The Uncommon Reader: Alan Bennett
In January, I read James Mustich’s 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die—and Uncommon Reader was one of the thirty …
Author Archives: Chris A
The Big Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories: Otto Penzler, editor
I’ve been reading this anthology (785 pages) slowly, since the beginning of March, dipping in at bedtime or when insomnia …
My Life in Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead
Why did I delay reading this book for so long? I finally brought it to work, where it sat on …
Arcadia by Iain Pears
I loved Arcadia; it’s my favorite book of 2016 (so far, anyway). It encompasses time travel, history/alt-history, romance, clever literary …
Fallen Fret by Ray Richard
I’m as guilty as the next reader of drifting into ruts, defaulting too often to the same genres, settings, and …
Someone by Alice McDermott
Young Marie’s Brooklyn neighbor Pegeen has been having problems keeping her balance as she heads back and forth to work …
A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy
Published posthumously, A Week in Winter is Irish author Maeve Binchy’s final novel. While it will never be classified as …
Hild by Nicola Griffith
Breguswith—not to be confused with Begu—and Hereswith. Coelgar and his son Coelfrith. Cian, Ceredig, Cadwallon, Cwichelm. Aethelric, Aethelburh, Aedilgith, Aelberht, …
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
No great fan of Elizabeth Gilbert’s colossally popular memoir Eat, Pray, Love, I almost gave The Signature of All Things …
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
The Luminaries is set in the gold rush region of New Zealand’s west coast, circa 1866. At its core, it’s …
