Tag Archives: 21st Century

The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall

British Literature August 9, 2007 Superfast Reader 4 Comments

Synopsis: A young man with severe amnesia comes to realize that he is being stalked by a conceptual shark (which is much, much scarier than you might think). Review: What surprised me most about The Raw Shark Texts was how fast it moved. For all its high-minded metaphysical aims and experimental underpinnings, the book has the pacing of an airport thriller or Stephen King horror book. There were some sequences in this book, such as protagonist Second Eric’s Sanderson encounter with Nobody, that were are…

Juliet by Andras Visky (and a New York Event)

Eastern European Literature August 8, 2007 Superfast Reader

I’m very excited to report that Andras Visky’s one-woman play Juliet is now available for purchase. I had the tremendous pleasure of seeing this play earlier this spring, and was blown away by it.

Tin Angel by Shannon Cowan

Canadian Literature August 6, 2007 Superfast Reader 4 Comments

Synopsis: Accused of murdering her family’s benefactor, a teenage girl caught in the legal system explains what led to her arrest and indictment. Review: Author Shannon Cowan has done a remarkable job researching the Canadian legal system viz. young adults around the time that Tin Angel takes place (late 1960s). However, the emotional component of the story never quite came together for me.

The Big Book of Birth by Erica Lyons

American Literature August 6, 2007 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: A comprehensive, non-judgmental overview of labor and delivery. Review: I have a dear friend who is a doula and a childbirth educator, and she gave me this book when I became pregnant. The Big Book of Birth is written by the woman who runs Realbirth, where my friend used to teach (before she moved) and where my husband and I will be taking childbirth classes.

The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh

American Literature August 4, 2007 Superfast Reader 3 Comments

Synopsis: A shy 14-year-old Latin scholar finds a passage into Manhattan’s underworld, where, guided by an unhappy ghost named Euri, he hopes to find out how his mother died once and for all. Review: Greek mythology concerning the after life deftly mixes with New York City’s colorful history in The Night Tourist, a marvelous adventure tale that’s as fresh as they come. Suitable for young readers emotionally mature enough to handle themes of death and grief, The Night Tourist is rich enough to satisfy teen…

Grub by Elise Blackwell

American Literature August 2, 2007 Superfast Reader 12 Comments

Synopsis: The trials and travails of a group of young New York City-based novelists. Review: Grub is a reworking of a 19th Century novel. I can’t speak to its success in that regard because I haven’t read the original, but I will say that author Elise Blackwell pulls off a rare bird: a satire brimming with humanism. I enjoyed every line of this book, which reminded me at times of Whit Stillman’s marvelous first feature Metropolitan. This is a galley I’ll be keeping, rereading, and…

Up High in the Trees by Kiara Brinkman

American Literature August 1, 2007 Superfast Reader 4 Comments

Synopsis: A small boy deals with the death of his mother by setting his imagination free. Review: Up High in the Trees is a beautifully written book about a most engaging child, but it failed to move me. I’m not really sure why. Sebby, his brother Leo, his sister Cass, and his father are all dealing with a grievous loss, each choosing to isolate themselves in a different way. The overall story shows a family splitting apart then coming back together because of the choices…

Breathe My Name by R.A. Nelson

American Literature July 26, 2007 Superfast Reader 2 Comments

Synopsis: When Frances’s birth mother contacts her asking to “finish it,” Frances must come to terms with the terrible crime that caused their separation, and learn how to forge her own path in life. Review: I devoured Breathe My Name, which will be published in early November 2007 by Razorbill. Not only is it an outstanding coming-of-age tale, Breathe My Name has a gorgeous, poignant love story that really drew me in. This is one I’m happy to give some advance praise to!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling

British Literature July 22, 2007 Superfast Reader 7 Comments

Synopsis: Harry Potter braces for his final battle with evil Lord Voldemort, knowing that only one of them will survive. Review: My biggest criticism of Harry Potter has always been his passivity. In the first few books especially, he spends most of his time being rescued or protected, simply because he’s “The Boy Who Lived.” And for awhile, it seemed as though JK Rowling wasn’t paying attention–was creating a hero who didn’t deserve to bear that name.

On the Death of My Father by Brian J. Martin

American Literature July 19, 2007 Superfast Reader 3 Comments

Synopsis: The death of Brian Martin’s father by suicide prompted him to reflect on his own spiritual journey and battle with depression.

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