can cause more anxiety or fear, particularly in young children. Adults also need to be careful of the content of conversations that they have with each other in front of children.

Make sure you take care of yourself. Take time to do the things that make you happy. And don’t be afraid to seek additional help for yourself or for your children.

                                 

                                    

                                       BOOK RECOMMENDATION

TO ORDER CLICK ON THE AMAZON SEARCH BOX IN THE SIDEBAR

IS IT OUT OF THE ORDINARY NOT TO BE MISSED? (04/15/2013)

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Kruegar is one my choices for a "NOT TO BE MISSED" book for Spring.

From New York Times bestselling author, William Kent Krueger comes a brilliant new novel about a young man, a small town, and murder in the summer of 1961.

On the surface, Ordinary Grace is the story of the murder of a beautiful young woman, a beloved daughter and sister. At the heart, it’s the story of what that tragedy does to a boy, his family, and ultimately the fabric of the small town in which he lives.

It is a moving account of a boy standing at the door of his young manhood, trying to understand a world that seems to be falling apart around him. It is an unforgettable novel about discovering the terrible price of wisdom and the enduring grace of God.

Thankyou http://www.goodreads.com for the comments.

WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER

For More Information:
www.williamkentkrueger.com





TWO MORE ON "NOT TO BE MISSED" LIST

MIDDLE C, by William H. Gass.
From its opening notes, this unquiet story about a family of Austrian emigrants — fakes and fraudsters who have cast themselves as Jews — is designed to detonate its middling title.



HOW TO GET FILTHY RICH IN RISING ASIA, by Mohsin Hamid.
Disguised as a self-help book, Hamid’s novel traces a nameless hero’s journey from poor boy to corporate tycoon.

REMINDER:
These books can be purchased directly from the blog. Click on the Amazon Search Box in the Sidebar.

OH, THOSE BULGER BOYS! (04/10/2013)

I ran into two people this week that couldn't wait to tell me how much they are enjoying Black Mass by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'neil.

One reader, a  semi-retired businessman is a self decribed "criminal junkie" and the other is a female attorney who usually likes a good psychological novel.

Black Mass is written by two Boston Globe reporters who have produced a chilling tale of brothers from South Boston: Jim "Whitey" Bulger and his younger brother Billy. Whitey is a notorius and powerful gangster and Billy, president of the State Senate.

At first it feels like fiction..and as incredible as it all sounds, it's true and better than fiction, both readers proclaimed. Black Mass is a tale of an unholy alliance between mobsters and FBI agents, and both reporters have an intimate knowledge of the people, places and events that surround this still ongoing saga.

Black Mass has been labeled a "triumph of investigative reporting"... a tragic true story in many ways...definitely an exciting read....And soon to be debuting at your neighborhood theater....no surprise!
 

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Click on the Amazon Search Box in the Sidebar to Order All Books

                        

                           
FILM INFORMATION:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1355683/

APRIL'S MIXED BAG

There's something for everyone in this mixed bag of April Paperback releases. According to Amazon, Kindle book sales outperform Paperback sales...but so what, here's the list!   


BROKEN HARBOR by Tana French (Psychological Thriller)

Mick “Scorcher” Kennedy plays by the book and plays hard, which is what puts the biggest case of the year into his hands. On one of the half-built, half-abandoned “luxury” developments that litter Ireland, Patrick Spain and his two young children are dead. But Broken Harbor holds memories for Scorcher, and working this case could resurrect something he thought he had tightly under control.

THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS by Chris Bohjalian (Historical Fiction)

THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS, Chris Bohjalian's 15th book, is a spellbinding tale that travels between Aleppo, Syria, in 1915 and Bronxville, New York, in 2012 --- a sweeping historical love story steeped in the author’s Armenian heritage, a subject his legions of fans have been asking him to write about for years.




THE WORLD WITHOUT YOU by Joshua Henkin (Fiction)

On July 4, 2005, the Frankel family descends upon their summer home in the Berkshires for a memorial to Leo, the youngest Frankel sibling, who was killed while on assignment in Iraq a year before. Over the course of three days, the Frankels will contend with sibling rivalries and marital feuds, volatile women and silent men, and, ultimately, the true meaning of family.


BLOOM: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected: A Memoir by Kelle Hampton (Memoir)

When Kelle Hampton learned she was pregnant with her second child, she and her husband were ecstatic. But the moment her new daughter was placed in her arms in the delivery room, Kelle knew that something was wrong. She was certain that Nella had Down syndrome --- a fear her pediatrician soon confirmed



THE ROOTS OF THE OLIVE TREE by Courtney Miller Santo (Fiction)

Meet the Keller family, five generations of firstborn women --- a line of daughters unbroken --- living together in the same house on a secluded olive grove in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California. Told from varying viewpoints, Courtney Miller Santo’s debut novel captures the joys and sorrows of family --- the love, secrets, disappointments, jealousies and forgiveness that tie generations to one other.

                       

THANKYOU WWW.BOOKREPORTER.COM FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS LIST.



BOOK GROUP RECOMMENDATION...OR NOT (04/08/2013)

I always pay attention to book group choices, especially the West Hartford Book Group. Bev G, a long time member, brought me up to date on their latest choice, Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver.

I'm not a Kingsolver fan and a book about climate change, Butterflies, global warming didn't attract me...at first. Yes, there is so much more, I am told..."It's quite a compelling read" say most reviewers.

Here's a summary of the West Hartford Book Club discussion:

Bookies enjoyed a lively discussion of Barbara Kingsolver's "Flight Behavior", an artful melding, in the opinion of many, of the personal and the global. Some found the melding awkward, some found the story contrived and straining credulity. Others believed strongly in central character, Dellarobia's innate intelligence and desire to enlarge her world making her perfectly capable of overcoming limited formal schooling and a restricted Appalachian environment.

The plight of the beautiful, endangered monarch butterflies awakened an ardent desire to save them and transformed her life.


Here's what Amazon had to say:

The extraordinary New York Times bestselling author of The Lacuna (winner of the Orange Prize), The Poisonwood Bible (nominated for the Pulitzer Prize), and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver returns with a truly stunning and unforgettable work. Flight Behavior is a brilliant and suspenseful novel set in present day Appalachia; a breathtaking parable of catastrophe and denial that explores how the complexities we inevitably encounter in life lead us to believe in our particular chosen truths. Kingsolver's riveting story concerns a young wife and mother on a failing farm in rural Tennessee who experiences something she cannot explain, and how her discovery energizes various competing factions—religious leaders, climate scientists, environmentalists, politicians—trapping her in the center of the conflict and ultimately opening up her world. Flight Behavior is arguably Kingsolver's must thrilling and accessible novel to date, and like so many other of her acclaimed works, represents contemporary American fiction at its finest.


Here's what I think:

This book was released in 2012 and I haven't read it yet, but it will appeal to many and is a popular book club selection..(The Butterfly slant is holding me back....)

                        


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13438524-flight-behavior?auto_login_attempted=true



BLOG READERS BLURBS.....(04/05/2013)

Often blog readers contact me with opinions about books they're reading. Occasionally I overhear discussions at the gym or at the local coffee shop. So here's a combination of brief blurbs from blog readers, and breathless banter overheard on the treadmill....(Slightly edited) 



Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Fowler

"Great descriptions, well researched fascinating fictional biography of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald..."
"If you saw the film Midnight in Paris , you'll enjoy this book.."   "A  very light but intoxicating read.."
"Hemingway was a real cad..."

Rage Against The Dying by Becky Masterman

"Fresh and original take on a thriller...engaging writing style.."
"Action packed, unique and suspenseful..the main character so charismatic and refreshing.."
"The plot sagged at times...but overall a real page-turner"

Six Years by Harlan Coben

I am currently reading this book and so far am very disappointed. I'm reserving judgement until I finish...
"C'mon Harlan...get your groove back!"


REMINDER: It easy to leave a comment on this blog. Click on the "comments" link at the end of each post.

Suzanne R., a member of my book group just sent the following message via email: 

Just want to say that When the Crocodile Eats the Sun is one of the best and most incisive books I've ever read---I've met the author, and he spoke at Politics and Prose in Washington. His books have revealed so much about Mugabe that I think he now fears for his life if he ever returns to Zimbabwe. He was raised in Zimbabwe by British parents and watched as Mugabe ruined the country with his thugs and machetes. For any of your readers interested in/active in international affairs and/or Africa, this is a must read.

When The Crocodile Eats the Sun by Peter Godwin is reviewed on 03/27/2013. To access the review, type the title in the Search Box at the top of the blog or just keep scrolling down.

FYI
There is a complete list of every book reviewed on this blog in the Sidebar.

HERE COMETH APRIL AGAIN...THE WORLD HATH MORE FOOLS THAN EVER -Charles Lamb

Publishers Weekly is an international weekly trade magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and since I receive it, everyone!

They just selected "The Best New Books for the Week of April 1, 2013." A few picks seemed like an April Fools' joke, so I eliminated those, but here's a sampling of some others... And there's always next week!



Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (Little, Brown) - Atkinson’s new novel opens twice: first in Germany in 1930 with an English woman taking a shot at Hitler, then in England in 1910 when a baby arrives, stillborn. And then it opens again: still in 1910, still in England, but this time the baby lives. That baby is Ursula Todd, and as she grows up, she dies and lives repeatedly.

Candlemoth by R.J. Ellory (Overlook) - Ellory’s searing first novel recounts how Daniel Ford came to be on death row in 1982 for beheading his best friend, Nathan Verney, a decade earlier. The question of Ford’s guilt lends plenty of interest, but is almost incidental to the harrowing descriptions of life behind bars and the complex unfolding of a lifelong connection between friends.

The Other Child by Charlotte Link, (trans. from the German by Stefan Tobler) (Pegasus) a bestseller in her native Germany, makes her U.S. debut with a sophisticated and thoughtful mystery set in England. After an ominous prologue, in which a woman stumbles across an unnamed secret on a remote farm in Yorkshire in 1970, the action shifts to 2008 in the same area. College student Amy Mills leaves a babysitting gig late at night to travel home, only to find her regular, relatively safe route blocked off, which proves to be a prelude to her brutal killing.

A Death in the Lucky Holiday Hotel: Murder, Money, and an Epic Power Struggle in China by Pin Ho and Wenguang Huang (PublicAffairs) - When British businessman Neil Heywood was found dead in a tourist hotel outside Chongqing, few would have suspected that his death would result in a murder trial that would nearly disrupt the country’s once-in-a-decade leadership change.(Non-Fiction)



For More Information:
www.publishersweekly.com
www.facebook.com/pubweekly


 

WHAT A BUMMER .... (03/31/2013)

What disappointing reviews The Burgess Boys by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Elizabeth Strout received. After a few chapters and then reading Janet Maslin's New York Times review, I felt justified in abandoning it.

I loved Olive Kittredge (2009), and assume it must be a daunting prospect for an author to keep creating at a Pulitzer Prize winning level. Unfortunately Strout, as much as I like her prose, has disappointed many of her followers...especially me.

If any of you have read The Burgess Boys, let me know your thoughts. Leave a comment below.


Here's the link to the New York Times review:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/28/books/the-burgess-boys-a-novel-by-elizabeth-strout.html?ref=books&_r=0




  

WHEN IS LESS MORE? (03/29/2013)

If you have an affinity for short stories, I Want to Show You More by Jamie Quatro is a collection rich with provocative themes and memorable characters. 

A friend on Goodreads submitted the following review....

                           

I Want to Show You More by Jamie Quatro

Reviewed by Barbara A.

No one need doubt that these interconnected stories are captivating. They absolutely are. Quatro has Georgia on her mind, and Tennessee, and infidelity and faith and death.

These activating themes lace back and forth, in and out, and often in tandem to make for a really strong piece of work. Several stories are otherworldly, several are grounded in the mundane, but all are really unforgettable. Not happy-making, but certainly unforgettable.

I admire writers who possess the clarity and precision to write in the short story format, and Quatro seems to have very successfully joined that society. Good for her, good for us who seek these, and good for Rachel Perry Welty, who has designed a spectacular cover for what I hope is just the first volume of work by this author.

JAMIE QUATRO

                           
FOR MORE INFO:

www.jamiequatro.com

www.goodreads.com

WHEN A CROCODILE EATS THE SUN (03/27/2013)

Monica G. of Naples, Florida often reviews books on this blog. She was born in Africa and grew up in London. Her background plays an important role in reviewing When a Crocodile Eats the Sun/A Memoir of Africa by Peter Godwin. Because  of her personal life experiences, you'll find her perceptions particularly discerning.

To Order Click on the Amazon Search Box

                                    

WHEN A CROCODILE EATS THE SUN/A Memoir of Africa BY PETER GODWIN

Reviewed by Monica G.

"It is sometimes said that the worst thing to happen to Africa was the arrival of the White man, the second worst was his departure."

Once in a while one reads a book that resonates with you. Perhaps it was because I was born in Africa, perhaps because I could relate to losing a home and being far away from family. Whatever the reason, if you would like to read a beautifully written book that has a human element, this book is for you.

When the Crocodile Eats the Sun is a memoir, a human tragedy. I found myself enjoying Peter Godwin's writing style and learning about the politics of a part of Africa, Zimbabwe, that I knew little about. He shows both the brutality of Africa and at the same time the beauty, in his descriptions of the scenery, the people, the traditions.

Peter Godwin was born in Zimbabwe, and is an award winning journalist and filmmaker who also writes for National Geographic. Perhaps it is this combination that makes the book so memorable and one that I will never forget. 

He is sent to Africa on assignments and we see Africa through his eyes. It gives an insight into the political situation in Zimbabwe at the turn of the century in great detail. He depicts an Africa that is both brutal and beautiful.

"I feel like weeping at the way Africa does this to you...one minute you're scared shitless, the next you are choked with affection"

To me this book is also partly a love story, a love of Africa and family. The tender love between his parents is moving.

Peter is living in New York. His family lives in Zimbabwe. He is called back when his father dies and then the story begins. There is a constant tug back to Africa and family, and he is obviously torn. His devotion to his parents is touching and his portrayal of a family that does not want to accept what is going on around them.

You see both the destruction of a country and the destruction of a family. Even though there is savagery and chaos, his family refuses to leave. Once affluent citizens, they are reduced to poverty. They are targets, as are other white farmers, to a nation driven to insanity by a dictator, Robert Mugabe.

It is the human element of the book that I particularly enjoyed. His parents flee to Africa to escape and become prisoners, yet they could not bear to leave it.

"However mad and sad the place has become".... I realize just how African my parents have become...."that this is their home."
In Africa, you feel perishable, temporary, transient... maybe that is why you live more vividly in Africa. People love harder there...the drama of life is amplified by its constant proximity to death.

Even when his father dies, his mother refuses to leave and quotes Rudyard Kipling: "Here is my heart, my soul, my mind - the only life I know, I cannot leave it all behind, command me not to go".

You will find this book both poignant and touching. I highly recommend it.MG


FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.petergodwin.com/about/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_a_Crocodile_Eats_the_Sun


                        

DUBIOUS INDISCRETION (03/25/2013)

I'm an F. Scott Fitzgerald fan and when I read that author Charles Dubow captured the allure and sophistication of F. Scott Fitzgerald in his novel, Indiscretion I was immediately attracted.

This debut novel is a sexy, lusty, stylish redo on very familiar themes..adult relationships stressed by infidelity and betrayal. Who doesn't like to read a sensual relationship drama with intriguing characters and a narrator vaguely reminincient of a Fitzgerald novel? (If you don't, this is not for you...)

Dubow tells the story of a man who has everything and discards it for the the excitement of an affair. Yes, it is cliche, but it's told in a way that seduces the reader (me, especially). The characters are well drawn and although diminished by their callowness, the reader is captivated by the lifestyle and their bad judgement.

The narrative structure is  slightly similar to Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. This, of course was deliberate and sets Indiscretion apart from other novels. Otherwise there's no real Fitzgerald parallel.

I was totally immersed in this book..its glamour, sexiness and very good writing accentuated the unexpected twists and turns.

Indiscretion by Charles Dubow is not for the academic or the reader wanting a serious message..although certain messages do abound.

There are many things to criticize...you may not want to read about a middle aged man having an affair with, of course, a beautiful young woman, you may think it's all predictable, or trite.

Dubow drew me in from the outset and I was quickly consumed by the story. It's occasionally fun to read about the shallow and self involved ..so lighten up and enjoy Indiscretion. 

CHARLES DUBOW

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6428917.Charles_Dubow?auto_login_attempted=true 
                       

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Z  A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald
by Therese Anne Fowler
                                  



                          

WHO IS RENATA ADLER? (03/22/2013)

I don't remember the infamous author Renata Adler but from what I've read she had a reputation that evoked fear in the literary and entertainment world. As a critic for the New York Times in the eighties, she was merciless and vindictive in her critiques and was eventually fired.  

Still very vibrant at seventy four (and why not?!), two novels by Adler have just been re-issued by the New York Review of Books.  Both books were published in 1983 and are considered comtemporary classics by those in the know.

Speedboat and Pitch Dark by Renata Adler are worth considering if you're ready for something out of the norm.

Disclaimer: Not for everyone..pessimistic views, cynical,  some stream of conciousness

SPEEDBOAT by Renata Adler

Written in the late 70's Speedboat was considered an unconventional novel, and was awarded the Hemingway Prize for Best First Novel of the Year. It will be interesting to see how today's readers react.

Speedboat has been labeled a series of vignettes, no real plot, but "clean and concise delving into a broad range of things." The narrator is a neurotic, funny, bright New York woman and leads the reader on an original journey highlighted with cynicism and wit.

PITCH DARK by Renata Adler

Written in the same style as Speedboat, this is a love story, filled with angst, complications and turmoil. The writing is captivating, according to reviewers and Pitch Dark is considered "a bold work of art filled with pathos, humor and wisdom"

For More Information:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/17/books/review/speedboat-and-pitch-dark-by-renata-adler.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

www.nybooks.com

Click on the Amazon Search Box in the Side Bar to order books and anything else on Amazon. A percentage of your purchase goes to charity. 



BREAKING NEWS! (03/20/2013)

Many of us have read The Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro. Now there's breaking news about this notorious unsolved art heist. 

Here's my review of The Art Forger posted last January..followed by a recent exciting revelation just revealed to the news media by the FBI....read on... 

(01/07/2013)
I've had my eye on "The Art Forger" by B.A. Shapiro since October, but was awaiting more detailed reviews and feedback from friends. (Literary reviews had been mixed.)

This morning Marlene P., a reliable source and committed reader raved about this book...and so I'm ready to share her views. Her first comment was "it's great to read a really good book, well written, well plotted, and as a bonus, is art related."

For those who live near Boston and remember this infamous unsolved art heist, "The Art Forger" will hit home. It's presented as a fictionalized thriller, based on the 500 million dollar heist from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.

Marlene P. described "The Art Forger" by B.A. Shapiro as a view of the art world, blended with history and intrigue. It helps if you have an interest in art, but if you like a fast paced authentic thriller "The Art Forger" is for you. (And you may discover your hidden artistic side.)

 

BREAKING NEWS ALERT:
Law enforcement officials said today (03/18/2013) they have identified the people who stole 500 million dollars worth of masterworks from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston in 1990.

 http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2013/03/18/thieves-identified-gardner-museum-theft-rembrandt-and-vermeer-paintings/VmSiOGRgKbRakLJr1wCA3I/story.html

STAY TUNED.....

BLURBS FROM BLOG READERS (03/17/2013)

I'm always pleased when blog readers follow up on a book that appears on my blog. Your comments and feedback are very meaningful and assure me that people are actually reading what I write! (Not just my relatives....) So keep the comments, emails , and "whatever" coming..... 

Here are some brief blurbs from blog readers.

Faye L. from Florida called to tell me how much she enjoyed The Kashmir Shawl by Rosie Thomas. A sprawling tale that takes place in India, this historical novel held her interest and was a "fulfilling and exciting read."

Jayne P. of Brooklyn, NY found The Roundhouse by Louise Erdrich a "ponderous, slow moving story...very disappointing.."

Bob D. of NYC enjoyed The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier. He said "the main character stood out and the story was told with great passion and integrity." He would like to read more books by Tracy Chevalier.


FRO MORE INFORMATION:

Enter the book title in the Search Box at the top of the blog and visit the following links.

www.goodreads.com>Cultural>India

www.guardian.co.uk>Culture>Books>History

FROM THE ROUNDHOUSE TO ISLAM (03/15/2013)

My friend Marjory A. is currently traveling in New Zealand and Australia. She says she hasn't seen any Kangaroos yet, but has read two good books. I told her to give up this kangaroo quest, and just go to the Sydney Zoo!!

The Roundhouse by Louise Erdrich and On Saudi Arabia by Karen Elliot House, are both great reads, according to Marjory A.

I'm not a fan of Louise Erdrich but she's a Pulitzer Prize finalist and has a huge following. Most of her books feature Native American settings and characters. The Roundhouse has gotten mixed reviews. 

It's a vibrant tale of a boy's coming of age in the wake of a brutal attack on his mother. It focuses on a Native American community and reviewers have compared it to the novel,To Kill a Mockingbird.

For More Information Click on the Links Below

                                             

On Saudi Arabia: Its People, Past, Religion, Fault Lines-and Future

by Karen Elliot House

An unusual book to travel with, but Marjory has diverse interests and I can understand why this book would appeal to her...and to many other blog readers as well.

Reviewers agree this is a good primer for those interested in gaining an understanding of Saudi Arabia and its population. Chapters are devoted to the roles of women, religion, the government, poverty... and the author paints a detailed picture of the challenges faced by Saudi society...a very readable portrayal.

Karen Elliot House is a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter, diplomatic correspondent, foreign editor and publisher of the Wall Street Journal until she retired in 2006. She has spent the last thirty years writing about Saudi Arabia...I would say she knows her stuff!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Erdrich
www.karenelliothouse.com

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SIGNS OF THE TIMES (03/12/2013)

  

Two reviews in the Sunday New York Times Book Review Section on 03/10 peaked my interest. It's been awhile since that's happened. 

The Good House by Ann Leary sounds entertaining and inciteful. It tells the story of a successful woman struggling with addiction "in a town where no secret stays secret for long."

The author, Ann Leary is married to comedian, Denis Leary and her humor seems to be as biting as his. The Times was generous in their praise of The Good House describing the packed plot as brimming with intrigue and small town angst. The Good House sounds like a good read.

 

The Blue Book by  Scottish author, A. L. Kennedy also stood out as an excellent new novel. There are many complicated characters whose lives all intersect and connect, but according to the Times the suspense would be ruined if too many details were divulged.
However, the reviewer felt she would be remiss in failing to mention the very erotic sexual passages, a detail that merits divulging. 

Overall, it sounds like a complex read but one worth attempting.

                                   
                             

AND... My favorite book this month, The Dinner by Herman Koch received plaudits in the Times for the second time. You can find my blog comments by entering the title in the Search Box at the top of the Sidebar. The link to the New York Times review is below.

DISCLAIMER: The Dinner is not for readers who like an uplifting book with engaging characters and warm and fuzzy storyline. It's definitely the antithesis. 


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/books/review/the-dinner-by-herman-koch.html?ref=review&_r=0
www.annleary.com
www.a-l-kennedy.co.uk/
www.nytimes.com/books.

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HE'S BAAAAACK (03/10/2013)

Harlan Coben is a fan favorite, as they say in certain circles, and an author that whips out bestsellers on a regular basis. I used to rely on his books for the escape factor, but his last one left me unfullfilled and disappointed...almost like an old friendship gone astray. Coben was my "default" author, always steadfast, so I'm hopeful his new book, titled Six Years will cajole me back into his world of trepidation and suspense. I'm looking forward to it. 


SIX YEARS BY HARLAN COBEN

This starred review was published in the Library Journal

Jake Fisher finds the love of his life, Natalie, and imagines their future together as husband and wife. Instead, she dumps him and a few days later then invites him to her wedding to a man she just met. Jake watches Natalie take her vows, and she tells him to leave her alone forever.

For six years, he keeps that promise. But when he sees Natalie’s husband’s obituary, Jake decides to attend the funeral and comfort Natalie. He is stunned to discover that the man’s widow is not Natalie and that the church where he watched her marry has no record of the ceremony.


Verdict: Coben is one of the best thriller writers in the business, and he delivers another amazing novel that will resonate with readers long after the final page is turned. The narrative is immersive, and the well-drawn characters and twisting plotting are stellar. With such a cool hook and a surprising and satisfying payoff, don’t wait six years to read what might be Coben’s best since Tell No One. —LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review)




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For More Information:

www.harlancoben.com/
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlan_Coben