Dept. of Speculation

Marriage. What keeps a marriage together? Jenny Offill approaches an answer to that question in her novel, Dept. of Speculation. She wastes few words in this book: every sentence seems distilled to richness. We don’t live in narrative flow, and what flow there is in this book involves snippets of a little piece of this and that, which is precisely how we live. Our marriages become the sum of all the little things. Are we prepared for when a big thing comes along? How will we stay together after infidelity? What is fulfillment? When I sat down to read this novel, the quirky snippets seemed to be leading nowhere. Before long, I realized that Offill was piecing together a portrait of modern lives that captures marriage in all its joy and struggle. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Dept of Speculation from amazon.com.

Communion Town

Differences. There’s a real show-off quality to the writing virtuosity that Sam Thompson displays in Communion Town. If when you visit art galleries, you’re the one who spends long periods of time in front of a single work of art to appreciate all you possibly can, the ten stories in this book are perfect for you. Don’t read it as I did, in two sittings. Instead, read one story a week slowly and carefully to appreciate the differences from one to another. I read this too quickly, and often didn’t appreciate how all the varying perspectives and writing styles were both individually well-crafted and contributed to an integrated whole. Rating: Three-star (It’s ok) Click here to purchase Communion Town from amazon.com.

Dancing Fish and Ammonites: A Memoir

Mind. There are many great reasons to read Penelope Lively’s memoir, Dancing Fish and Ammonites. Her prose soars. Reading the recollections of others can stimulate one’s own recollections. We’re all aging, and the observations of a fine writer can inform readers about aspects of that process. The workings of the mind are fascinating, and when presented by Lively seem to deepen. A few sentences on objects can trigger one’s own observations about prized possessions and their meaning. Any time spent with such lucid intelligence may lead to some of it rubbing on the reader. Pick your reason and then read this book before your life slips away. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Dancing Fish from amazon.com.

Famous Writers I Have Known

Con. Frankie Abandonato, the protagonist of James Magnuson’s novel, Famous Writers I Have Known, is a con artist. After fleeing New Jersey in haste after he conned a mobster, he finds himself being met at the Austin, Texas airport by three creative writing students who think he is the reclusive writer they are intended to meet and transport to teach in their renowned program. Magnuson’s satire will appeal in a special way to anyone familiar with university writing programs. General readers are likely to enjoy the con, the charm of many of the characters, and the pacing of the story. Rating: Three-star (It’s ok) Click here to purchase Famous Writers I Have Known from amazon.com.

Dark Times in the City

Dublin. Fans of noir crime fiction are those most likely to enjoy reading Gene Kerrigan’s Dark Times in the City. While I’ve visited the city in the title, Dublin, as a tourist, Kerrigan brought me inside the landscape of the criminal element that I never noticed in this place. The art of war is explored here, as characters are manipulated. Protagonist Danny Callaghan comes alive as a fully formed interesting and complex character, thanks to Kerrigan’s fine writing. We’ve all found ourselves, like Danny, in the wrong place at the wrong time. Read this novel and find out what Danny has gotten himself into and what he has to do to get out of his predicament. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Dark Times in the City from amazon.com.

Tempting Fate

Selfish. Have you ever taken a wrong turn while driving and decided to keep going to see where the road leads? I certainly have, with mixed results. After a dozen or so pages into reading Jane Green’s novel, Tempting Fate, I realized my wrong turn. I confused this author with Jane Casey, whose crime fiction I’ve enjoyed. Instead, I stumbled onto this popular novel often classified as chick-lit. Instead of accepting my error and tossing the book aside, I kept reading, curious about a genre that I don’t pursue intentionally. What I found was an unappealing protagonist, Gabby, whose selfishness causes her life to turn upside down. She risks her twenty year marriage and faces consequences. Now that I’ve taken this road once, I know a little more than I did before about this genre. I may not travel this road often, but I found it more engaging than I expected. Rating: Three-star (It’s ok) Click here to purchase Tempting Fate from amazon.com.

The Good Luck of Right Now

Understanding. Readers looking for a charming novel that helps you feel good about humanity should consider reading Matthew Quick’s The Good Luck of Right Now. This may be the most unusual novel I’ve read in a long time. Protagonist Bartholomew Neil grieves the death of his mother, with whom he has lived for all thirty-eight years of his life. Structured as a series of letters that Bartholomew writes to Richard Gere, we follow the cast of troubled characters on a journey toward understanding and a future that leads them to rely and depend on each other. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Good Luck of Right Now from amazon.com.