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Category Archives: Contemporary literary fiction
Dark, eerie – and beautiful
Paul O’Connor may have grown up in Connecticut, gone to college in Indiana and spent many productive decades in North Carolina, but there’s a lot of Ireland in him. He’s discovered a book by an Irish author that’s not exactly … Continue reading
When things get really strange…
Paul O’Connor reviews a novel that transcends categories while revealing a lot about human nature. Reviewed by Paul T. O’Connor THE ANOMALY. By Herve’ Le Tellier. Translated by Adriana Hunter. Other Press. 391 pp. $16.95, softcover. On March 10, 2021, … Continue reading
Posted in Contemporary literary fiction, Thriller/Suspense
Tagged Herve Le Tellier, The Anomaly
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Up to the challenge
Reviewed by Paul T. O’Connor CLOUD CUCKOO LAND. By Anthony Doerr. Scribner. 622 pages. $30, hardcover. In his latest novel, Anthony Doerr has challenged himself with a monumental task: Establish three distinct storylines, set apart from each other by more … Continue reading
Posted in Contemporary literary fiction
Tagged Anthony Doerr, Cloud Cuckoo Land, literary fiction
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Tarheel troubadour
Bob Moyer has returned from his latest adventures to give us another fine book review. Reviewed by Robert P. Moyer IN THE VALLEY. By Ron Rash. Doubleday. 220 pages. $26.95 There’s gold in them thar mountains. North Carolina mountains, … Continue reading
What he left behind
Bob Moyer takes on a different kind of mystery – not a whodunit, but a look at the strange realm of human love and relationships. Reviewed by Robert P. Moyer MONOGAMY. By Sue Miller. Harper. 338 pages. $28.99 … Continue reading
Posted in Contemporary literary fiction, Popular fiction
Tagged contemporary fiction, Monogamy, Sue Miller
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Choosing the words, telling the stories
Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson THE DICTIONARY OF LOST WORDS. By Pip Williams. Ballantine Books. 371 pages. $28. Pip Williams’ remarkable debut novel is imaginative, original, intelligent and delightful. The Dictionary of Lost Words is also a book for our … Continue reading
Anchored in the dilemma
Bob Moyer, an avid reader, often goes through books at a rapid pace. But those tend to be mysteries. This novel, he says, forced him to slow down. Reviewed by Robert P. Moyer JACK. By Marilynne Robinson. Farrah Straus Giroux. … Continue reading
Posted in Contemporary literary fiction
Tagged Jack, literary fiction, Marilynne Robinson
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A story for our times
I’ve enjoyed many of Chris Bohjalian’s books, some more than others. This one sounds especially — even oddly — timely, and pretty scary. I’m not sure I want to read it, but I’ll pay attention to what Bob Moyer has … Continue reading
A storm brewing…
Reviewed by Robert P. Moyer WEATHER. By Jenny Offill. Alfred A. Knopf. 224 pages. $23.95. Lucy toggles. “Toggles” is the word author Jenny Offill used in a recent interview to describe the interior switching in the life of her narrator. In … Continue reading