"Anatomy of a Disappearance" by Hisham Matar is fiction, but it touches the real-life story of the author, whose Libyan father spoke out against the Gaddafi dictatorship and disappeared several decades ago. Here's a look at this memorable novel, Matar's second.
Swedish crime from Karin Alvtegen
Here's an author to keep your eye on. She has three novels published in the U.S. and a style in the crime novel genre that's smart and captivating. I paid a hefty exchange rate so I could read her newest book "Shadow," and it was worth every British pound sterling.
A sisterhood of lonely hearts
If you're looking for that one final good book to read on the patio or take on vacation these dog days of summer, "Break the Skin" by Lee Martin just might be the one. The gathering of lovelorn, irrational characters in a Midwest small-town setting create the perfect, relaxed page-turning draw.
Hype that doesn’t pan out stateside
Stephen Kelman's "Pigeon English" is getting lots of attention for its unique narrative voice. It's even long-listed for the 2011 Man Booker Prize. But the plot draws from a true British crime, and that affects the success of the story this side of the pond.
Adventures in vintage drug paperbacks
I attended Pulpfest 2011 with a list in hand of 36 colorful book titles that included "I Am a Teen-Age Dope Addict," "The Marijuana Mob" and "Reefer Girl." Here's why, and what I learned about the books, plus photos of some that came home with me.
Pick a name, write a book
Here's a collection of entertaining short biographies about writers who assumed pseudonyms as protective covers, such as the Brontë sisters, who wrote under the pen names Acton, Currer and Ellis Bell; and Eric Blair, who took the pen name George Orwell. Carmela Ciuraru's "Nom de Plume: A (Secret) History of Pseudonyms" is delightfully engaging.
A man sees a shark in a swimming pool…
Ben Loory's new "Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day" is a paperback collection of magical, fable-like stories that explore our inner-most fears and desires. They're short, enthralling and addictive.
Lies, social climbing and time travel
Here are three books that have many indications they'll be interesting, intriguing and/or entertaining. I've given brief descriptions with links to their publishers' websites for further exploring.
The Devil made them do it
Three years ago, Ohio author Donald Ray Pollock received widespread acclaim for his fictional debut, "Knockemstiff," a collection of short stories some likened to a modern-day Winesburg, Ohio, or what the New York Times quaintly referred to as "Winosburg, Ohio". His new novel is out this month, and it's another fine walk on the dark side of Ohio.
The story that’s changing your life
Here’s a book title I’d normally run from so fast there’d be a wind storm in my wake. "Monoculture" brings to mind dry, academic prose proclaiming huge, important concepts that would put me to sleep, or to quick shame for my inability to grasp them. And yet, when approached by the book’s publisher, I agreed to read it, driven to accept her request by a strong instinct. The result? A satisfying surprise.
Murder again in the Yorkshire Dales
Here's a great detective mystery, #2 in the Inspector Alan Banks series written by Peter Robinson. I'm reading the books chronologically, as they were written, so I can come to know the detective over time as he evolves. However, you don't have to read the first Banks mystery, "Gallows View", to enjoy the highly entertaining second, "A Dedicated Man." Here's a quick look at the plot.
A father’s decline, a son’s devotion
In the 1930s and 1940s, Joe Thorndike worked as an editor in Henry Luce's publishing empire, including as managing editor of Life magazine. In the 1950s he went on to be one of the founders of American Heritage and Horizon magazines. The last year of his life, 2005, he struggled with Alzheimer's while living in his Cape Cod home. His son John took care of him and wrote this memoir.
“Ex Libris: The Art of Bookplates”
Yale University Press has published a book showcasing bookplates housed at the British Museum. Here's a description of it, plus links to a slide show, for a preview.
Last year’s beach read, this year’s movie
David Nicholls' "One Day" has captured readers worldwide since its initial 2009 publication in the U.K. With the movie coming out in August, I decided to hurry up and read the book. It's a guaranteed good read, but whether or not the movie can pull off the "one day" magical premise of the storyline remains in question.
A therapy of summer morning
"Give Over, Graymalkin" is Gaylord Brewer's eighth collection of poetry, but it's the first I've read of his work. Here's a glimpse into Brewer's new poems that take us to India, Spain and France, and also celebrate the "dead metaphors" of life.
The Longest Chapter 