“Producing a Brunetti book every year for the last 20 years, Ms. Leon seems to be taking more shortcuts in her plotting in favor of more acute social commentary.”
“The plot of The Spoiler rattles along with slow-burning subplots that manage to keep the reader engaged. If the reveals are a little disappointing in their substance, Ms.
“Ghosting might not please the average American reader. Mr. Gann asks a lot from his readers—so many names to keep straight, so many difficult passages to wade through.
“For a reader who derives pleasure from historical accuracy and realistically drawn personalities, Richard Mason’s rich descriptions may seem superficial and anachronistic, much like the em
“John Kinsella is hard on the people of the Wheat Belt, especially the region’s still-dominant old families. Most of his sketches are gloomy in their content and conclusions.
“. . . the question, the one that has to do with the collected stories in questions, is: Is What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank: Stories worthy of the hoopla?
“In the end the real question is: What would happen if we were to throw away caution and good sense and choose instead to enjoy a moment—albeit a delectable one—in time?
“. . . that the author takes this niche subject and makes from it a tale with universal appeal is proof that Lysley Tenorio is a major new literary talent. . . .
“This story of a young girl’s survival could easily be overly sentimental, but never is. The promise of this memoir’s early pages and what lingers when the story is finished is Ms.
“For a narrow niche of readers, Boarded Windows could be that once-in-a-generation revelatory depiction of an under-explored subculture—in this case, the Northern Plains slacker-in
“This tender, coming of age debut novel is seasoned throughout with similes and metaphors, adding spice to the characters and the description of this scenic yet secluded setting.
