Category Archives: American Literature

Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolker

American Literature November 9, 2013 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: When an escort goes missing after a call with a john out on Long Island, the bodies of four other escorts are found on the beach, and the odd nature of the community seems to prevent a successful investigation. Review: Although Lost Girls doesn’t offer closure for the mystery at hand, the book is still a gripping, worthwhile read. Kolker delves into the personal history of the four confirmed victims, prostitutes whose bodies were found wrapped in burlap on a deserted stretch of beach…

Paying for the Party by Elizabeth A. Armstrong

American Literature October 30, 2013 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Subtitled: How College Maintains Inequality. Review: Paying for the Party is an ethnographic study of a so-called “party floor” at a midwestern university in one of the big football conferences. It looks at the effects of party culture on the young women who live on the floor and comes up with some shocking conclusions about the ramifications for society at large. Hint: the meritocracy is a myth. The author and her team identify three pathways through college life. The first, the party pathway, is…

The Different Girl by Gordon Dahlquist

American Literature October 28, 2013 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Veronika and the three other girls who live with her on an isolated island are mostly the same except for their hair color, but when plane crash victim May washes up on shore, Veronika begins to think in ways she’s never thought before, even as May pushes her to wake up to a truth she’s not equipped to face. Review: Gordon Dahlquist’s background as a playwright is evident throughout The Different Girl. He’s not afraid to come at things sideways, and trusts the reader…

Josie and Jack by Kelly Braffet

American Literature October 25, 2013 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: An isolated but brilliant girl grows up under the thrall of her charismatic older brother, and when he leaves home the choice to follow him may be her undoing. Review: The dark, psychological thriller may possibly be my very favorite genre to read, and Josie and Jack was a gem-perfect example. These days I just don’t have a lot of time to read, between homeschooling my two kids, seeing private practice clients as a lactation consultant, and devouring Breaking Bad. But this book made…

Dr. Sleep by Stephen King

American Literature October 9, 2013 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Danny Torrance from The Shining is now a grown man, an alcoholic that the demons inside him are no match for the demons driving the highways of America, looking for psychic kids so that they can torture them and steal their essence, and a young girl with whom he has a mysterious connection is their next target. Review: Of course I always read a Stephen King novel the minute it comes out, but I harbored trepidation about Dr. Sleep. In the afterword, King astutely…

The Wes Anderson Collection by Matt Zoller Seitz

American Literature October 8, 2013 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: An in-depth look at the career of filmmaker Wes Anderson, as told through film stills, production photos, essays, and interviews with the filmmaker himself. Review: For me, the excitement of opening up The Wes Anderson Collection had as much to do with film critic Matt Zoller Seitz as it did with Anderson (and nothing to do with Michael Chabon, who wrote the foreword and who still can’t do anything to please me.) Seitz opens the book with a few personal recollections of the times…

Cornerstone by Peter Diamantopoulos (Touchstone Series)

American Literature September 22, 2013 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Tasked with protecting a vulnerable heiress pursing arcane knowledge, an elite soldier finds himself following her to an ancient city in pursuit of a madman and an object that grants ultimate power. Review: Cornerstone is a solid debut, offering a world with strong possibilities for a developed storyline. I think Peter Diamantopoulos was smart in the choices he made regarding point of view and structure, because he did keep me guessing throughout. I really hope that in the second book he develops his ideas…

Early Decision: Based on a True Frenzy by Lucy Crawford

American Literature September 18, 2013 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: A directionless young woman experiences a crisis of faith while tutoring wealthy high school students on their college application essays. Review: Sometimes when I’ve read books created around a specialized vocation, I get bored with the tedium of work. Too much minutia about the day to day operations gets me down. I felt that Early Decision was appropriately balanced, but still dragged a bit for me in the execution of the plot. I never really connected with Anne, the beleagured protagonist, mostly because I…

Space Case by Dan Fiorella

American Literature September 11, 2013 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Another hardboiled story featuring PI Nick Flebber, whose caustic take on the world stands at odds with his romance with the daughter of Santa Claus. Review: Space Case is a light bite by comic wordsmith Dan Fiorella. He has a wonderful way of milking seemingly small moments for comic gold, and I found myself snickering frequently as I read the story. The plot and story are beside the point, but he does a great job connecting all the dots and making it look easy.…

Bodies of Water by T. Greenwood