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The Mere Wife: A novel

August 2, 2019

mere

Just out in paperback, this was a novel I loved and thought deserved a lot more attention.   Maybe every monster is a miracle meant to change the world... Author Maria Headley dives into a modern-day retelling of Beowolf beginning with its title, The Mere Wife. This is no novel about a slight wife, a minor presence, a smudge of a life. No, the women in this tale ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: book clubs, contemporary fiction, literary, Picador, retellings

Whisper Network by Chandler Baker

July 3, 2019

whisper network

Sloane, Ardie, and Grace are all well-paid, director level lawyers at an athletic apparel company in Dallas. Their boss, Ames, is a high-powered executive about to be promoted to CEO. Each of them has been subjected to inappropriate behavior on his part so when they learn about an anonymous spreadsheet with the actions and names of men who’ve behaved badly at other Dallas ... Read More...

4 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: book clubs, contemporary life, Flatiron Books, social issues, women

After the End by Clare Mackintosh

July 1, 2019

after the end

There are many unimaginable things in life, but one of the worst is being the parent of a dying child. Max and Pip are a couple in love who adore their son Dylan. He’s a happy child, but developmentally a bit slow—he doesn’t talk much and falls down more than most children. Shortly before his third birthday they learn he has a brain tumor. A tumor that’s been causing the damage ... Read More...

10 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: book clubs, family, literary, marriage, Putnam, social issues

Cygnet by Season Butler

June 24, 2019

cygnet

The narrator of Season Butler’s debut novel, Cygnet, is known as the Kid. She’s 17 and her parents have dropped her off at her grandmother’s house on an island off the coast of New Hampshire to live while they try and get their lives together. It’s supposed to be for a few weeks, a month at most, but three months later, the Kid’s grandmother has died and she’s never heard from ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: book clubs, coming-of-age, debut, Harper, literary, New England

The Paper Wasp by Lauren Acampora

June 12, 2019

paper wasp

The Paper Wasp is the story of two young women living in small Michigan town who were best friends. Up until high school that is, when Elise was discovered and left town for L.A. to become an actress. In losing her popular best friend, Abby floundered and even though she ended up as valedictorian she never fit in again. Now, a decade has passed and Elise’s star is on the rise ... Read More...

8 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: contemporary life, debut, friendship, Grove Press, Hollywood, literary

Riots I Have Known

May 20, 2019

eight

Sometimes a synopsis can come out of nowhere and make you pick up a book you never thought you would, but it’s a dicey proposition because marketing people are wily devils. Their entire purpose in life is to seduce. But it still doesn’t quite explain why I thought a novel about a Sri Lankan male inmate in an American prison in the midst of a riot would make for something I ... Read More...

8 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: contemporary fiction, debut, humor, literary, satire, Simon & Schuster

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