Title: Stories
Genre: short stories
Grade: B
Notable People: T.C. Boyle (Author)
Review: Twenty years worth of short stories from a master of the form. Not for everyone; these are mostly very dark. Great one about Eisenhower’s secret affair with Khrushchev’s wife. Good bedtime reading; they are short and can be read one at a time.
Title: The Constant Gardener
Genre: Novel
Grade: B+
Notable People: John LeCarre (Author)
Review: a very complicated and socially conscious book about the abused of the pharmaceutical industry in Africa. If you’ve seen the movie- the book has little resemblance and may seem a bit hard to follow. It’s a slow but dynamic read by an author who is master of the spy business. It’s also a very subtly touching love. Takes awhile to read.
Title: Nowhere to Run
Genre: Novel
Grade: B+
Notable People: C.J. Box (Author)
Review: This is the seventh or eighth serial novel in a series about Joe Pickett- a Wyoming game warden. Fast paced, good characters (especially the mysterious falconer and ex CIA guy Nate Romanowski). Not the best plot in the series- but a very fast paced and good read. Very descriptive of the northern Wyoming terrain. If you are a serial reader- try Box out.
Title: Known to Evil
Genre: Novel
Grade: A-
Notable People: Walter Mosely (Author)
Review: If you have not read Mosely before- this will be treat. It’s a new series based on a hard boiled NYC detective an former mob guy that has the usual charm and wonderful dialog from Mosely’ wonderful Easy Rawlins’ books. A great look into the African American psyche and the best one liners of any author I’ve ever read. Captivating story and great eye for setting
Title: The Farmer’s Daughter
Genre: Novel
Grade: B+
Notable People: Jim Harrison (Author)
Review: A fine book of three novellas by the legendary author of Legends of the Fall; combines his usual Hemingway-like portrayal of Montana and the UP of Michigan with an unusual male sensibility of a story told through female characters. Returns to the classic Brown Dog character(BD)of previous writings and includes a beautiful coming of age tale of a young woman in remote Montana
Title: Red Herring
Genre: Novel
Grade: A
Notable People: Archer Mayor (Author)
Review: This is about the 20th in the long running Joe Gunther detective series by Vermont author Archer Mayor. For my money- it is the best yet of what has been a consistently wonderful series. If you have not yet made the acquaintance of Joe Gunther and Willie Kunkle- you could do worse than starting with this one. If you are a regular or occasional fan- you are in for a treat. Compelling story, wonderfully descriptive writing and great characters make this one hard to put down.
