Bucky F*cking Dent

Character. I had low expectations when I picked up a copy of David Duchovny’s novel titled, Bucky F*cking Dent. Having known Duchonvy as an actor, I didn’t know much about his skills as a writer. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the writing as well as the abundant literary references. This well-educated and multi-talented person has written a very good novel. At the core of the novel there is a father-son relationship with two complex and interesting characters. Perfect for this time of year, there is baseball. Duchonvy explores love, loss, loyalty and perseverance in ways that were both light and deep at the same time. Three hundred pages can be turned with pleasure over the course of about as much time as one would spend at a baseball game. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Bucky F*cking Dent from amazon.com.

The Second Life of Nick Mason

Compromised. Just when I thought I had read every possible plot for a crime novel, along comes Steve Hamilton and his novel titled, The Second Life of Nick Mason, first in a series. An imprisoned crime boss, Darius Cole, selects inmate Nick Mason for special treatment. Cole offers Mason a deal: get out of prison twenty years early, and do what I want you to do on the streets of Chicago. Mason agrees and once compromised finds himself doing things that he wants to stop. The fast pace of the novel seems best suited for the screen rather than the page, especially as Mason wrecks multiple restored classic cars while carrying out Cole’s commands. Fans of crime novels are those most likely to enjoy reading this one and may join me in looking forward to the next installment. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Second Life of Nick Mason from amazon.com.

A Life Apart

Alienation. While reading Neel Mukherjee’s debut novel, A Life Apart, I had to keep reminding myself that this book was not written by an older and more experienced writer. The construction of the novel was complicated: the story of a young man in one chapter followed by the story of an old woman in the next chapter, then repeated. Both protagonists have been experiencing life as outsiders, the young man as an Indian in England, and the English woman living in India. Mukherjee presents the depth of their emotions and the totality of their alienation with great skill. Readers who enjoy debut novels and fine literary fiction are those most likely to appreciate this novel. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase A Life Apart from amazon.com.

Your Heart Is a Muscle the Size of a Fist

Riot. The debut novel titled, Your Heart Is a Muscle the Size of a Fist, by Sunil Yapa, pummels readers with a riot of words and a display of a wide range of thoughts and feelings. Set on one day in 1990 in Seattle at the gathering of delegates and protestors for the World Trade Organization conference, the novel sweeps readers into the sights and sounds of the street protests and riot. So much of what we do as humans does not turn out the way we planned, and we do things based on either thoughts or feelings that cause our reactions in a moment to display what values direct us, whether we admit to them or not. Yapa’s energetic prose, and shifting perspectives by multiple characters can be a challenge to absorb. I found his dynamic writing to be exciting and a pleasure to read. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Your Heart from amazon.com.

The Beautiful Bureaucrat

Wordplay. The debut novel by Helen Phillips titled, The Beautiful Bureaucrat, may the most courageous writing I’ve read in a long time. Phillips sets most of the novel in an odd workplace, and places protagonist Josephine in an Everyone role as she does the work she is asked to do, and grows in her curiosity as she tries to make sense of and master the work. Phillips uses files, paperwork and wordplay in ways that I found very funny. The subject is serious, and the courage that Phillips exhibits in presenting such a disturbing and odd novel as her introduction to readers may portend great things from this fine writer. Readers looking for an unusual and well-written novel should consider reading this one. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Beautiful Bureaucrat from amazon.com.

The Solomon Curse

Giants. The seventh installment in the Sam and Remi Fargo series by Clive Cussler is titled, The Solomon Curse. While most of the formula remains intact in the current adventure, the Fargo’s opulent eating and drinking is dialed down and their concern for the lives of others ramped up. They are looking for a lost city off Guadalcanal, and hear stories of giants. With dispatch, the plot moves them to multiple places and to satisfying discoveries. Readers looking for wholesome, reliable adventure fiction will find an entertaining story in this novel. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Solomon Curse from amazon.com.

The Revolving Door of Life

Healing. The tenth installment in Alexander McCall Smith’s 44 Scotland Street series is titled, The Revolving Door of Life. Originally published as installments in The Scotsman, the short chapters provide ideal reading for commuters, or for any reader who has the time for short spurts, but can’t always read for extended time periods. Fans of the series will enjoy the reunion with old friends, and appreciate the many forms of healing and love that permeate this collection. New readers can start here and find satisfaction from these standalone episodes. Once hooked, most readers will want to read the entire series. I’m already looking forward to the next installment. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Revolving Door of Life from amazon.com.