Book Reviews http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1034&ft=1&f=1034 Summary judgment on books of note, from NPR personalities, independent booksellers and critics from across the public-radio spectrum. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Book Reviews http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1034&ft=1&f=1034 A Different Kind Of Immigrant Experience In 'Americanah' Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's latest, <em>Americanah, </em>follows the trials and tribulations of Ifemelu, a middle-class Nigerian immigrant to America. Reviewer Jennifer Reese calls <em>Americanah</em> a "rich and gloriously detailed tapestry ... hung on the sturdy scaffolding of a sweet love story." Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/183997348/a-different-kind-of-immigrant-experience-in-americanah?ft=1&f=1034 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/183997348/a-different-kind-of-immigrant-experience-in-americanah?ft=1&f=1034 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's latest, Americanah, follows the trials and tribulations of Ifemelu, a middle-class Nigerian immigrant to America. Reviewer Jennifer Reese calls Americanah a "rich and gloriously detailed tapestry ... hung on the sturdy scaffolding of a sweet love story."

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]]> Book Review: 'King Of Cuba' Alan Cheuse reviews the novel <em>King of Cuba</em> by Cristina Garcia. Tue, 21 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185839232&ft=1&f=1034 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185839232&ft=1&f=1034 Alan Cheuse reviews the novel King of Cuba by Cristina Garcia.

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]]> Black In America: A Story Rendered In Gray Scale Chimamanda Adichie's <em>Americanah</em> is about a young Nigerian woman who moves to the U.S. It's a story of relocation, far-flung love and life as an outsider. But reviewer Rosecrans Baldwin says that despite the author's talent, much of the storytelling feels flat. <em> </em> Tue, 14 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/183662205/black-in-america-a-story-rendered-in-grayscale?ft=1&f=1034 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/183662205/black-in-america-a-story-rendered-in-grayscale?ft=1&f=1034 Chimamanda Adichie's Americanah is about a young Nigerian woman who moves to the U.S. It's a story of relocation, far-flung love and life as an outsider. But reviewer Rosecrans Baldwin says that despite the author's talent, much of the storytelling feels flat.

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]]> Ghost Ships, Murders, Bird Attacks: Stories To Keep You Awake Author Ethan Rutherford started reading Daphne du Maurier's collection of stories, <em>Don't Look Now, </em>while it was still light out and didn't move from his chair until dark. Each one features characters who endure the strange and the extreme, and who are forever changed by the events that befall them. Sun, 19 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/177638074/ghost-ships-murders-bird-attacks-stories-to-keep-you-awake?ft=1&f=1034 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/177638074/ghost-ships-murders-bird-attacks-stories-to-keep-you-awake?ft=1&f=1034 Author Ethan Rutherford started reading Daphne du Maurier's collection of stories, Don't Look Now, while it was still light out and didn't move from his chair until dark. Each one features characters who endure the strange and the extreme, and who are forever changed by the events that befall them.

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]]> Author Elliott Holt Says: 'Go West, Young Woman' In this Q&A, author Elliott Holt<em> </em>discusses her six favorite novels about expatriates. She also talks about what it's like to be in your 20s, and the importance of travel and exploration. Sat, 18 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/175473811/author-elliott-holt-says-go-west-young-woman?ft=1&f=1034 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/175473811/author-elliott-holt-says-go-west-young-woman?ft=1&f=1034 In this Q&A, author Elliott Holt discusses her six favorite novels about expatriates. She also talks about what it's like to be in your 20s, and the importance of travel and exploration.

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]]> How To Put This 'Delicate'-ly ... Not Le Carre's Best Work A dirty deed and official cover-up drive the plot in John le Carre's <em>A Delicate Truth</em>. The novel sets its sights on old-boy corruption and corporate criminality at the heart of the "Deep State," but critic Alan Cheuse finds this latest effort lacks the tension of le Carre's Cold War novels. Thu, 16 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/182354424/how-to-put-this-delicate-ly-not-le-carres-best-work?ft=1&f=1034 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/182354424/how-to-put-this-delicate-ly-not-le-carres-best-work?ft=1&f=1034 A dirty deed and official cover-up drive the plot in John le Carre's A Delicate Truth. The novel sets its sights on old-boy corruption and corporate criminality at the heart of the "Deep State," but critic Alan Cheuse finds this latest effort lacks the tension of le Carre's Cold War novels.

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]]> Coming To 'Americanah': Two Tales Of Immigrant Experience The new book from Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a knockout of a novel about immigration that transcends genre. It's everything from a coming-of-age novel to a romance to a comic novel of social manners to an up-to-the-minute meditation on race. Wed, 15 May 2013 13:08:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/182313317/coming-to-americanah-two-tales-of-immigrant-experience?ft=1&f=1034 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/182313317/coming-to-americanah-two-tales-of-immigrant-experience?ft=1&f=1034 The new book from Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a knockout of a novel about immigration that transcends genre. It's everything from a coming-of-age novel to a romance to a comic novel of social manners to an up-to-the-minute meditation on race.

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]]> Easy Rawlins Is Alive, Or Is He? After six years, author Walter Mosley breathes life back into his detective hero Easy Rawlins — thought dead after crashing his car off a cliff. Easy embarks on another case, but as the lines blur between death and dying, he may discover answers to questions he hadn't thought to ask. Wed, 15 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/179883692/easy-rawlins-is-alive-or-is-he?ft=1&f=1034 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/179883692/easy-rawlins-is-alive-or-is-he?ft=1&f=1034 After six years, author Walter Mosley breathes life back into his detective hero Easy Rawlins — thought dead after crashing his car off a cliff. Easy embarks on another case, but as the lines blur between death and dying, he may discover answers to questions he hadn't thought to ask.

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]]> West Meets Midwest In Tom Drury's Quirky 'Pacific' Some novels you read to find out what happens next, and some you read to linger in the moment. In Tom Drury's <em>Pacific</em>, plot takes a back seat to sharp observation and deadpan wit. The book juxtaposes scenes of teenaged Micah as he moves to Hollywood, with stories set in Micah's heartland hometown. Wed, 15 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/182847126/west-meets-midwest-in-tom-drurys-quirky-pacific?ft=1&f=1034 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/182847126/west-meets-midwest-in-tom-drurys-quirky-pacific?ft=1&f=1034 Some novels you read to find out what happens next, and some you read to linger in the moment. In Tom Drury's Pacific, plot takes a back seat to sharp observation and deadpan wit. The book juxtaposes scenes of teenaged Micah as he moves to Hollywood, with stories set in Micah's heartland hometown.

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]]> Literary Werewolf Tale 'Red Moon' Sheds A Dim Light Benjamin Percy's new literary werewolf novel, <em>Red Moon</em>, is packed with vivid, gory-lush description and heavy allegory about a world where "lycans" are a persecuted minority. But reviewer Nick Mancusi says the book gives short shrift to character development. Tue, 14 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/14/182000977/literary-werewolf-tale-red-moon-sheds-a-dim-light?ft=1&f=1034 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/14/182000977/literary-werewolf-tale-red-moon-sheds-a-dim-light?ft=1&f=1034 Benjamin Percy's new literary werewolf novel, Red Moon, is packed with vivid, gory-lush description and heavy allegory about a world where "lycans" are a persecuted minority. But reviewer Nick Mancusi says the book gives short shrift to character development.

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]]> Camus' 'Chronicles': A History Of The Past, A Guide For The Future Albert Camus' <em>Algerian Chronicles</em>, finally available in translation, collects essays, columns and speeches from the writer's days as a young journalist. Camus was criticized for his moderate approach to the French-Algerian war, but reviewer Jason Farrago says <em>Chronicles </em>is a guide to "how to be just in a difficult world." Mon, 13 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/13/180594428/camus-chronicles-a-history-of-the-past-a-guide-for-the-future?ft=1&f=1034 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/13/180594428/camus-chronicles-a-history-of-the-past-a-guide-for-the-future?ft=1&f=1034 Albert Camus' Algerian Chronicles, finally available in translation, collects essays, columns and speeches from the writer's days as a young journalist. Camus was criticized for his moderate approach to the French-Algerian war, but reviewer Jason Farrago says Chronicles is a guide to "how to be just in a difficult world."

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]]> Book Review: 'A Nearly Perfect Copy' Book critic Alan Cheuse has a review of <em>A Nearly Perfect Copy</em> by Allison Amend. Fri, 10 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=182938660&ft=1&f=1034 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=182938660&ft=1&f=1034 Book critic Alan Cheuse has a review of A Nearly Perfect Copy by Allison Amend.

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]]> Book Review: 'Our Man In Iraq' Critic Alan Cheuse reviews the novel <em>Our Man in Iraq</em> by Robert Perisic. Thu, 09 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=182656435&ft=1&f=1034 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=182656435&ft=1&f=1034 Critic Alan Cheuse reviews the novel Our Man in Iraq by Robert Perisic.

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]]> From A Debut Writer, A Polished, Passionate, Must-Read Book Anthony Marra's debut novel, <em>A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, </em>takes place in war-torn Chechnya — a world of perpetual violence, fear and exploding land mines. But reviewer Meg Wolitzer says the characters are so vivid and the language so brilliant you want to stay there. Mon, 06 May 2013 16:22:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/06/180074991/safety-is-relative-a-moving-account-of-life-in-chechnya?ft=1&f=1034 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/06/180074991/safety-is-relative-a-moving-account-of-life-in-chechnya?ft=1&f=1034 Anthony Marra's debut novel, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, takes place in war-torn Chechnya — a world of perpetual violence, fear and exploding land mines. But reviewer Meg Wolitzer says the characters are so vivid and the language so brilliant you want to stay there.

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]]> Godwin's 'Flora': A Tale Of Remorse That Creeps Under Your Skin The latest novel from three-time National Book Award finalist Gail Godwin takes inspiration from Henry James' <em>The Turn of the Screw</em>. Both stories take place in isolated old houses, and both revolve around mental contests between a governess character and her young charge. Mon, 06 May 2013 12:56:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/06/179878715/godwins-flora-a-tale-of-remorse-that-creeps-under-your-skin?ft=1&f=1034 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/06/179878715/godwins-flora-a-tale-of-remorse-that-creeps-under-your-skin?ft=1&f=1034 The latest novel from three-time National Book Award finalist Gail Godwin takes inspiration from Henry James' The Turn of the Screw. Both stories take place in isolated old houses, and both revolve around mental contests between a governess character and her young charge.

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