Book Reviews http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4467346&ft=1&f=4467346 Book reviews of the best new fiction and nonfiction books by NPR's Alan Cheuse, Maureen Corrigan, and Karen Grigsby Bates. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Thu, 23 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=4467346&ft=1&f=4467346 Heartbreaking Choice Sets Siblings On Separate, Unequal Paths A poor father sells his daughter to a wealthy, childless couple, dividing her from her beloved brother and setting a chain of stories in motion in Khaled Hosseini's <em>And the Mountains Echoed</em>. Moving and morally complex, this is the most ambitious book yet from the author of <em>The Kite Runner.</em> Thu, 23 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/184189527/heartbreaking-choice-sets-siblings-on-separate-unequal-paths?ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/184189527/heartbreaking-choice-sets-siblings-on-separate-unequal-paths?ft=1&f=4467346 A poor father sells his daughter to a wealthy, childless couple, dividing her from her beloved brother and setting a chain of stories in motion in Khaled Hosseini's And the Mountains Echoed. Moving and morally complex, this is the most ambitious book yet from the author of The Kite Runner.

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]]> 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=4467346 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/183997348/a-different-kind-of-immigrant-experience-in-americanah?ft=1&f=4467346 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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]]> American Voices On 'The Unwinding' Of America's Values George Packer's <em>The Unwinding </em>explores the social and economic upheavals that have transformed the U.S. over the past 30 years. In a nuanced work of literary journalism, colorful characters from across the class divide tell their own stories of a social contract in tatters. Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/184183771/american-voices-on-the-unwinding-of-americas-values?ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/184183771/american-voices-on-the-unwinding-of-americas-values?ft=1&f=4467346 George Packer's The Unwinding explores the social and economic upheavals that have transformed the U.S. over the past 30 years. In a nuanced work of literary journalism, colorful characters from across the class divide tell their own stories of a social contract in tatters.

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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=4467346 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/182354424/how-to-put-this-delicate-ly-not-le-carres-best-work?ft=1&f=4467346 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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]]> 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=4467346 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/182847126/west-meets-midwest-in-tom-drurys-quirky-pacific?ft=1&f=4467346 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=4467346 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/14/182000977/literary-werewolf-tale-red-moon-sheds-a-dim-light?ft=1&f=4467346 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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]]> Farm Team Saga 'Class A' Hits It Out Of The Park Lucas Mann's <em>Class A</em> combines baseball and sociology in this chronicle of a farm team from a fading Iowa factory town. Reviewer Heller McAlpin says Mann "uses the full tool kit of literary nonfiction" in a book that "encompasses nostalgia, hope and failure." Thu, 09 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/09/180279940/farm-team-saga-class-a-hits-it-out-of-the-park?ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/09/180279940/farm-team-saga-class-a-hits-it-out-of-the-park?ft=1&f=4467346 Lucas Mann's Class A combines baseball and sociology in this chronicle of a farm team from a fading Iowa factory town. Reviewer Heller McAlpin says Mann "uses the full tool kit of literary nonfiction" in a book that "encompasses nostalgia, hope and failure."

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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=4467346 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/06/179878715/godwins-flora-a-tale-of-remorse-that-creeps-under-your-skin?ft=1&f=4467346 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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]]> Niffenegger Lets Fly With An Adult Fairy Tale In 'Raven Girl' A girl with the soul of a bird finds her wings in Audrey Niffenegger's haunting <em>Raven Girl</em>. The author of <em>The Time Traveler's Wife</em> illustrates this slight volume with her own moody etchings. Thu, 02 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/02/179884433/niffenegger-lets-fly-with-an-adult-fairy-tale-in-raven-girl?ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/02/179884433/niffenegger-lets-fly-with-an-adult-fairy-tale-in-raven-girl?ft=1&f=4467346 A girl with the soul of a bird finds her wings in Audrey Niffenegger's haunting Raven Girl. The author of The Time Traveler's Wife illustrates this slight volume with her own moody etchings.

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]]> One Of Ireland's Greatest Writers Looks Back On Eight Decades Irish novelist Edna O'Brien looks back on eight tumultuous decades in a new memoir, <em>Country Girl</em>. Reviewer Heller McAlpin says the book is "a generous gift to readers" but too circumspect about O'Brien's personal life — which included encounters with Samuel Beckett, Richard Burton and Paul McCartney. Wed, 01 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/179317147/a-bargain-basement-molly-bloom-looks-back-on-eight-decades?ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/179317147/a-bargain-basement-molly-bloom-looks-back-on-eight-decades?ft=1&f=4467346 Irish novelist Edna O'Brien looks back on eight tumultuous decades in a new memoir, Country Girl. Reviewer Heller McAlpin says the book is "a generous gift to readers" but too circumspect about O'Brien's personal life — which included encounters with Samuel Beckett, Richard Burton and Paul McCartney.

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]]> 'Daily Rituals' Of The Brilliantly Creative How do creative geniuses do what they do? <em>Daily Rituals</em>, which assembles the working regimens of 161 artists and thinkers into a lean, engaging volume, makes one thing clear: There's no such thing as <em>the</em> way<em> </em>to create good work, but all the greats have <em>their </em>way — and some are spectacularly weird. Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/30/179286560/daily-rituals-of-the-brilliantly-creative?ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/30/179286560/daily-rituals-of-the-brilliantly-creative?ft=1&f=4467346 How do creative geniuses do what they do? Daily Rituals, which assembles the working regimens of 161 artists and thinkers into a lean, engaging volume, makes one thing clear: There's no such thing as the way to create good work, but all the greats have their way — and some are spectacularly weird.

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]]> 'Woman Upstairs': Friendly On The Outside, Furious On The Inside Claire Messud's new novel, <em>The Woman Upstairs</em>, delves into the inner life of the quiet, friendly — and secretly furious — woman upstairs, a frustrated artist named Nora who becomes obsessed with a glamorous immigrant family. Thu, 25 Apr 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/25/177962163/woman-upstairs-friendly-on-the-outside-furious-on-the-inside?ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/25/177962163/woman-upstairs-friendly-on-the-outside-furious-on-the-inside?ft=1&f=4467346 Claire Messud's new novel, The Woman Upstairs, delves into the inner life of the quiet, friendly — and secretly furious — woman upstairs, a frustrated artist named Nora who becomes obsessed with a glamorous immigrant family.

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]]> False Notes In Allende's Dear-Diary 'Notebook' At 19, the heroine of Isabel Allende's florid, frenzied <em>Maya's Notebook</em> is in a tailspin of drugs, prostitution and crime. Sent by her grandmother to hide out with an old friend on an island off Chile, she finds love and redemption. Reviewer Mary Pols doesn't buy it. Wed, 24 Apr 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/24/177958964/false-notes-in-allendes-dear-diary-notebook?ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/24/177958964/false-notes-in-allendes-dear-diary-notebook?ft=1&f=4467346 At 19, the heroine of Isabel Allende's florid, frenzied Maya's Notebook is in a tailspin of drugs, prostitution and crime. Sent by her grandmother to hide out with an old friend on an island off Chile, she finds love and redemption. Reviewer Mary Pols doesn't buy it.

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]]> A Bird-Watching Babe In The Woods Stumbles Toward Maturity A grad student with a temp job surveying bird populations finds his way to adulthood in a series of linked stories. Filled with quirky characters and offbeat humor, Brian Kimberling's <em>Snapper</em> is a love letter to the wilds of Indiana. Tue, 23 Apr 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/23/177956635/a-bird-watching-babe-in-the-woods-stumbles-toward-maturity?ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/23/177956635/a-bird-watching-babe-in-the-woods-stumbles-toward-maturity?ft=1&f=4467346 A grad student with a temp job surveying bird populations finds his way to adulthood in a series of linked stories. Filled with quirky characters and offbeat humor, Brian Kimberling's Snapper is a love letter to the wilds of Indiana.

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]]> With Mullet Or With Monkey, Everyone Knows Superman NPR comics critic Glen Weldon has a new, comprehensive biography of the classic American hero: Superman. Reviewer Elizabeth Graham says Weldon's survey of the Man of Steel's many lives in <em>Superman: The Unauthorized Biography</em> is "reliable, witty and informative." Thu, 18 Apr 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/18/176783341/with-mullet-or-with-monkey-everyone-knows-superman?ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/18/176783341/with-mullet-or-with-monkey-everyone-knows-superman?ft=1&f=4467346 NPR comics critic Glen Weldon has a new, comprehensive biography of the classic American hero: Superman. Reviewer Elizabeth Graham says Weldon's survey of the Man of Steel's many lives in Superman: The Unauthorized Biography is "reliable, witty and informative."

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