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The Gimmicks: A Novel

January 22, 2020

gimmicks

I didn’t plan this, but I’m back today with another unusual book (Monday's review). The Gimmicks is about two teenage brothers in Armenia in the 1970s. One is a giant, standing over 6’6” tall, while the other is a competitive backgammon player. The novel moves between their lives and the life of a former pro-wrestling manager in 1980s America. When the book arrived I actually ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: cultural, debut, Harper, historical fiction, literary

Eight Best Debuts of 2019

December 18, 2019

eight

One of my favorite parts about being a book blogger is discovering new literary voices. Debut authors comprise almost 40% of my reading. Here are the eight debut novels that helped make 2019 such a strong year for my reading.     I never thought a courtroom drama would not only be in my favorites but that it would also be one of only two 5 star novels in ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Feature Tagged: book clubs, favorite books, lists

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

October 7, 2019

dutch

Maeve and Danny live of a life of contrasts. Their house is by far the grandest in their neighborhood and money is not something they ever have to think about, but their mother left when Danny was only three and Maeve ten. Their father is a taciturn man who excels at real estate, but shows little interest in either of his children. What they have is each other and it’s enough, ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: American life, book clubs, family, Harper, literary, relationships

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

Mothers’ Week: A Woman is No Man

May 8, 2019

woman

It’s easy to become outraged about the treatment of women in the Muslim world when it takes place far away, as in the memoir Daring to Drive or fiction like Song of a Captive Bird or The Pearl that Broke its Shell. It’s ingrained through centuries of custom and dogma, but debut author Etaf Rum shreds any sense of complacency about American values superseding cultural ones in ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: debut, Harper, New York City, religion, social issues, women

The Better Sister by Alafair Burke

April 18, 2019

better sister

Chloe Taylor is on top of her game. She is the editor of a small but prestigious women’s magazine, has just been honored in the field of journalism, and lives the glamorous life in NYC with her handsome lawyer husband, Adam, and her stepson Ethan. It’s all oh-so lovely except for one small fact she never talks about: Adam was her older sister Nicky’s husband and Ethan is her ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: family, Harper, mystery, New York City, thriller

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