Filled with human decency, Remarkably Bright Creatures is Shelby Van Pelt’s “remarkably bright” debut novel. Add in terrific narration by Marin Ireland and Michael Urie, and you have a fantastic audio book. Continue reading
Category Archives: Contemporary Fiction
Book Review: A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
A Dog’s Purpose is narrated by a Good Dog who is trying to figure out the meaning of his multiple reincarnations. It’s heartfelt and sweet, and will make you laugh and maybe cry, especially if you’re a dog lover. Continue reading
Book Review: The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings
The Descendants is a novel about a dysfunctional family that has to pull itself together as their wife/mother lies dying in the hospital. Continue reading
Book Review: Cold Storage, Alaska by John Straley
Cold Storage, Alaska is a quirky novel that alternates between humor, violence, and pathos. I liked it! Continue reading
Book Review: Harry’s Trees by Jon Cohen
Harry’s Trees is a treasure of a novel about overcoming grief and figuring out how to keep moving forward. It’s so good I’ve added it to my top 10 favorite books list (which exists only in my head). Continue reading
Book Review: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is the story of Addie, who has lived 300 years because she sold her soul to the devil in exchange for freedom and more time. An unexpected part of the deal is that no one, not even her parents, remember Addie, leaving her to grapple with the curse of not being able to leave her mark on the world. Continue reading
Book Review: The Girl in Green by Derek B. Miller
In The Girl in Green, an American soldier and a British journalist try to save an Iraqi girl from violence in the aftermath of Operation Desert Storm. Over twenty years later, they reunite in Iraq after seeing the girl’s doppelganger on some news footage. The Girl in Green is a sharp-witted commentary on the absurdity and futility of conditions in the war-torn Middle East. Continue reading
Book Review: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Midnight Library is a life-affirming science fiction novel that follows Nora Seed as she lives a multitude of alternate lives while in her “root” life she hovers between life and death following a suicide attempt. Continue reading
Book Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Night Circus is a terrific fantasy novel about a beautiful and mysterious circus and two star-crossed magicians who are locked in a battle of illusions that can only end when one of them dies. Lush and imaginative, I found myself thinking several times that this is the type of novel I would like to write. Continue reading
Book Review: The Round House by Louise Erdrich
The Round House is a powerful exploration of the impact of rape on a family, focusing closely on how a teenage boy deals with the trauma and the helplessness of not being able to bring the rapist to justice. It’s set on an Indian reservation and casts some needed light on cultural and legal complexities of convicting non-Indians of crimes committed on reservations. Continue reading
Book Thoughts from Bed 