Editorial reviews

With these six volumes, Karl Ove Knausgaard set out to grapple his life into submission. Here’s a spoiler: He loses the struggle.

Make sure you don’t have to be up early the morning after you start this book.

Preaching to the choir? Yes, but it’s a sermon that seemingly requires constant reiteration.

Schefter’s warm, personable book introduces us to Joe and his impact on so many. It is a fascinating work, well worth reading, even as you grieve over the loss experienced by the Maios.

Though occasionally reminiscent of David Mitchell, Sjón’s work is unlike anything else in contemporary fiction. Strange—but stunning.

This wayward, exciting odyssey confronts death throughout. Nothing is quite what it seems, and there are no easy answers. Here, instead, is an artist preoccupied with questions.

An intimate and resonant take on finding one’s place in the world even while being pulled in opposing directions.

A fully realized vision.

Bischoff does succeed in building suspense and keeping it going.

The book is a lot like its author – unapologetic, businesslike and impatient to make a difference.

The entire narrative is imbued with a sitcom gloss that ultimately numbs the reader to the emotional crises that Ruth faces.

The Shepherd’s Hut is resplendent, too, with excellent descriptions of the outback and the struggles Jaxie must overcome just to eke out a living. The visceral images of hunting kangaroos and the desperation of thirst create a marvelous sense of realism that made me feel like I was native to a country I’ve never set foot in.

Tiffany’s desire to make sense of the direction of her life, to delve into discussions of music, race, religion, God, paternity, romance, and mortality, makes this novel a terrific teen read for our tumultuous times. Hopefully, we’ll hear again soon from its author.

You might not agree with Andrews, but we need him. While he contends that liberalism “is the most violent system that ever existed on the planet”, he also reminds us that liberals need radicalism to survive. It’s one of multiple ironies that exist in the ideological battle between theories of justice and oppression – ironies that this book helps identify with skill.

Having grown up in an era of giants in the American record industry, he has good stories to tell about his encounters with them.

Despite its dark premise and some truly disturbing scenes, SUICIDE CLUB is, at its heart, a celebration of humanity --- its accomplishments and its foibles.

Castillo, who cannot write badly, continues to improve and sharpen her vision with each book, casting her sympathetic and believable protagonist in a variation of the fish-out-of-water setting, which is both familiar and unique.