The Summer Without Men is a dense, witty, feminist exploration of gender through literature, philosphy and neuroscience, and secondarily through the eyes of the 50-something narrator Mia as she retreats to her hometown after a nervous breakdown prompted by her husband's …more midlife-crisis affair with a (naturally!) younger woman. This is a very intellectual book--the reader, if interested, may find herself pausing frequently to "Google" obscure Latin phrases, unfamiliar contemporary poets, and, frankly, for me, hitherto unheard-of sociobiologists and antique if not ancient Men (ironic emphasis on "men") of Learning. Don't be intimidated, though! While occasionally the book seems less like a novel and more like a feminist lecture or outright rant, it's wry and humorous and there's just enough (somewhat banal) "outside" touching the "inside" to keep the pages turning. I was strongly reminded of Marilyn French's excellent 70s-era novel The Women's Room and think that any readers' group with a focus on women's issues would greatly enjoy The Summer Without Men. (less)

I was quite puzzled to receive my ARC of The Nobodies Album, because I had forgotten I asked for one, then I saw "...author of The Dogs of Babel" on the cover and sat down almost immediately to start reading. Carolyn Parkhurst tells the story of an author and mother, an …more estranged son, tragedy, and reconciliation beautifully, without becoming emotionally overwrought or cliched. I found the device of the "final chapter revisions" to be a little awkward and disruptive at times, but I understand the purpose of it--who among us doesn't occasionally wish we could rewrite certain chapters of our lives? Overall this story flowed easily towards a surprising conclusion and kept me engrossed from beginning to end. (less)