Rick Kohut

Far and away the best audio-book that I've ever listened to - in large part because it utilized more than 150 voices performing the text! As a huge fan of Saunders' short stories, I eagerly anticipated this novel. I began reading the print version of the novel, but had a hard time making progress through it. Saunders writes in an almost screenplay style which I found awkward to read.

The audio version solves this problem and greatly enhances the story. And the casting of the three main characters brilliantly brings out their personalities and the struggles each faces in the Bardo - the liminal space between “that other place” (this life) and whatever follows once death has been experienced. The expressive voices of Nick Offerman, David Sedaris and Saunders himself breath life in to the written words and make their characters unforgettable.

Listen to this audio-book and be prepared to laugh and cry as the author and actors bring life into the pathos of the president who lost his son and was losing his nation to the bloody death of the Civil War.

Wow! What a follow up to this author's “Three A's” trilogy of a few years ago! Those three books constitute one of the wildest, most thoughtful, weirdest, creepiest, and haunting fantasy series I've yet read. So, I had high expectations for this novel. And it didn't disappoint.

To say the world of this novel is “weird” is an understatement. Yet, somehow it worked for me as I could imagine it might actually arrive. In this nearly completely collapsed society, fantastic bio-tech creatures rule. They were created by the malevolent Company for which one of the protagonists once worked. The story is told by his lover, a resourceful woman who survived the vaguely described collapse of the social order. While the relationship between these lovers is engaging, the far more fascinating connection is between the narrator and Borne, an increasingly powerful bio-tech creature.

I won't spoil the fun of how both Borne and his/its relationship with the narrator develops. It provides a surprisingly sensitive meditation on parenting and the challenges of aiding another creature in its development of self-identity.

While the conclusion of the story was somewhat confusing and not completely satisfying, the world created, especially the wholly original Borne, is one I was disappointed to leave and to which I'd like to return. Might the author make this the first book of another trilogy?

Another title which I'm seeing on many “best of 2017” lists. This one lived up to my expectations though. In one sense, it's a gritty examination of a city in an unnamed nation, to which war gradually creeps. Against this impending doom is the hopefulness of a new love relationship of a young man and woman. While I found the ebb and flow of their relationship as of secondary interest, it is a good frame for a war and a fantasy story.

I rate this novel highly as it falls right into the type of fantasy which I like the most - a world much like our own, but with an intriguing, not necessarily explained twist. In the world of this novel, ordinary doors inexplicably become portals transporting those who enter to suddenly exit through other doors throughout the world. These become the simple means to move refugees of war - specifically the two lovers - to new locations, first in refugee camps and eventually London and San Francisco.

The writing is poetic and almost lyrical at times as the author deftly juxtaposes the ugliness of war and the beauty of young, blossoming love. Aside from the engrossing writing, the most fascinating aspect of the alternate world for me is how these doors allow a new mobility for people and consequently the new politics and social structures which result. As I mentioned in another review here, it makes for a world which is thought provoking and therefore one I'd like to explore further in a sequel.

I found this book on numerous “best of” lists for 2017. While I've seen it portrayed as a “modern re-telling of the Joan of Arc story,” this classic tale is mostly tangential to the plot. It takes place in a future where humans have almost completely destroyed the earth and it's creatures. The elite ones who remain orbit in a space station like structure above the earth. Life there is strangely disconnected from sexuality and all other types of physicality. Bodies serve as canvases upon which huge flaps of skin are grafted to show social status and stories are written in a tattoo-like process.

While there is action to the plot, much of the story is the atmospheric creation of this future human existence and the building of the rebellion which threatens to topple it. For me, one who enjoys reading novels with alternative realities not too different than our own, the basic question about the world constructed is: Would I want to experience the world further by reading a sequel? The world of this novel leads me to answer “no” and thus my review is lower than it might be otherwise.

An excellent introduction to the wide range of “models” used by Christians to understand how Christ saves us through the cross. Jones weaves engaging and relevant stories with well-explained, complex theological insights. I particularly appreciate how methodical he is in walking step-by-step through each model offered. In addition to presenting both classical and more modern ideas about the cross, he weighs in with one I call “My God, My God” with us. Overall this book holds powerful, paradigm changing ideas for both budding and well developed Christian theologian reader.

I really like the premise of the story and how it is realized in the world-building by the author. In this case the world is the Magic Kingdom of Disney World - a place for which I too have great affection. Doctorow's trans-human future of embedded, always on devices is interesting - particularly in how this networking allows for the currency of the future to be how much popularity one is able to generate from those encountered. I found the idea of backing up one's being, killing the body, and placing consciousness into a cloned body both intriguing and terrifying. And the way the Magic Kingdom is sketched and developed is pretty awesome too.

My rating dropped though as I made it through a rather pedestrian plot to a conclusion which was both odd and incongruous to the rest of the story. I'd like to visit this world again in a sequel, but one which emphasizes both plot and environment.

While I enjoyed the first book in this new series, I think the Sophomore outing is actually better. The first book had a plot which I found difficult to follow with a resolution that felt unsatisfying. And, as a first book in a series, it needed much exposition about the character and his past. With the character firmly established, “What You Break” is able to hit the ground running.

There are two mysteries which Gus seeks to solve. The first is saving the life of his co-worker with a past from killers from that past. The other mystery seems mostly present focused - why did a killer murder a rich man's granddaughter - but it also reaches into this character's past. The plot developments which move the book toward the conclusion are straight-forward and yet still somewhat unexpected. And the two mysteries come together in a pair of climaxes which feel satisfying and set the terrain for the next book in the series.

An interesting premise to be sure - a mysterious North Korean virus wipes the memory of everyone in the U.S. Some of the more prominent survivors have gone through a process to restore at least some of their memories and therefore their identities. With this framework, there's many directions the author could have gone.

Unfortunately, he went small rather than big. A more engaging book for me would have been a broader, country-wide or global story about this impact of this civilization-changing event. Instead the author's narrow focus is just on L.A. and how those who are “restored” are recreating society. While there are some interesting, thought-provoking aspects to this plot, there is too much which is left incomplete - especially related to the less-than-thumbnail sketches of characters. I did finish the book, mainly to see if there was a worthy conclusion to the story. Unfortunately, I was let down when I discovered - nope, there wasn't.

Interesting, timely, but uneven. The premise is simple: What would the U.S. be like if “America First” adherent and Nazi sympathizer Charles Lindbergh defeated FDR for president and kept the U.S. out of WWII. The big political picture of this scenario is told somewhat oddly from the perspective of an elementary aged Jewish boy in Newark, NJ. Thus, the focus of the book isn't really “what happens to the U.S.,” but rather “what happens to this family while much is happening to the U.S.” This is interesting, but the author gets bogged down in the details of life in this household and the larger community. Things unfold slowly as the political situation doesn't change much - until it does - rapidly with far too many events described in a backhanded way near the end. I read this novel b/c it's getting popular attention, especially since our actual president is a modern “America First-er.” And I'm glad I read it, even if it's not a page-turner and it took some effort to stick with the story.

An interesting start to what I think could be a compelling series of first-person narrated detective novels. Gus, the narrator, is a complex character. Still grieving the sudden death of his 20-something son, he's a retired Long Island cop, who now drives a hotel shuttle van. The plot gets rolling when an ex-con comes to him seeking justice for his recently murdered son. Gus' voice of is engaging and there is a surprising amount of depth expressed as he unwinds a somewhat convoluted (an unbelievable) mystery and moves slowly towards emotional and relational healing. From the library, I've checked out the next book in the series and I'm looking forward to starting it.

I checked this novel out of the library because it was the answer when I asked the librarian if he could recommend “a page” turner for me. It didn't disappoint because it drew me in so deeply that I stayed up late two nights in a row reading it! The protagonist, Evan Smaok is a complex character. Taken from a group home as a pre-teen, he was trained by government agents to be a hired assassin and general “fix-it” man. After his program was disbanded, he went freelance as the Nowhere Man - who helps out those who can't get others to help them. The plot is fast-moving, the technological explanations convincing and the twists frequent. I appreciated how the author took pains to explain the whys and hows of the mysterious elements of the plot once they were resolved. Reading this book won't help me (or you) to solve the world's problems, but it will entertain and almost certainly keep you up late reading it.

As soon as I finished the first book in this new series, I knew I needed to pick up this second one. Although I blazed through it and stayed up entirely too late finishing it, I didn't like it as much as “Orphan X.” I found Evan still to be an interesting and engaging character, but the plot veered early in a direction which surprised me. And then nearly all of the book was spent in a setting at points dangerous, mysterious, creepy, violent, and bleak. The plot kept my attention, but I wanted Evan out of the setting far sooner in the story. I will say that the danger Evan gets into near the climax was inventive and pretty darn cool. A good and fun read, but somewhat of a sophomore slump plot-wise for me.

I found this through a review which described it as being in the same vein as Agatha Christie. While the mystery, which centers on the secrets of a community drama troupe in a small, northern Icelandic town, isn't the most riveting, the atmosphere and culture of Iceland was enjoyable for this U.S. reader. Translated from Icelandic, the writing is pretty easy to follow and it doesn't seem like much is “lost in the translation.” But the very foreign names were harder for me to keep straight than American ones would be. A second book with the same characters and setting is available and I hope to read this one soon as well.

I've noticed this book on a number of “must read” lists regarding “understanding the Trump victory.” Also, I heard the author on a few podcasts and was fascinated by his story. His engaging, fast-paced, funny and insightful memoir did not disappoint me. Although I live in Central Ohio, his description of the life and culture just to the south (in Kentucky) and to the west in Middletown (between Dayton and Cincinnati) was eye-opening. His thesis has stayed with me: While hillbilly life can be crazy and pridefully resistant to governmental “handouts,” everyone in this culture can use a “hand-up,” via strong, healthy, encouraging adult mentors like those that J.D. had growing up. Whether the anger and ills of the “white, working-class” can be solved this easily remains to be seen. Regardless, I am grateful for the illumination of this foreign (for me) culture presented by Vance.

As a casual Sherlock Holmes fan, I enjoyed the references to the classic detective in the first book in this series. I was a bit disappointed by this second novel as the references were either absent or much more subtle (that a casual fan of the classic wouldn't likely “get”). The relationship between Holmes and Watson deepens here and it's interesting to see how this develops. But the “mystery” of the plot was convoluted and I had a hard time understanding exactly what was happening. The set piece which is the climax is creative and engaging, but as I didn't fully get what led to it, I felt more confused than thrilled by it. Apparently a third (and final?) novel is in the works. I hope it offers a more engaging and straightforward mystery than this one did.

I picked up this book because of a comparison a podcast host made between it and some of George Saunders more speculative short stories. Weinstein's tales begin with technological twists on our present world. The near, believable futures told in these memorable tales, led me to wonder: What if we really could see our screens on the inside of our eyelids? Will we someday feel grief when our AI servants or “friends” reach the end of their functional lives? And, from the last story in the anthology, what would it be like to live through another “Ice Age?” Thoughtful and thought-provoking stories which remain with the reader long after the final page is turned.

A creative and clever book which has a simple premise: What if Sherlock Holmes' and Dr. Watson's descendants became friends as they both attended a Connecticut boarding school? In between trying to solve the murder of a student (done in an homage to a famous Holmes case), a surprising complex relationship emerges between two complex characters. Darker than many YA books (Charlotte Holmes' drug use is a central theme), it is a good read for both casual and serious Holmes fans alike.

Wow! A fantastic graphic novel even better than Greenberg's first outing “The Encyclopedia of Early Earth.” A simple “framing” story surrounds multiple tales all celebrating the beauty and intertwined power of love and story-telling. Cherry, an unhappy young adult bride, falls in love with her maid - Hero. To resist the advances of a lecherous older man, who has bet he can seduce Cherry within 100 nights, Hero tells fantastical, multi-layered tales to the man and Cherry which distract him from his lustful intentions. Simple, yet beautiful art, and often humorous text, weaves these creative, woman-empowering tales into memorable and inspiring stories. Worthy of reading again and again.

I read this book after seeing it on a “Best of 2016” list. A quick read, the story flips first person perspective between the two teen characters - a Korean-American boy uncertain about his future after high school and an undocumented Jamaican girl whose family will be deported in the evening in which the day the story is set. An unlikely event brings them together and they quickly realize they feel a deep connection. What elevates this from a typical YA “boy meets girl” novel, is the added focus on various “background” characters whose lives touch the teens and vice versa. A lovely, hopeful tale about fate, destiny and the transcendent power of love.

I selected this book because I found it on a 2016 year-end “best of list.” While I enjoyed it, I don't think it earns a “best of” for my library. The characters - Patricia (the magic-based woman) and Laurence (the science-focused man) are compelling and likable. Yet, I think it would be a far more interesting novel if the somewhat stereotypical gender roles were flipped - he as the witch (warlock?) and she as the scientific genius. Regardless, the plot is engaging, but I'd have liked a more brisk pacing to the story. It kept my interest throughout, but I wouldn't call it a page turner. And the narrative seemed odd in places, e.g. something significant to the plot would be described in just a sentence which felt out of the flow of the story. In the end, I'm glad I read it, but I don't think it lives up to the hype of a “best of designation” nor the ecstatic praise given by the reviewers quoted on the flap and back of the book.

The second book in an “urban fantasy” series. The premise is simple. The world, very much like ours has humans and The Others - “earth natives” who are like common animals (wolves, crows, hawks and others) but are highly intelligent. The Others, who can shift quickly into human-like form, were the first on the continent and thus own the land and the resources. The plot of this book as well as the first one in the series, unfolds somewhat slowly as the focus is on character and relationship development rather than action. It's engaging and thoughtful as it raises issues relevant to our time - how do creatures (or humans) who are different than each other get along peacefully with each other?

I picked this up b/c I found it on a number of “Best of 2017” lists. It was interesting and engaging, but not really a thriller or an intense “page turner.” The genre is one that I like - our recognizable universe, but with a twist - women have an innate power to electrically shock men and cause them great pain or pleasure (or both together.) Reading this in light of the #metoo movement adds a dimension of realism about the complicated gender relationships which arise in the world of the book where women have all of the power. And like the famous quote: Absolute power corrupts absolutely as the book's world of literally empowered women becomes as violent and cruel (albeit in slightly different ways) as our own.

I am confused though by the framing device of the story being a fictionalization of events that happened in the distant (?) past. I could have done without the correspondence between the male author of the “historical fiction” within the larger novel and his female editor as this didn't add anything to the overall story for me.

I picked up this relatively short and fast paced novel after seeing an online ad for it. It sounded exciting and it turned out to be somewhat less so than expected. The flap doesn't say what causes the mother and her preschool child, at the end of their zoo visit, to “keep on running” for the entire novel. An alien invasion? Flood waters? A lava flow? Since the promoters don't spoil it, I won't either. Suffice to say, what causes the conflict is mainly background to drive a story about maternal love and how much a mom knows and protects her child. Overall, I was generally satisfied with the plot, except for one ridiculous coincidence which moves the story forward, but made me exclaim in disappointment, “Really?” It didn't take me that long to read the book, so this frustration with a plot manipulation doesn't make me regret reading it. Yet, did author Phillips really need to rely on something that would take long odds to actually happen?

An alternative fantasy/horror novel with subtle commentary on our present times and the continued struggles for racial justice.??

I listened to the audio book version. The reader was amazing as he truly brought the characters to life. I don't think I would have enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed listening to it!