book review
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Book review: The Magical Language of Others: A Memoir — by E. J. Koh
(Tin House Books) A memoir penned by a poet is pure delight to read, and this particular poet has penned an astonishing memoir. First the structure is unique:…
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Book review: American Dirt — by Jeanine Cummins
(Flatiron Books) Hailed in the book world as the most anticipated book of 2020, “American Dirt” has already won accolades from multiple esteemed writers and critics: Stephen King,…
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Book review: Why We Can’t Sleep — by Ada Calhoun
(Grove Press) In a thoroughly readable, engaging and informative book, author Ada Calhoun delineates many of the extenuating factors — not excuses — for why middle-aged women are…
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Book review: Such a Fun Age — Kiley Reid
G. P. Putnam’s Sons It’s refreshing to start the new year with a new perspective. And it’s refreshing to start reading a fun, contemporary new novel and find…
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Book review: The West Will Swallow You — by Leath Tonino
(Trinity University Press) When Vermont writer Leath Tonino headed out west for college, a friend predicted, “the west will swallow you.” Luckily for us, Tonino hasn’t forgotten his…
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Book review: Skiing with Henry Knox — by Sam Brakeley
(Islandport Press) Vermont writer and wilderness professional Sam Brakeley (he’s an EMT, former ski patroller, search and rescue team member, trail builder, etc.) doesn’t actually ski with Henry…
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Book review: Solitary — by Albert Woodfox
(Grove Press) Albert Woodfox, who spent 43 years and 10 months in solitary confinement, and Robert King, who spent 29 years in solitary, two of the Angola Three…
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Book review: The Shortest Day — written by Susan Cooper, illustrated by Carson Ellis
(Candlewick Press) The winter solstice, as many readers know, is a day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest night of the year. It’s also the…
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Book review: The Winter Army: The World War II Odyssey of the 10th Mountain Division — by Maurice Isserman
(Houghton Mifflin) Maurice Isserman is a virtual encyclopedia of skiing and mountaineering lore and history, and to the reader’s benefit, it is on full display in this fascinating…
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Book review: The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee — by David Treuer
(Riverhead Books) Much of what has been taught in schools, and propagated through popular culture about the role of Indians (the term used by the author throughout this…
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Book review: The Innocents — by Michael Crummey
(Doubleday Books) Critically acclaimed Newfoundland author Michael Crummey’s new novel transports the reader to another time, another place. What begins as a story of survival — a sister…
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Book review: Binging with Babish — by Andrew Rea
(Houghton Mifflin) There are a multitude of YouTube stars these days, I know, but bear with me, I believe Andrew Rea, best known for creating the “Binging with…
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Book review: Marley — by Jon Clinch
(Atria Books) When we meet Jacob Marley in Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” and yes, this is the selfsame man in Jon Clinch’s delectable new novel, he is a…
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Book review: Make it Scream, Make it Burn — by Leslie Jamison
(Little Brown and Company) Leslie Jamison, author of the award-winning essay collection, “The Empathy Exams,” is an astute observer of the people she investigates, holding her skepticism in…
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Book review: Street of Storytellers — by Doug Wilhelm
(Rootstock Publishing) Luke isn’t interested in learning anything about Peshawar or Pakistan, because even though his dad “had him over Christmas vacation. It said so in the divorce,”…
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Book review: This Tender Land — by William Kent Krueger
(Atria Books) The epigraph at the beginning of William Kent Krueger’s could not be more apt: “Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story” from Homer’s…