Scribner Review by George Yatchisin How unreasonable, the Age of Reason, especially for an illiterate—if wildly, imaginatively thoughtful—peasant. A.K. Blakemore’s new novel The Glutton might be based on a wisp…
Tag: California Review of Books
The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
Riverhead Review by David Starkey In some respects, Lauren Groff’s latest novel is an old-fashioned adventure tale. It begins with a teen girl, “bony and childish small” but quick, smart…
The Lichen Museum by A. Laurie Palmer
Minnesota Review by David Starkey Readers thinking that lichen don’t sound like the most scintillating topic for a book have a valid concern. After all, these organisms created by the…
This Bird Has Flown by Susanna Hoffs
Little, Brown Review by George Yatchisin If you have ever wondered what life’s like for a one-hit wonder, Susanna Hoffs’ debut novel This Bird Has Flown is for you. The…
My Friends by Hisham Matar
Random House Review by Walter Cummins My Friends is a haunted novel. Haunted by loss of places and people, by distressing memories, by the scars of a physical wound, by…
Reflections from the Shadow of Los Angeles: A Very Brief Memoir by Byron Schneider
Impervious Press Review by Brian Tanguay My only regret about Reflections from the Shadow of Los Angeles is, as the subtitle suggests, that it is very brief. I wanted to…
Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan
Random House Review by Brian Tanguay “I recently sent a letter to a terrorist I used to know.” When considered in the context of everything that befalls its author and…
Our Ancient Faith: Lincoln, Democracy, and the American Experiment by Allen C. Guelzo
Knopf Review by Brian Tanguay Abraham Lincoln believed that democracy was the single greatest achievement in human history. How Lincoln came to this belief is less well known than other…
An Ordinary Youth by Walter Kempowski, Translated by Michael Lipton
New York Review of Books Review by Brian Tanguay In November 1944 Walter Kempowski was called up for mandatory service by the German government, and detailed to go from house…
Lou Reed: The King of New York by Will Hermes
Farrar, Straus and Giroux Review by George Yatchisin Will Hermes admits he’s on a fool’s errand with the opening quote of the preface to his 529 page biography of Lou…