The Son

Texas. There’s more than enough summer left for readers to savor one of those big satisfying novels that involve lots of characters over many decades. Philipp Meyer’s novel, The Son, is as big as Texas itself and covers pioneers, Indians, Mexicans, oil barons, ranchers and enough plot and descriptive language to bring every person, place and time period to life. Meyer moves forward and backward in time, and that added to my enjoyment of the novel. He mines the richness of close family relationships and the tensions that exist in all families. He uses the history of the setting to present life as it was lived. Just about every dimension of human behavior, from the very worst to the very best, are covered in the novel, and even after almost six hundred pages, I was hungry for more while I was sated with all I read. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase The Son from amazon.com.

Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America's Greatest Tragedy

Pragmatic. David Sheff learned what he knows about the treatment of addiction the hard way: through the agony of his son’s addiction to heroin and the many failed treatments the family endured. In his book, Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America’s Greatest Tragedy, Sheff explores what seems to work and what doesn’t based on evidence. He makes clear recommendations on what to do. He indicts those programs that are not based on science and on what actually works. Any reader with an interest in addiction or mental illness will find something interesting and useful in this book. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Clean from amazon.com.

The Intercept

Deception. Fans of thriller novels will find a lot to enjoy in Dick Wolf’s debut novel, The Intercept. While a first-time novelist, Wolf is a longtime storyteller, having created the Law and Order series. In this novel, Wolf explores a clever and deceptive terrorism plot set in New York City. The protagonist is Jeremy Fisk, a NYPD detective in the intelligence division. His skills are sorely tested by a plot that twists and turns in his favor and against him. His instincts and persistence provide great reading entertainment. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Intercept from amazon.com.

Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work

Process. Does anyone really need a how-to book on making decisions? Since I enjoyed at least one previous book by brothers Chip and Dan Heath, I picked up their latest titled, Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work. They take some of the latest results of cognitive research and psychology and present a process for making better decisions. Their four-part WRAP process reeks of common sense: Widen your options; Reality test your assumptions; Attain some distance and Prepare to be wrong. If most of us used this kind of common sense, chances are we’ll make better decisions. The prose in this book is always lively, and the examples interesting and entertaining. You may not think you need a how-to book on making decisions, but after reading it, you might internalize an idea or two that will lead to better decisions. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Decisive from amazon.com.

A Map of Tulsa

Geography. I was engaged and entertained by Benjamin Lytal’s debut novel, A Map of Tulsa. The friendship between Jim Praley and Adrienne Booker provides the backdrop for this coming of age story. Lytal addresses loss and grief in the novel in ways that seemed fresh and familiar at the same time. While I have never been to Tulsa, the geography of that place became so detailed and specific it was as if the place were another character in the novel. Readers who enjoy coming of age stories and are willing to take a chance on a debut novel are those most likely to enjoy this well-crafted work. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase A Map of Tulsa from amazon.com.

The River Swimmer

Mortality. I thoroughly enjoyed the two novellas in Jim Harrison’s latest book, The River Swimmer. Without a wasted or discordant word, Harrison presents readers with fully developed characters, young and old, who are totally connected to the joys and limitations of our brief lifetimes. The novella can be a difficult form of fiction: sometimes leaving a reader wanting more of a story, and other times not having adequate plot action to flesh out a character in ways that satisfy readers. Harrison nails this genre with great skill. I loved his wit and his wisdom in holding a mirror to our human mortality. Any reader who enjoys great writing will find something to like in these novellas. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase The River Swimmer from amazon.com.

Detroit: An American Autopsy

Personal. Journalist Charlie LeDuff has written a great book about his hometown and its woes titled, Detroit: An American Autopsy. The misery and sadness of the people still living in the city of Detroit provide a backdrop for this cautionary tale. Our city may be next. LeDuff candidly lays out the experience of his own family alongside a large cast of characters. The blending of the personal with the distance of a reporter make for a fine combination in a book that riveted my attention from beginning to end. Readers who care about any city and about quality of life in America will find this book heartbreaking and engaging. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Detroit An American Autopsy from amazon.com.