The concept of the existential dark abyss is well known to most.   Sarah Rose Etter raises the bar by instead imagining a bleak black hole that hovers about the protagonist, Cassie in "Ripe" her latest novel.  Cassie is the only one who can see her unwelcome constant companion (though it does shrink and grow in size based on both Cassie's emotional state and location) and it has been with her as long as she can remember. perhaps even back to her birth. 

Now 33, Cassie is living in California and working in Silicon Valley at a company called Voyager that is currently embroiled in shady efforts to take down their competition.  Like many of us, Cassie has to create a "fake" personality to fit in and survive at her demanding job.   San Francisco is well known for its very wealthy residents and its very, very high rate of homelessness.   As Cassie muses while she walks around the bay of her company's complex,  "The truth of the world bares itself when the tide goes down, devoured, used, rotting."  

Faced with several dilemmas at once- an unexpected pregnancy with her lover (who is in an open relationship with his "real" girlfriend), the realization that she is abandoning all her principles to keep her job, and the long overdue acknowledgement that her mother is harsh and unduly demanding while her father only wants her to stay in California and succeed- Cassie is struggling to avoid sinking into the shadowy center of her black hole. 

The dictionary definitions that begin most chapters and the frequent headlines interspersed throughout the novel, along with Cassie's research notes, are essential to the narrative so the reader should pay attention to them.  "Ripe" is an original and creative tale, a modern cautionary saga that will appeal to all that relish literary fiction.  More importantly, it is a work that will engage your emotions and your brain. 

Richard Kadrey is one of my many favorite science fiction/fantasy authors, so when he teamed up with horror writer Cassandra Khaw I just had to check out "The Dead Take The A Train."

I am happy to share that I was not disappointed! Though, full disclosure, I had to take frequent breaks to process the vivid violence (though rest assured it was necessary for the plot).

Our protagonist Julie is turning 30 in the bustling burg of N.Y.C. Life is not going as she planned other than her sketchy retirement plan-dying young of alcohol induced liver disease-by all indications that is going very well. Julie also resorts to cocaine for stress relief from her dark magic gigs, horrendous demon encounters, and various gods who take callousness to the next level.

Julie wants to escape her day to day dilemmas and save her friend Sarah who is on the run from her abusive partner Dan, but her actions set in motion an unprecedented disaster that threatens humanity. Her go to allies, St. Joan and Dead Air have powers of their own and together they try to thwart the evil Tyler (Julie's ex-boyfriend who is lacking anything resembling a soul), the scary sisters Barghests, and the ravenous creature Akrasiel (Julie thought she was summoning an angel) who destroys everything and everyone after he escapes the void.

It is an exciting tale, fast paced and it is impossible not to root for and care about team Julie. There is a lot of gruesome violence and sometimes the reader may just have to pause for a moment to continue. The action is non-stop with plenty of perilous cliffhangers! Impressive and imaginative, check it out!! And happily, it is the first of a series!!

This is the first book I have read by bestselling author Lauren Groff.  In my defense I have multiple long lists and piles of fiction that I want to consume, and I only have so much time-one has to eat and sleep and do laundry!.  But after being unable to put down her latest, "The Vaster Wilds" I am so looking forward to perusing her older novels!

Groff writes with a deft, inventive, emotional hand.  The reader will feel cold, colder than imaginable.  Hunger will settle and take up permanent, painful residence  in your stomach.  The sort of hunger that consumes your every thought and lends to visuals of your body devouring itself.

You will feel fear and terror and exhaustion and despair and anger and sorrow and hope, and that is just in the first few chapters.  But as we join Lamentations (not her original name)  she is beginning her escape in the dark night, wearing stolen boots and gloves and cloak.  She knows she is leaving everything and everyone behind, but she tells herself, "...think not of it, else you shall die of grief."

She prays to god (note the deliberate lack of capitalization) and sings inside herself for some small comfort.  On this journey we learn about our protagonist- that this land is not her birthplace,  that men are worse than wild animals and that this world is savage.  As she flees and reflects, it is revealed that she is resilient,  a smart survivor, a victim of abuse, and a loving caretaker of a special needs child, Bess.

Her perilous trip from Europe to this new uncivilized country is detailed as is the swift and relentless pursuit by a violent, vicious, merciless soldier chosen to hunt her down just for the reward of fresh, hot bread.   The reader will find themselves caring deeply for Lamentations and rooting for her to succeed and live the life she envisions.

Who will enjoy this masterful work of literary fiction?  Anyone who likes a good story with strong characters that elicits deeply felt emotions with an original plot and well woven words. Apologize to the other books in your TBR list and move this one to the top position!  It is going to linger in your consciousness for a long, long time.

Imagine you are faced with several crises. It is not too difficult of a reach, life is hard. Your father is in the I.C.U., near death for many months and your husband has been suffering from a "long flu" for nine years that leaves him in pain, unable to work, often even unable to walk, and frequently spending months in bed. What do you do? If you are the main character in the latest novel by Melissa Broder, "Death Valley", you flee Los Angeles and end up in a Best Western in the desert.

With lots of humor and introspection, our heroine then goes on ill advised, unprepared hikes in the desert, and encounters a giant cactus and her own mortality. In a low place mentally, and then in a lonely place physically, she tries to escape herself, but as conventional wisdom warns us - we bring ourselves wherever we run to. Will our protagonist survive? Will she find a way to thrive? Even her attempts to find connection with an automated customer service phone line are hilarious. You will laugh, you will wonder at that tear forming in the corner of your eye, and you will not be able to put this book down.

This story is for those who love family drama and searches for paths to fill our emptiness and finding the levity in the most unlikely of situations.. Melissa Broder knows her craft. She knows the difficulty of having to choose your hotel breakfast selections the night before, the inability to process our feelings in a way that is kind and beneficial to our psyche, and how impossible it is to successfully deal with all the people in our lives without getting paralyzed by fear and indecision. This narrative will resonate with the reader for quite some time. It is a welcome addition to your TBR list.

Hooray!! Readers finally get to return to the imaginative world of V.E. Schwab's "The Shades of Magic Series" with her latest book "The Fragile Threads of Power!" More magic and mayhem to keep us happy and riveted to each and every page!

As before, the primary geographical locations are the different versions of London( Black London has been destroyed to prevent complete downfall and utter collapse), therefore now there are only three: Red London which is ruled by King Rhy Maresh, Grey London where magic is mostly forgotten and White London which is violent and deteriorating. Many familiar characters are back once again to entertain us : Rhy and both his husband Alucard and his wife Nadiya, his brother Kell, and their friend Lila (Delilah). New characters are introduced, most notably Kosika the child queen of White London desperately trying to restore magic and beauty to her city and Tes, the young tinkerer who can fix broken magic in almost anything and the very enchanting child of Nadiya and Rhy and Aluccard, Ren a most endearing and mischievous four year old who loves animals and her family fiercely.

Schwab is a master storyteller and weaves a hypnotic narrative with the added bonus of well developed and strong players, most notably the women who are never relegated to second class roles. There are murder plots and conspiracies and action and desperate situations and magic used in the most creative ways, for both good and evil. Schwab's dedication, "For the ones who still believe in magic" is most apt and she has countless fans eager to consume this book and the ones that will (hopefully swiftly) follow!!

There are countless reasons "The Bee Sting" by Paul Murray is shortlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize. It was on this reviewer's TBR list BEFORE that honor was announced! It is a tour de force, an epic work that demands to be in your home library!

So many interwoven threads to discover within these 642 pages-the economic crash in Ireland and its impact, family members struggling with their inability to connect with one another while troubles stack up in a teetering Jenga pile, and the struggle most humans face to be good especially as the world faces possible doom. The family consists of Dickie Barnes, failing business owner and his wife Imelda, adrift in a sea of memories of her deceased former fiance (Dickie's brother) and their two children: clever college bound Cass seeking answers in a bottle and pre-adolescent P.J., a loner on the verge of running away into danger.

All four do not see each other clearly and tragically do not seem to know each other at all. Mired and embroiled in their own morass they cling to others who only escalate the dismal trajectories of their lives. Dickie spends the majority of his time building an end of times bunker with Victor, his gun obsessed inept handyman while Imelda considers an affair with Big Mike the town philanderer and father to Elaine, Cass's narcissistic mean girl best friend. P.J. cannot get any family members to aid him in his crisis, so he is continually texting with Ethan, an online gaming "buddy" who may not be who he says he is.

Throw in lots of life problems such as a dreary small town a few hours from Dublin, a lack of money, confusion and denial over sexual feelings, faltering friendships and the ever present ability of human beings to just not face the truth about themselves and others and you have a forceful and robust novel that draws you in from the first line, "In the next town over, a man had killed his family." This turns out to be no one the Barnes or their circle actually know but. still sets a tone about secrets and the hidden nature of families. The flashbacks adroitly penned by Murray reveal the events that formulated this family, from Dickie and Imelda's dysfunctional childhoods and the mistakes all four of them make as they make their way in the world.

Everyone will find this book and these characters lingering in their thoughts for quite a long time. A most worthy read with a writer at the top of his game!

Imagine you are 29 and the world has descended into chaos because of climate change. There is little food, scarce water, no hope for anyone except the wealthy and powerful. Definitely a likely scenario given the current scientific evidence. What if you were a chef, with no remaining family or friends, and your identity is in dire peril since your career is gone? What would you do and how much would you be willing to sacrifice to land the coveted position as culinary artist for an affluent businessman, his daughter and their exclusive rich guests?

C Pam Zhang's main character in "Land of Milk and Honey" faces just such a dilemma. Her life is bleak, and she lies about her qualifications on her resume and application. Though her employers know this, she still gets the position because she writes "I will faithfully perform any task within reason, and with dignity." Little does she know her offer of compliance will take her down a perilous path.

The language in this novel is beautiful, descriptive and sensuous. The details about the gorgeous compound and the ingredients available and the meals created are simply amazingly composed. The relationship that is a major focus of the narrative is intimate and powerful. Through flashbacks the past is revealed, explaining how she arrives at this point in her life. Compelling and relevant, it is a work that will linger in the mind of the reader for quite some time. That said, it is difficult to actually like any of the people in this book. From the poor who make impossible deals just to try and survive to the uber rich who only want to flourish at any costs, no one wants to do the right thing until they are forced into a corner. Still, it is an absolute must read!

One of the most notable features of Paul Marra's latest work, "Mercury Pictures Presents" is his rare ability to fully feature his supporting characters in more interesting and vital ways.  The reader may even find that one of the bit players is their favorite.  Instead of  existing for a finite number of pages, the reader will find them returning again and again to the narrative.  This requires that attention be paid to everyone in order to fully experience this historical novel which takes place in various countries during the 1940's.

Marra writes well, with descriptive flowing passages and even the films described in the book prove fascinating.  On a more serious note, propaganda and the rewriting of history is examined within the framework of the story, providing some insightful perspectives and inspiring some trains of thought for the readers.

Who will enjoy this story?  Historical fiction fans, those who enjoy family stories and anyone who prefers literary fiction.  The discrimination experienced by both the minor and major characters is obviously relevant to the times we are living in.

Liz Nugent has written a family drama containing a totally original plot line and several disturbing twists with "Strange Sally Diamond." Sally is an extremely antisocial introvert at the age of forty-three and still lives with her adoptive elderly father. Why is she like this? The tale unfolds slowly as we get captured by the character, rooting for her to find a new safe and productive path.

Though it is easy to care about Sally, it is difficult to actually like her. Introverts might find a few connections with her behavior, but it is so hard to agree with her choice to both completely ignore the evidence about her family members and adhere to her own false narratives about them.

There are two perspectives for the reader to ponder, that of Sally and one of a boy from the past. How do these puzzle pieces interlock? This will definitely appeal to mystery fans in addition to those who like family stories. It is a strong piece of fiction and one readers will not regret choosing.

Angie Kim is an excellent writer! This is evident from her choice of quotes to comprise her epigraph at the very beginning of "Happiness Falls." Some readers may be initially reluctant to choose a GMA Book Club selection as it is too "popular/trendy" but, at least in this case, that would mean missing one of the best novels of the year.

The plot is imaginative, the characters are compelling and the musings about life and purpose and the connections to our loved ones are thought provoking. Mia is the twenty year old narrator of this tale about a crisis experienced by a Virginian family. Her father is missing and a page turning mystery rapidly unfolds. The personal drama and secrets of Mia, her mom, her dad, her twin brother John, and her younger brother Eugene (suffering from a rare genetic disease and unable to speak) are slowly revealed, layers of a large onion gradually pulled away.

The elements of philosophy and purpose and deep questions regarding our human connections will prove relevant to most readers. It is a well woven piece of fiction and it is difficult to reveal more without divulging spoilers and disrupting the fun of discovering all the details. Without question this book deserves five stars. The characters, the emotions it generates and the musings it inspires will remain in the reader's thoughts for quite some time.

The novel "The Butchers' Blessing" is contained within a contemporary timeframe, from 1996 to 2018. Ruth Gilligan has crafted a totally original story and it is so compelling many readers believed this group of butchers were based on an actual folktale. While much of the history and news bits in the book are accurate (the mad cow crisis and the tensions in Ireland etc. etc.,) Gilligan has admitted in interviews that this bunch of traveling men emerged solely from her imagination. Evidently this reveal disappointed and even angered (gasp) many readers! All fiction is by definition not cold hard facts, though of course often reflects real life. As readers, we should be familiar with suspending reality and stick to getting lost in the world of the book we are perusing.

The tale is undeniably captivating. Una and her mother, Gra, are caught in the lifestyle of their head of household, one of the eight male travelers who spend eleven months visiting believers across Ireland to enact the ritual (and mostly gentle)slaughter of cattle. Life is lonely and hard and the females left behind suffer from the prejudices and bullying of their neighbors. An ambitious photographer, Ronan Monks appears on the first page, reminiscing about an old picture of a deceased butcher that has never been released for viewing. Thus a mystery becomes interwoven with the saga; which one of the group died? And was he murdered and if so, by whom? Davey and his parents, Fionn and Eileen are also vital characters. Farmers struggling to survive in the new modern world, they must simultaneously come to terms with the cancer that strikes one of them and then their ties to the old ways.

This was an unexpected pleasure to read. Clever and engrossing, it might not be a concept some readers would initially choose. However, it is packed full of emotion and it generates empathy and a desire for justice and satisfying endings for those deserving them. Give it a chance, you may find yourself thinking about the characters for quite some time.

It is crystal clear that Tom Hanks loves movies. He loves acting, he loves the process, and most importantly he loves all the people involved with movies. "The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece" is a love letter to all the casts and crews, from the superstars to the extras and the directors to the gofers. It is also a gentle rebuke to those of us who say negative things about movies. Instead of panning and bad mouthing a movie, it is kinder to merely say something akin to "the film in question was not for me, but I certainly appreciate all the work that went into it."

Tom Hanks is a most excellent writer! I admit I was a bit skeptical as I opened the front cover and began to read, but this was based on my erroneous assumption that his first book, a collection of short stories sold only because of his fame (I have not read that one yet.) This is a well woven, intricate tale with fully fleshed out characters that you instantly become enraptured with. My personal favorites are Al Mac-Teer, Wren Lane and Ynez Gonzalez-Cruz, but I fully support you choosing your own dearest ones! With all of Hank's inside knowledge of the industry we are embedded in the backstage procedures and dramas and there are even actual comics!

Who will like this book? Everyone! The book actually feels heavier than usual hardcovers in my hands and the plot is equally dense and satisfying! I definitely will re-read it at some point and I look forward to Hanks' next novel!!

I approached "Poster Girl" by Veronica Roth with a tiny bit of trepidation.   She has never been in my TBR stack (dangerously high and on the verge of tipping over, lol) though I was aware that she had created the popular Divergent series.  I am confident nearly everyone has watched those movies!  I was pleasantly surprised by this novel!  The character of Sonya quickly captured my interest and provided a fun read.

Sonya is captured and then detained in a tiny enclave of former devotees of the Delegation which has been overthrown by the Triumverate.  As history shows us, often new regimes begin with proclaimed dedications to freedom and equality only to once again travel down a path of rules and regulations and restrictions.  Sadly, to quote Lord Acton, "power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Our lead character, is compelling and one I found myself rooting for, is assigned a seemingly impossible task to gain her freedom.  Along the way she discovers many truths about her past and struggles to unearth her true nature.  It is a satisfying read and I found myself visualizing the limited series or perhaps a movie that might be generated from these pages. 

This is definitely worth your time, whether you consume it on a beach, or on vacation or in your favorite cozy reading spot!

Full disclosure: I have never been the biggest fan of short story collections.  I will pick them up if they are written by one of my favorite authors (I have a lot of favorite authors!)  But, it is rare that I am totally satisfied with more than one or two or three.  I just prefer getting lost in the longer format of a novel, though I definitely appreciate and acknowledge the immense skill involved in composing a short story.

So, it was with mixed emotions that I opened "Even Greater Mistakes" by Charlie Jane Anders.  I thoroughly enjoyed  her books "All the Birds in the Sky" and "The City in the Middle of the Night," so I also had to check this offering out.  It was fun reading her introductions to each of the nineteen pieces and I was careful to spread them out over several days so I could reset after each one and read the next with a fresh perspective.

Still, there were only four that I really loved and would read again.  I am not going to share which ones because I do not wish to influence you with my choices, you should find your own way through the book.  These little bits of science and fantasy are concocted and woven by an imaginative writer.  I am amazed by all the worlds streaming inside Ander's brain!  This collection of young characters face fantastic and offbeat obstacles with lots of humor and hope.  

This is a must read!  Anders is a leader in the modern field of fantasy!

It is my first time reading the author Patrick deWitt (though his "The Sisters Brothers" was shortlisted for the Booker Prize AND made into a movie so I need to add it to my TBR.) I am happy to share that I totally enjoyed "The Librarianist."   And yes, librarianist is a real word: : a specialist in the care or management of a library.  
 
This book is the tale of retired Bob Comet, who ruminates on his divorce, the loss of his best friend, his career working in the Portland, Oregon library and his great adventure running away as a child.  His personality is revealed as the flashbacks detail his life and the events that resulted in his solitude.  Introverts will recognize themselves in this well written novel and extroverts will gain some much needed insight into this personality type.  

It is a totally original book that demands to be read and savored as expediently as one's circumstances will allow.  It captures you within its spell and you will find yourself rooting for all the characters. Now, I must excuse myself and head to the library to check out more of deWitt's books!!

This is the third published work of fiction by Edan Lepucki and it is my favorite! It pulls you in from the first page as the "mouth of time" explains, "I'm not time, but I hold it." We are then introduced to Sharon, abused by her now deceased father, experiencing for the first time her remarkable ability that will set the tone of her life, and her descendants and the women who choose to "follow" her as she becomes Ursa. 
 
I feel very uncomfortable reading about children in peril,  so often I found it necessary to close this book and take a break before I could resume. Yes, I am fully cognizant that they are merely characters on a page, but this does not alter my emotions. It is reflective of Lepucki's skill as a writer that this narrative is woven so intricately and compellingly that I simply must return to see where it went.   

I was never disappointed and  enjoyed learning about Ray and Cherry and Opal and was satisfied with their journey and the conclusion of "Time's Mouth,"  which is not always the case since endings are hard!!  I heartily recommend grabbing this one off the shelf!!

Full disclosure, I was already a fan of Vauhini Vara after reading the 2023 Pulitzer finalist epic "The Immortal King Rao." So, I opened the book "This Is Salvaged" completely prepared to like it. I was not disappointed. This unique collection of ten stories brought to mind an image of excellent bits of amuse-bouche to savor, but absent the need to move on to a main course!

Many of the stories involve children of various ages, and incorporate the search all humans share to find the particular individual meaning of our own life, despite never ending pressures and obstacles and constraints. Vara crafts her words with great skill, eliciting contemplation and emotion and empathy from her readers. Her characters struggle with grief, addiction, and trying to negotiate a purpose while realizing "life is incomprehensible." The reader discovers all the narratives are linked by the characters trying to salvage the best from their existences.

My five star rating is based on the condition that you, the reader, will not consume all the stories in one sitting as I did. I was left feeling as if I had just binged an entire season of some show on a streaming network; slightly mentally overwhelmed and overstimulated with the nagging suspicion that I might have enjoyed them more if I had devoured them a bit more sparingly over a longer expanse of time. Still, I am totally satisfied with this work, and will happily recommend it to all!!

"Girlfriend on Mars" by Deborah Willis is a great choice for your next beach (or vacation) read. Funny and poignant, it tells the story of a reality competition with the two winners receiving a trip to Mars to jump start a new outpost designed to provide a refuge to preserve our species.

Relevant to the times we live in when climate change is a crisis affecting our future, I can actually envision this as a limited television series. There is action, drama, international locales, love, betrayal, all mixed with humor as a slacker pot growing dude tries to cope with the inescapable fact that his girlfriend is leaving him for Mars.

I am definitely adding Willis to the list of authors I follow.

"Digging Stars" checks off everything I want in a work of fiction! Compelling characters! A story that holds my interest from page one! Intellectual elements including lots of science and history! Drama! Love!

The author, Novuyo Rosa Tshuma deftly weaves words into an intricate narrative that instantly captures your mind and your heart. We first meet Athandwa when she is a child of eleven and we follow her into her early twenties. We join her in her journey from Zimbabwe to America, as she grows and learns and desires and struggles, and finally faces reality and the truth of the illusions she has clung to thus far in her life. The supporting cast is diverse and I choose not to reveal more than the bare minimum of details because the personalities and events deserve to be discovered like valuable hidden treasure by you, the reader!!

We learn about the horrors and slings and arrows humans can inflict upon one another and also the hopes of the current generation to surmount our past mistakes. I was so sorry to turn the last page and close this book. I wish it could have been longer. I am hoping for a sequel! I look forward to reading more by Tshuma and I thank Book Browse for introducing me to a writer I might never have discovered on my own.

I am glad I read "Innards" by debut author Magogodi oaMphela Makhene (thank you to Bookbrowse for introducing me to this work of fiction!)  This collection of twelve stories captures a country and history I am not familiar with other than some very brief mentions in long-ago history classes.  Makhene is a gifted writer, weaving words and descriptions to evoke a culture and traditions and creating empathy for a people and civilization different in many ways from my own, but also similar in the basic human aspirations of survival and love and family and hope and humor (though I appreciate and acknowledge the humor within, I must admit it is unique and didn't actually make me laugh-but it is an integral part of the strength of the stories that all humans find joy where they can.)

Soweto, South Africa is the setting for the characters that interconnect throughout the stories.  They are brutally subjugated by those in power and their extreme poverty creates memorable individuals and families trying to survive and hoping for a better life.  Black men without money or power lose their lands and their lives and the women and children fare even worse.  But there are traditions and laughter and I found each and every story spoke of  something that will resonate with me for a long time.

The title story, "Innards" tells the saga of a patriarch who earns a paltry living selling the bits and pieces of animals that most people shun.  His customers are the poorest of the poor, but his family is embarrassed by his actions and his friends and neighbors ridicule him. But our lives are messy.  We constantly rewrite our history (if only to ourselves) even as we live it, to better make it fit our preferred narrative.  However, the reality and the cold hard truth is our existence is not shiny and gold and perfect.  Our heart is not a pretty red cutout, it is a muscular organ that is bloody and unattractive to most, with the possible exceptions of those in the medical profession.

Who will enjoy this book?  Anyone who wants to be engrossed and educated and feel strong emotions.  This is not a light summer beach read.  It took me a minute to get into the flow of the stories, but the writer's thoughtful opening letter to "Dear Reader" was a valuable assist.  I would actually give it a rating of 4 1/2 stars if that option were available to me.  I will disclose that some of the cultural references were totally unknown to me and I could have benefitted from some footnotes. I did not want to put the book down and do research on the internet as I prefer to remain enveloped in whatever I am reading. I look forward to more from this new and modern author!!