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Sirens & Muses: A Novel

September 7, 2022

sirens

The bucolic landscape surrounding Wrynn College of Art a private, elite school in New England disguises an atmosphere of intensity in Antonia Angress’ novel, Sirens & Muses. Louisa and Karina are sophomores and roommates, but that’s where their surface commonality ends. Louisa is from New Orleans and can only afford school through loans and part-time jobs. Karina is from ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: art, contemporary fiction, debut, literary

Calling for a Blanket Dance

September 5, 2022

calling

In a desperate attempt to save her marriage, Turtle packs up her 6-month-old son, Ever, finds her drunk husband, Everardo, loads him into the car and leaves Oklahoma for Mexico. Her plan is to reunite Everardo with the mother he hasn’t seen in a decade in the hope she’ll pressure him into living up to his responsibilities. The visit is a welcome one and ignites Everardo’s sense ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: book clubs, contemporary life, cultural, debut, literary, Native Americans

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

August 31, 2022

carrie

There’s always a lot of excitement when a new Taylor Jenkins Reid novel comes out, but this year the hype is ramped up by its timing. Carrie Soto is Back is about a former Grand Slam titlist coming out of retirement to defend her record. This week the U.S. Open begins with the intense buzz around Serena Williams’ announcement that she’s retiring at the end of this year. In case ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: sports, vacation reading, women

Nightcrawling: A Novel

August 22, 2022

nightcrawling

At a time when most teenage girls are busy with dating, hanging out with friends, and choosing colleges, 17-year-old Kiara is facing a rent increase that is likely to render her homeless. She lives in a rundown East Oakland apartment with her older brother Marcus. Their father is dead and their mother is in prison. This is the world explored in Leila Mottley’s gritty debut ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: book clubs, contemporary life, debut, social issues, teen years

Tracy Flick Can’t Win

August 19, 2022

tracy

Tracy Flick Can’t Win is the latest novel from Tom Perrotta and if the title’s name looks familiar it’s because this is a sequel to his novel, Election. I never read the first book, but know Tracy well from the movie adaptation of the book. She was a goody-two-shoes teenager perfectly played by Reese Witherspoon. Tracy Flick Can’t Win is about the life of middle-aged Tracy so I ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: contemporary life, midlife, women

Remarkably Bright Creatures

August 11, 2022

remarkably

Hello, everyone! I’m easing back in today with a novel that melted my curmudgeonly heart. Remarkably Bright Creatures is a debut by Shelby Van Pelt that takes place in Sowell Bay, a fictional small town in northern Washington State. Tova is an elderly woman, who works nights cleaning the town’s aquarium. It’s quiet work that, on the one hand, suits her wish to avoid prying, but ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: contemporary life, debut, Pacific Northwest

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