After finishing Peter Heller’s new novel, The Guide, I realized I needed to come up with a new genre for books of this type that draw me so here it is: Wilderness Thrillers. Novels where the authors’ portrayal of nature is as compelling as the plot. Heller’s last novel The River, Charlotte McConaghy’s Once There Were Wolves, and Tim Johnston’s Descent all come to mind. Jack is ... Read More...
Ten Best Books of 2019
Well, what do you know. Rather than being my usual contrarian self, I actually have ten books I consider to be the best of 2019. Of course, that doesn’t include the eight debut novels I wrote about on Wednesday, but let’s not split hairs. The point is: ALL of these books are marvelous. Even better, you still have time to get any one of them before Christmas for your ... Read More...
The River by Peter Heller
Books written by men and about men? No thanks. All about canoeing and camping? Hard pass. Set entirely in the wilderness? Nope. Peter Heller’s new novel, The River? 5 stars. Yes, you read that right. Nothing about this novel’s description appealed to me, but when my friend Susie recommended it I knew I had to let go of my prejudices and give it a go. 24 hours later I finished ... Read More...
