AltWeeklies Wire
Ron Rash's Darkly Riveting 'Serena'new
Asheville author Ron Rash’s sweeping, big screen-worthy tale is far more than a gruesome account of the human and environmental costs of large-scale logging.
Mountain Xpress |
Alli Marshall |
02-18-2009 |
Fiction
Seriously Funny Parody Rules Graham Rawle's 'Woman's World'new
Graham Rawle's Woman's World is an astonishing concept novel that's not only about the powers of obsession but also, it seems, a product of them. It looks like a book-length ransom note. But it's far more than an elaborate stunt: as soon becomes clear to the reader, Woman's World is a first-rate piece of comedic art.
The Georgia Straight |
Brian Lynch |
02-09-2009 |
Fiction
Family Jewels: Debut Novel From the Owner of Greenville Music Clubnew
Greenville club owner John Jeter releases his debut novel -- a fictional work about fading Southern culture and family legacy told through the eyes of cynical wheel-chair bound music columnist Randol Duncan.
Mountain Xpress |
Alli Marshall |
01-22-2009 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
The Post-Modern 'Art' of Twitter Fictionnew
Twitter technology lets you write a novel 140 characters at a time. And you want to do this why?
Boston Phoenix |
Mike Miliard |
01-16-2009 |
Books
'People Of The Book': Like 'The Da Vinci Code' by Someone Who Can Actually Writenew
The two stories certainly have a lot of the same elements: a holy book with an untold story, a rare-book expert with plucky, unconventional methods who causes everyone a lot of trouble, and a whole lot of history. But People of the Book is actually for people who like books.
Willamette Week |
Michael Kimber |
01-15-2009 |
Fiction
'Death with Interruptions' Looks at the Cost of Immortalitynew
Descriptions of Jose Saramago's literary voice might sound dull and heavy-handed, and his pages might look more like a chore than a pleasure. Yet when you sit to read Death with Interruptions, you feel you are cutting through all the unnecessary formalities, and getting to the real meat of the story.
Charleston City Paper |
Michael Lucero |
12-21-2008 |
Fiction
Dame Darcy Plays with Her Dolls in 'Gasoline'new
Gasoline is essentially an illustrated novel: Drawings accompany the text, but they're not integral to the story, pushing Dame Darcy's prose into the spotlight in a way that Meatcake does not -- and unfortunately, the writing simply isn't sophisticated enough to take center stage.
The Portland Mercury |
Allison Hallett |
12-19-2008 |
Fiction
Winter Reading: 58 Reasons to Be Anti-socialnew
What we squeeze into Winter Reading each year is not a best-of list, exactly, though we do strive to include those books we want to recommend to friends, parents, anyone with a pair of eyes. It's more of a case for reading, for sharing the wonders of a good story.
Eugene Weekly |
Staff and freelancers |
12-16-2008 |
Books
J.K. Rowling Raids the Hogwarts Library with 'Beedle'new
If the phrases "Translated from the ancient runes by Hermione Granger" and "Commentary by Albus Dumbledore" don't get your Hedwig-emblazoned Underoos in a twist, we might as well cut to the chase: The Tales of Beedle the Bard probably isn't for you (and you're also probably a joyless, dour ass, but that's beside the point).
The Portland Mercury |
Erik Henriksen |
12-12-2008 |
Fiction
Small-Press Books: Reading for Real Peoplenew
As the unemployment rate rises and your friends find themselves out of work, why not comfort them with some small-press books this holiday season?
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
11-20-2008 |
Books
Remembering Jim Crumley, the Last Good Detective Writernew
When the Texas-born novelist James Crumley died at age 68 on September 17, newspaper obituaries in Los Angeles, Washington, New York, and London all mentioned one of his sentences. The sentence was not the only notable string of words this fine writer composed, but devotees of his work often point to it as a landmark in modern detective fiction.
The Texas Observer |
Dick Holland |
11-19-2008 |
Books
'The Bible Salesman' is a Rollicking Readnew
Borrowing Scriptural tropes and themes from Southern literature and folklore, Clyde Edgerton weaves a wryly amusing Southern gothic tale about faith, the perils of gullibility and optimism and the ever-present temptation of evil.
NOW Magazine |
David Jager |
11-17-2008 |
Fiction
'The Dart League King' is Surprising and Compellingnew
Keith Lee Morris' second book takes place entirely at a championship darts match on a single night in Idaho, in June of 2007. Surprisingly for such a narrowly focused work, it is as compelling a novel as I've read all year.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
11-14-2008 |
Fiction
'The Boys in the Trees' Speaks of Small Town Tragedynew
For readers raised on the quick paced, urban true crime rhythm of Law & Order, Swan's book may often feel like a slow, dry read. But this is a short, subtle and ultimately searing book.
Montreal Mirror |
Juliet Waters |
11-07-2008 |
Fiction
'Red Dog' is Truly a Poet's Novelnew
I love it when poets take on a sprawling narrative, plumping up sentences with images so striking you feel like taking out your highlighter.
NOW Magazine |
Zoe Whittall |
11-03-2008 |
Fiction
