Sigh. I love Dorothy Parker. I quote her short story, The Waltz, far too often (“I’d love to be in a midnight fire at sea” being my favorite line). But I’ve never knowingly seen any of the movies she wrote. Gail Crowther’s wonderful book not only outlines the highs and lows of Parker’s Hollywood years, … Continue reading Review: Dorothy Parker in Hollywood, by Gail Crowther (Gallery Books)
Review: Northern Nights, edited by Michael Kelly (Undertow)
I have mentioned this many times before, but a new release from Undertow Publications is a cause for celebration. Northern Nights, a new anthology of Canadian fiction, is of the incredibly high caliber I have come to expect from Undertow’s output. Lovingly edited by Michael Kelly, this is a collection of uncanny darkness. Award-winning young … Continue reading Review: Northern Nights, edited by Michael Kelly (Undertow)
Review: The Bog Wife, by Kay Chronister (Counterpoint)
Meet the Haddesley family of West Virginia. Three girls, two boys, an ailing father, and a mother who has been absent for a decade. Oh, and a bog, to which they sacrifice the patriarch of the family, in exchange for a bride, for the eldest son. As the time for the sacrifice draws near, daughter … Continue reading Review: The Bog Wife, by Kay Chronister (Counterpoint)
Review: Devils Kill Devils, by Johnny Compton (Tor Nightfire)
I adored Johnny Compton’s previous novel, The Spite House. His emphasis on character development and plot, resulted in an incredibly impressive, and terrifying debut. Compton’s follow-up, Devils Kill Devils, is straight-up, bat poop crazy, in an amazing way. Our protagonist, Sarita, has a literal guardian angel, Angelo. He first surfaced when she almost drowned as … Continue reading Review: Devils Kill Devils, by Johnny Compton (Tor Nightfire)
Review: Canoes, by Maylis de Kerangal, translated by Jessica Moore (Archipelago)
Maylis de Kerangal’s novel Eastbound was a recent favorite of mine, and a real surprise. This beautiful collection is translated from French to English by Jessica Moore. In Bivouac, a trip to the dentist reminds a woman of a visit to Paris. It’s a great introduction to Kerangal’s vivid writing, and how she establishes a … Continue reading Review: Canoes, by Maylis de Kerangal, translated by Jessica Moore (Archipelago)
Review: Abortion, by Jessica Valenti (Crown)
I will start by saying that I could only manage one chapter of this book per night, as it made me so incredibly angry. Abortion: Our Bodies, Their Lies, and the Truths We Use to Win is an offshoot of Jessica Valenti’s “Abortion, Every Day” Substack, and is full of infuriating, upsetting, and incredibly vital … Continue reading Review: Abortion, by Jessica Valenti (Crown)
California Reading 