“In reality I was playing a part, doing what I imagined I was supposed to do.” Finbar Dolan is having a breakdown. He’s had a mildly successful career at an advertising agency in New York (read: he’s successfully been rewarded for doing the minimal amount of work). His engagement went bust, leaving him with two … More Book Review: Truth in Advertising, by John Kenney
Back in 2009 Colum McCann set the literary world on fire with the National Book Award-winning Let the Great World Spin, a collection of stories centered around the day a man walked a tightrope between the towers of the World Trade Center. Using that true event, McCann elevated the ordinary lives of his characters to … More Book Review: Transatlantic, by Colum McCann
“Nobody ever knows anyone.” Jim and Bob Burgess couldn’t be more different. Bob is sensitive, not very confident, casually self destructive, and dangerously toying with alcoholism. Jim is a brash high-powered attorney with a fancy townhouse in a trendy part of Brooklyn. He’s also a huge jerk, but people are very forgiving of this quality … More Book Review: The Burgess Boys, by Elizabeth Strout
“It’s funny how it’s the memories of shame that hang on longest.” After finishing Claire Messud’s The Woman Upstairs, I’m now two for two with books propelled by rage. Unfortunately for The Antagonist, it pales in comparison to the sublime, burning anger of Woman (review here). To be fair to Lynn Coady, that’s where the … More Book Review: The Antagonist, by Lynn Coady
“I want to make my nothingness count.” First, I should tell you that Claire Messud and I have a complicated history. To be blunt: I hated her last book, The Emperor’s Children. It made me so angry. Looking back at my review (you can read it here), I see that perhaps a lot of this … More Book Review: The Woman Upstairs, by Claire Messud
“There was power in having once known someone.” Let me get this out of the way right now: this is a tremendous book. I have a couple of criticisms, which I will get to, but hot damn. Meg Wolitzer has written an astonishingly clever, detailed novel, and the utmost respect must be given to that. … More Book Review: The Interestings, by Meg Wolitzer
Olympic Melodrama Doesn’t Even Make the Podium I can’t with this one. I just can’t. I’m going to be honest with you: I didn’t finish this book. Don’t think I ever will. The plot is nothing but ham-fisted emotional manipulation with poor writing, and it’s insulting. You have Kate and Zoe, two female cyclists getting … More Book Review: Gold, by Chris Cleave
“This is what I know: people’s hopes go on forever.” I’m going to be blunt here: if This is How You Lose Her isn’t already on your reading list, add it. Immediately. Mark my words, it will be appearing on numerous top ten lists for 2012–which is exactly where it belongs. This is How You … More Book Review: This is How You Lose Her, by Junot Díaz
“Friends see most of each other’s flaws. Spouses see every awful last bit.” Gillian Flynn’s dizzying, addictive thriller wants to ask you a question: how well do you know the person you’re married to? Are you confident you actually know what they’re capable of? Maybe you should keep some protection close by. Just in case. … More Book Review: Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn
“Being part of history is rarely a good idea.” Man, I really wish I had crossed this one off of my to-read list sooner. You see, I enjoy history, but I have a hard time getting into nonfiction books. Most of them are bone dry and deadly dull, in my experience. Wading through the options … More Book Review: Assassination Vacation, by Sarah Vowell
Supposedly Fun 