Monthly Archives: June 2018

“Madonna from the Mountains”, a promising debut by Elise Valmorbida, is a “convincing” drama about the changing dynamics of a marriage.  Maria Vittoria’s husband Achille is handsome, but traditional; occasionally abusive.  They start a grocery and a family.  They are … Continue reading →

“Us against You” is the latest tale from Frederick Backman (“A Man Called Ove”.   Here, he picks up the story about the hockey-obsessed village of “Beartown”.   As the new hockey season approaches, the team is still in the throes of … Continue reading →

    “A Perfect Couple”, this season’s beach read by Elin Hilderbrand, opens on a somber note.  The maid of honor for a society wedding is found floating face down in the harbor on the morning of the big day.  … Continue reading →

Catch up with hot new wordsmiths in  “The Best American Poetry“ and “Best American Short Stories“ of 2017.  Poetry editor Natasha Trethewey hosts the innovative PBS segment “Where Poetry Lives”,  which helps viewers see why verse is both “elegant and necessary.”   Meg Wolitzer, meanwhile, … Continue reading →

The the DVD “The Party”, a gathering of friends in a London townhouse turns edgy as a series of revelations unravels the soiree.   In “Red Sparrow”, a Russian intelligence officer seeks help from the CIA in discovering the identity of … Continue reading →

…and related ports of call. In “The Husband Hour” by Jamie Brenner, a widow’s reclusive life in a beach town is interrupted by a surprise visitor.  “That Month in Tuscany” by Inglath Cooper pairs a girl on the rebound with … Continue reading →

In “Bring Me Back” by B.A. Paris, a man begins to suspect that his missing girlfriend may be alive. “This dark and twisted thriller will keep you on your toes” (Buzzfeed).  In “The Crooked Staircase” by Dean Koontz, Jane Hawk … Continue reading →

 “Shylock is My Name” by Howard Jacobson (The Finkler Question), does a contemporary take on William Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice.  It is part of the Hogarth Shakespeare Project, which seeks to generate interest in the Bard’s plays by casting them … Continue reading →

2 crime stories by Volker Kutscher evoke Berlin on the eve of the Nazi ascent.  In “Babylon Berlin”, police discover a body with no identity who had clearly been tortured.  Investigator Gereon Rath discovers a connection with a circle of … Continue reading →

In “A Shout in the Ruins” by Kevin Powers, the traumatic impact of the Civil War is followed across the generations of 2 families from the same plantation, one white and one black.  “Gods of Howl Mountain” by Taylor Brown … Continue reading →