Category: Books

Genre: Novel

Grade: A
Notable People: Jim Harrison
Title: The Great Leader

Review – another magnificent piece of writing from the person I believe to be the greatest living American writer (Legends of the Fall). Harrison has been writing for 45 years in his almost, but not quite Hemingway style. Caught a lot of flack early on for his similar machismo and lack of sensitivity. So- he turned around a wrote a series of books with a woman as main character (Dalva, etc.)- which blew the critics away for his ability to write in the first person female. He is, in fairness, an Upper Peninsula version of Hemingway- but with more self – effacement, sympathy and gentleness. This story is a semi-ironic take on the great detective novel- with a retiring UP detective hell bent on finishing with one more resolved case involving a sexual predator cult leader. Beautifully written in the natural themes of both upper Michigan and Arizona- it is a subtle thing of beauty. A good chance to get to know Harrison- if you don’t yet.

Genre: Novel

Grade: A-
Notable People: Ivan Doig
Title: Work Song

Review – I really like Doig’s writing- have read four of his novels in the last year; all set in the West in the early 20th Century. This one is s continuation of The Whistling Season, which I previously reviewed- with the main character, Morrie, a holdover from that previous book. Great character study set amongst larger than life people in the mining-union culture of boom-town Butte, Montana. Really nice read- good for a winter’s day sojourn.

Genre: Novel

Grade: A
Notable People: Archer Mayor, Author
Title: Three Can Keep a Secret

Review – This is Archer’s 24th book in the Joe Gunther mystery series- all primarily set in and around Vermont. Archer is somewhat of a folk here in the state, and deservedly so for a body off work that so finely illuminates the state’s beauty, character and nuance. This one is somewhat of a departure in that it is both a good old fashioned mystery as well as chronicle of the Vermont experience post Hurricane Irene. Archer does a really nice job of painting a picture of the devastation of the natural disaster while still weaving a fine yarn. All the primary characters are back (as they have been for over 20 years) and this one delves into the mythical history of the states’ politics and power base. This ranks as one of my favorites of the last two decades; always a thrill when we get to experience more of the enigmatic Willie. Some of Archer’s books might seem inaccessible to the novice who has not followed the serial- but this one can stand alone as a fine work of fiction. If you have not yet given this series a try- this may be the one to start with…it will undoubtedly have you going back to the beginning to check out the whole shebang.

Genre: Novel

Grade: B

Notable People: Ivan Doig
Title: The Whistling Season

Review –Doig writes really well about the West in the late 19th century- particularly about the settling of Montana and the huge irrigation projects to water the west. This is the third of his with that theme in the background. I like his characters a lot and this is a really good story; most of which takes place in a one room ,eight grade schoolhouse. Morrie Morgan, the reluctant teacher of all the kids- is a GREAT character. It’s a book with a lot of good feel- and if you like historical kinds of fiction- you’ll most likely like this. That being said- the grade went down because I thought it petered out at the end- and was wrapped up a bit too cleanly for my taste. Still- an easy read, and if you have not been “Doigged” before- you may want to give it a try.

Genre: Novel

Grade: A-

Notable People: Rebecca Cantrell
Title: A Trace of Smoke

Review –This is the second in a series of four “Hannah Vogel” novels I have read from Cantrell. This is good stuff. Hannah is a journalist quietly rejecting the Nazi assumption of control in Germany in the late 30’s. great historical picture of a world beginning to run amok, and little being done about it. Great characters, good plot, amazing sense of place…and Hannah is a true heroine of her time. Get these books – you’ll like them. I’m starting the next one.

Genre: Novel

Grade: A

Notable People: Rebecca Cantrell
Title: A City of Broken Glass

Review -Wow- what a book. If this is not already in someone’s hands to make film noir out of – a huge mistake. She is a really good writer and this book is one of a series- the Hannah Vogel” books. Hannah is a behind the scenes femme fatale living in pre WW Two Europe. This books takes place in 1938 as the Nazi stronghold is developing and the Jews are beginning to become the central victims. Full of suspense, finesse, love and mystery,- Hannah is a heroine for the ages. And an amazing portrayal of Berlin as it geared up to become what it would become. Don’t miss this one this summer.

Genre: Novel

Grade: A-

Notable People: Ben Winters
Title: The Last Policeman

Review –This is my first ever review on demand. My friend, Nate, asked me to read this book- written by his high school friend, and review it. It is Winters’ first novel and a good one if you like a murder mystery set against the backdrop of the world waiting to possibly end due to a collision with a giant meteor. It takes pace in New England in the near future in a world living in a state of perpetual doom based on where exactly this meteor will hit…the countdown is on. The mystery part is a bit obtuse- but easy to read. Interesting protagonist and a sobering description of a world gone slightly crazy- everyone is living out their bucket list in one way or another. If you like mysteries and you like sci-fi- this one is the combination for you. I usually don’t like sci-fi but I liked this. Winters writes well and it’s a quick read.

Genre: Novel

Grade: A-

Notable People: Geraldine Brooks
Title: A Year of Wonders

Review This is a boo I almost quit on in first fifty pages; it’s about a year of the Plaque in Devonshire, England in the 1660s. Beautifully told by the heroine feminist before her time in a world that did not bless such woman. The book is haunting, elegiac, and enormously hopeful. With some really good twists at the end. You’ve got to be ready to deal with a lot of death and hardship to read this one- but I found it somehow uplifting. I believe it is Brooks first novel and she’s’ a good one; a war correspondent in all the Middle East hot spots, she was on break in rural England when she came to be in the town of Eyma- which had the true story of being the center of the Plaque and a place that through their spiritual leader cut themselves off from everywhere else for one year to avoid passing on the disease. An amazing story and once you find out it is basically true, in the afterward…even more amazing.

Genre: Novel

Grade: A+

Notable People: Pete Hamill
Title: Snow in August

Review Best read I’ve had in last year. I think this may be Hamill’s “Great American novel”. A truly moving story in post war Brooklyn (Hamill’s principle muse)about an immigrant Irish boy coming to terms with his father’s death at the Battle of the Bulge, his growing sense of prejudice in America, his struggle to believe in something bigger than himself, his passion for the Brooklyn Dodgers AND the coming of Jackie Robinson- and his amazing friendship with a newly immigrant Rabbi. This may be the best book ever written about that time and place. Vivid writing, luminous characters and chills to be found as this novel / fable unfolds. A brilliant book.

Genre: Novel

Grade: A

Notable People: Walter Mosley
Title: Cinnamon Kiss

Review If you’ve never read any of Mosley’s Easy Rawlins books- you are missing an amazing piece of American culture. Easy is a part-time private dick and part-time criminal in post war LA. Mosley started writing these books in the immediate post war period in which LA was beginning to evolve (think Chinatown) and has continued , bringing it and Easy into the 60s. This book takes place as the 60s are exploding in both LA and San Francisco. It’s a hard boiled page turner but also a wonderful snapshot of the American Black experience. Easy is an incredibly complex character and his friend Mouse might be the most dangerous yet lovable character in the history of fiction. Mosley is a master and this is one of his really good efforts. When I get in big trouble- I want Easy and Mouse in my corner.