Reviews in Brief

THE HOLY THIEF by William Ryan

“The tense atmosphere of mid-1930s Stalinist Moscow, where virtually everyone and anyone can be a government spy, gives a special chill to first-time novelist William Ryan's can't-put-down thriller The Holy Thief. In a world where the NKVD, precursor to the KGB, is everywhere, police Captain Alexei Korolev balances precariously as he attempts to solve a series of gruesome murders without stepping on the wrong toes. And wrong toes can be everywhere.

Readers will find Korolev a particularly appealing protagonist, and one with all the angst and philosophical musings for which Russian novels are famous. While trying desperately to believe in the new athiest, post-Revolution Russia, Korolev hides a Bible under his apartment floorboards and displays an old-fashioned belief in justice. Caught between a group known as the Thieves, believers in God yet outlaws, and possibly corrupt NKVD officials, Korolev proves himself a master of intrigue as he attempts to shield his fellow officers while risking everything himself to find a missing icon. Readers will relucantly turn the last page, hoping Ryan, who clearly did much research for this novel, will again mine this uniquely closed, fearful society and that Korolev will be doing the digging.”

-June Ulkoski

THIS BOOK WILL BE RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 2ND

A STRANGER LIKE YOU by Elizabeth Brundage

“A disturbing story of a troubled man who tries to find satisfaction by committing an unspeakable crime. As the story unfolds, new characters are presented and leave the reader questioning how they will relate to the plot. A quick read that is suspenseful at times and overall a good story about how good can come from something evil and it makes you think about whether people can really change.”

-Angela

THE BELLS by Richard Harvell

“The Bells follows the story of Moses Froben, a boy with near superhuman hearing as a result of being raised in a belfry in Switzerland. From there the story details Moses' life as he becomes a castrato and his beginning musical career. The book has two main stories, the story of a growing love for music as well as a true love story. Personally, I found the musical love to be much more engaging. Harvell's musical descriptions were at times breathtaking and inspiring. The accounts of Baroque Masses and opera brought the music to life from the page. Moses is a fine character to follow, though a bit of a contradiction. He routinely describes himself as being an amazing singer, though strangely he rarely comes off as pompous or obnoxious. Overall I found this book to be well details, very well researched, and enjoyable. The love story is sweet though a bit predictable, but what really captured me was the music.”

-Kelly R.

BEAUTIFUL MARIA OF MY SOUL by Oscar Hijuelos

“Twenty years after winning the Pulitzer Prize for The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love, Oscar Hijuelos revisits the passion between a Cuban musician and a young woman of legondary beauty in pre-Castro Havana. This time, in Beautiful Maria of My Soul, Hijuelos gives us Maria's side of the torrid love affair. The new novel's title is taken from the song Nestor Castillo spends years revising after a powerful rival for Maria causes him to flee Cuba for New York City, where the tune, a bolero, eventually brings him and his brother Cesar brief success.  (Read more. . .)”

-Judith Sutton

BITTER IN THE MOUTH by Monique Truong

“I hungrily read this story of friendship and family, loss and discovery. As a reader, you cannot help but be drawn in by the speaker, Linda, and her tale of growing up different in the small town of Boiling Springs, North Carolina in the 1970's and eighties. Always playing the part of an outcast, you cannot help but to be intrigued by Linda and how she reacts to every day stimuli.

Linda can taste words. A fact which she works to hide from almost everyone but her best friend Kelly, whom she has exchanged daily letters with since the two were seven years old. As the years pass secrets begin to multiply between not just Linda and Kelly but also within Linda's family and even amongst others in the town- proof to the old saying that everyone has something to hide. (Read more. . .)”

-Elizabeth Zsolnay

THIS BOOK WILL BE RELEASED ON AUGUST 31ST, BUT IS AV AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER.

THE FACULTY CLUB by Danny Tobey

“Secret Societies: The very name conjures up mystery, intrigue, danger. This popular topic of literature and film gets a new spin or two from first-time novelist Danny Tobey in The Faculty Club. Tobey, a graduate of Harvard and Yale law, moves the secret club from the realm of underground fraternities to what is described only as “the greatest law school in the world.” And, members of this secret group are chosen not by classmates but by the faculty, who select a mere three per year.

Our narrator, Jeremy Davis, is one of the four finalists for the coveted spots that virtually guarantee prestige and wealth. But as the competition unfolds, Tobey puts a second twist on this subgenre of this thriller by having Davis discover this society may be dabbling in the occult, with more on offer than a spot at a top legal firm. As the game races along, Tobey gives little winks to what has gone before, everything from The Paper Chase to Grisham to Dan Brown and old horror B-movies. There’s even a playful slam at Yale when one of the society’s meeting rooms is decorated with skulls and bones. The Faculty Club’s plot becomes increasingly elaborate, perhaps too much so, with the action moving into the law school’s hidden passages and tunnels as Davis moves from wishing to join the society to attempting to destroy it. The novel’s one flaw is an ending that doesn’t quite satisfy."

-June Ulkoski

GETTING TO HAPPY by Terry McMillan

“When I first started to read Getting to Happy, I was afraid it was going to be depressing. I thought it wouldn't be much fun to read about a bunch of characters in their 50's. But as the story unfolded, I quickly became attached to Robin, Savannah, Gloria and Bernadine and found I didn't want to put the book down. This is a fun good read."

-Mary Severn

THIS BOOK WILL BE RELEASED IN SEPTEMBER AND IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER.

MY NAME IS MEMORY by Ann Brashares

“Souls are born and born again into different bodies, but only a handful of people have the memory- they can remember their past lives. Daniel is one those people. In every life he searches for Sophia- the woman he loves but who doesn't remember anything about their past lives together. In the present, Lucy is Sophia and, for some reason she doesn't understand, is drawn to Daniel. In this life, Daniel has one chance to make her remember him or be lonely and haunted by his past. I wish I could say more but anything I say would spoil the story."

-Kisha Pio

BEAUTIFUL MALICE by Rebecca James

“Katherine is teenager whose life has been turned upside down and backwards since the murder of her little, prodigy sister, Rachel. She and her parents just don't realize how much their lives will be changed as a result. She moves to a new city and changes her name so she can get a fresh start. There, she unknowingly alienates people, and is surprised when the beautiful, outgoing, and popular Alice invites her to a party. They, and Alice's "friend" Robbie, become close friends and Katheirne soon starts to see the weirdness of Alice's odd behavior and unfair treatment of people. But overtime- too long if you ask me- Katherine is finally happy and content with her life and she's able to see how damaged Alice really is. I loved this book but I think it took her way too long to ditch Alice. The layout of the story is past, past, and present, so you know what's going to happen, just not exactly how or why. Which, to me, is the best and worst part of the book. It just makes it that  much more heartbreaking. After I read, I was so heartbroken. It was weird how everything intertwined but it still seemed realistic- kinda."

-Kisha Pio

STILL MISSING by Chevy Stevens

“Annie O'Sullivan is your regular, modern-day woman. She has a boyfriend, her own house and dog, and works as a realtor. Unfortunately, her wonderful job is what gets her in trouble. While trying to sell an important house to a seemingly nice and rich man, she is kidnapped by him. After, being drugged she wakes up on a bed ina cabin with absolutely no open doors, windows, or even any cracks. There are no weapons or any means of escape. She is horrifed, as anyone would be, and soon learns the rules of her kidnapper, aka The Freak.

The sequence of the novel starts and ends with Annie talking to her shrink, and the middle are her experiences with The Freak. You learn more of what she went through and what her life is like now- her relationships, eating habits, and peeing schedule(no lie). But most importantly, you learn the true nature of her kidnapping.

Chevy Steven's writing is great- she made you feel the character's emotions but also made it light and comical at times. I was so emotional the whole time I was reading this. Annie's emotions were so real and all over the place the entire book, and mine followed suit. The only itsy bitsy problen had with this book was the end. Everything up until the felt realistic- like it could happen to anyone. I mean, what does happen technically could but it just changed my view."

-Kisha Pio

DRINKING ARAK OFF THE AYATOLLAH'S BEARD by Nicholas Jubber

“Nicholas Jubber's story of his trek through the dangerous worlds of Iran and Afghanistan searching for historical figures past and present was a real joy.  What fascinated me more, however, was his first-hand account of day-to-day life in these Persian lands, and how the lives of these people are nothing like what we see portrayed in the media (I won't pursue that...).  Engaging characters, a compelling story and smooth, easy writing made this a very enjoyable book.  In fact, I found myself sneaking opportunities to read when I probably should have been doing something a little more important (at the time).  I highly recommend this book."

-Douglas Wesney

NOTES FROM THE NIGHT: A LIFE AFTER DARK by Taylor Plimpton

“When I picked this book, and I often pick up and purchase books based on their title and first page alone, I was intrigued.  It reminded me of the Martin Scorsese film of decades ago, After Hours, about a man on the town in NYC and his inability to get home after a really wierd date. I knew this book would be a chronological tale of clubbing in the big apple, and Mr. Plimpton indeed tells us that it is a compilation of several tales told as it is one night on the town.   

The book began well enough, giving us an insight into Mr. Plimpton's life, friends, escapades, and I enjoy his descriptions of the clubs, the velvet ropes, the people he meets, his friends, but after a while, I feel like it's the same tale over and over again.  He does a good job with the description, and enough of it keeps me interested until page 79, about halfway through.  He dwells so much on his friend, Zoo, who is the central figure in the novel, that I think he should be mentioned in the title.

I remember the clubbing scene from the 80s, and from what I've read, it hasn't changed that much, except that everyone is having safer sex.  And the scene, the lights, the booze, the girls, all of that is captured well.  But I kept waiting for a big reveal, or at least a hint that a big reveal was coming. 

Sadly, it never came for me."

-Ann Cole

THIS BOOK WILL BE RELEASED ON JULY 27TH, BUT IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER.

NOTES FROM THE NIGHT: A LIFE AFTER DARK by Taylor Plimpton

“When I picked this book, and I often pick up and purchase books based on their title and first page alone, I was intrigued. It reminded me of the Martin Scorsese film of decades ago, After Hours, about a man on the town in NYC and his inability to get home after a really wierd date. I knew this book would be a chronological tale of clubbing in the big apple, and Mr. Plimpton indeed tells us that it is a compilation of several tales told as it is one night on the town.

The book began well enough, giving us an insight into Mr. Plimpton's life, friends, escapades, and I enjoy his descriptions of the clubs, the velvet ropes, the people he meets, his friends, but after a while, I feel like it's the same tale over and over again. He does a good job with the description, and enough of it keeps me interested until page 79, about halfway through. He dwells so much on his friend, Zoo, who is the central figure in the novel, that I think he should be mentioned in the title.

I remember the clubbing scene from the 80s, and from what I've read, it hasn't changed that much, except that everyone is having safer sex. And the scene, the lights, the booze, the girls, all of that is captured well. But I kept waiting for a big reveal, or at least a hint that a big reveal was coming.

Sadly, it never came for me."

-Ann Cole

THIS BOOK WILL BE RELEASED ON JULY 27TH, BUT IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER.

MATTERHORN by Karl Marlantes

“This is a Vietnam War book.  However, having read many of these types of books, this one stands out in that it is consistently more reflective and comprehensive than any I have previously read.  Karl Marlantes, the author, is a decorated Vietnam War Veteran who took over twenty years to write this book.  This means that the writing has the benefit of a contemplative approach after having many years to absorb the experiences that Mr. Marlantes had.  It is detailed and provides an extensive glossary of terms for the uninitiated.  For someone looking for the way things really played out in Vietnam, this is the book for them."

-Chris Kokiko