Every year I read books I loved, but that seemed to go under-the-radar for most people. Yes, reading is a very personal endeavor and what is 5 stars for me may not be 5 stars for you, but I’ve got 7 underrated gems I read this year that I’m almost evangelical about—I loved them that much. So, I’m spreading that love in the hopes that you might discover your next great read ... Read More...
The Survivors: A Novel by Alex Schulman
Alex Schulman is a well-known Swedish author with The Survivors being his first book to be translated into English. The novel begins with a policeman arriving at a lakeside cottage where three men wait, bloody and exhausted. Nils, Benjamin, and Pierre are brothers who came to the house to dispose of their mother’s ashes, a plan that fell apart as they began revisiting the ... Read More...
Voices from the Pandemic
Welcome! Today is a bit different at The Gilmore Guide. You’re here to read book reviews, not me pontificating on topics you may not care about. By and large I try and stick to that format. But if you’ve been a longtime supporter of this blog or you know me at all, you have some sense of my views on any number of subjects so this review and my thoughts on Voices from the ... Read More...
Summer Thrillers 2: Mini-Reviews
On Friday I reviewed two summer thrillers that didn’t come through for me, but I acknowledged I’m finicky these days. Thankfully, I’m back with two more high-octane summer novels that kept me reading until the last page. Hang on. I have to start my review of Falling with a big caveat: DO NOT read this book if you’re on a plane. Bill Hoffman is a long-time pilot ... Read More...
Olympus, Texas: A Novel
When the word Texas is in the title there’s an automatic expectation that what lies between the covers is going to be as bold, brash, and over-the-top as the state itself. In this way, Olympus, Texas does not disappoint. The Briscoes are the stars in the novel’s firmament, even if their shine is due to their bad behavior. Patriarch Peter can’t keep his hands to himself, which ... Read More...
The Bad Muslim Discount
The blurb for The Bad Muslim Discount calls it “hilarious” so I was ready for some kind of satirical, light, comedic look at Muslim culture in America told from the Middle Eastern perspective. I was deliciously mistaken in that what I got was a thoughtful, nuanced portrayal of two immigrants, one from Pakistan and one from Iraq whose lives unexpectedly intersect. Was it the ... Read More...
