Tag Archives: debut novel

The Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorello

Posted on August 19, 2010 | 6 Comments

The Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorello (book 1 in the Raleigh Harmon series) (Revell, 2007), 272 pages

Summary
It’s summer in Virginia when two men drop from a roof into the rally-fomented crowd below. The victims: a white police officer and a black man with a troubled past. And apparently no one saw what happened.

Thoughts
In Bones (season premiere September 23!), the main character is a forensic anthropologist and she’s paired with an FBI agent. In this Raleigh Harmon series, the main character is a forensic geologist, and she works for the FBI.

I love all the rock, geology, mineralogy stuff. I love that the setting — Richmond, Virginia — plays such a huge role. That the story opens up the history, the racial tensions of the area just makes the story all the better for me.

After reading the second book in this series, I knew I had to read this one, even though I’d heard it wasn’t as good. I’d heard correctly: This book isn’t as good as Giorello’s subsequent books, but it also wasn’t as bad as I’d feared. The character of Raleigh Harmon is still vivid, still strong, still flawed. The main difference, for me (other than different cases, of course), is that the writing’s not as vibrant here as in the two subsequent releases. However, the story still holds together, and I still enjoyed this encounter with Giorello’s writing and Harmon.

Other books in the series:
Book 2 The Rivers Run Dry | [my review: The Rivers Run Dry]
Book 3 The Clouds Roll Away | [my review: The Clouds Roll Away]
Book 4 The Mountains Bow Down in this ongoing series is expected to be released in March 2011, and I hate that I have to wait so long to read it!

About the author
Before turning her hand to fiction, Sibella Giorello (blog: Reading, Running and Real Science) was a features reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch for more than 10 years; her work received two Pulitzer nominations.

Other reviews
What You Reading Now?

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Posted in books, Christian Fiction, fiction, mystery, review

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The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Posted on July 27, 2010 | 6 Comments

The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (1993; translated by Lucia Graves; Little, Brown; May 4, 2010), 224 pages

Summary
Max’s family leaves the city for the quieter, safer life of a small coastal town in 1943. But Max notices strange things about the town, and the Carvers’ new house, right off.

Thoughts
I’m so glad to see more of Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s work being translated into English! After loving The Shadow of the Wind and even not loving The Angel’s Game I’ve been longing for more from this author to read.

I would classify The Prince of Mist as more horror than the others I’ve read by him. Still, it felt more like I was reading a book that was scary than that I was being scared by the book. Does that make sense? I’m guessing it’s because it’s a YA title.

The writing in this book doesn’t seem as vibrant to me as in the other two books I’ve read of his. I’m not sure if that’s because this was his first book, or if, perhaps, it’s because it’s for a younger audience.

I thought the way the author gets the adults out of the way for most of the action was great. The main characters are able to have a well-adjusted family but the danger-fraught story line isn’t hindered by their presence.

As much as I was happy to read this book, it’s not my favorite from him; that position is still firmly held by The Shadow of the Wind. That’s due in part to the story (this one isn’t book-centric, and it’s also a bit on the scary side for my taste, which is funny to say because it really feels like a YA book in this respect) and in part to the writing (which wasn’t bad in this case, but really shines in the other titles of his I’ve read). I’ll still jump at the next Ruiz Zafón book I can get in English, though.

The book’s trailer:
[Youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2dX56mc8Rg]

About the author
Carlos Ruiz Zafón doesn’t write fast enough for my taste; he’s the author of 6 books.

Other reviews
Alison’s Book Marks
The Introverted Reader
Fantasy Book Critic
A Dribble of Ink

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Posted in books, fantasy, fiction, historical, review, speculative, YA

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The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O’Connor McNees

Posted on July 20, 2010 | 12 Comments

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O’Connor McNees (Amy Einhorn, an imprint of Penguin; April 1, 2010), 352 pages

Summary
Readers have long wondered about what author Louisa May Alcott of Little Women fame based some of the stories in her books on, particularly Jo’s romantic storyline, since Jo is based on Alcott herself. In The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott, Kelly O’Connor McNees mixes well-researched biographical facts with imagination and unwraps that mystery.

Thoughts
I don’t know why I put off reading this for so long! This book, this story, was a cozy quilt I loved wrapping myself up in, a revisiting in a new way of an old favorite. I loved reading Alcott’s books as a child, and the Alcott biography Invincible Louisa by Cornelia Meigs was one of the few biographies I ever enjoyed.

The book is set in 1855, the same year Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass was released, and McNees’s interweaving of this into her story left me with a new appreciation of (and interest in) Whitman’s work.

While I was reading this book, I also read several quotes from C.S. Lewis and George MacDonald on love and marriage at The Rabbit Room. The distinctions drawn there are an apt sidebar to McNees’s story.

One scene of the fictional history (if you’ve read the book, I bet you can guess which one) seemed like a bit of a stretch for me, but that’s it.

I really enjoyed basically everything about this book. I look forward to seeing what McNees writes next.

About the author
Kelly O’Connor McNees (@komcnees) is a former editorial assistant and English teacher. She lives in Chicago. The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott is her first novel.

Other reviews
She Is Too Fond of Books
Devourer of Books
Sophisticated Dorkiness
Books, Movies & Chinese Food
Joyfully Retired
The 3 R’s Blog
Life in the Thumb
Literate Housewife
S. Krishna’s Books

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Posted in books, fiction, historical, review, review copy

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31 Bond Street by Ellen Horan

Posted on July 5, 2010 | 9 Comments

31 Bond Street by Ellen Horan (Harper, March 30, 2010), 352 pages

Summary
31 Bond Street opens in 1857 New York City. Wealthy dentist Harvey Burdell is found brutally murdered, in his own home. Emma Cunningham, the widowed mother of two teenage daughters, is accused of the murder, but not before she’s trapped inside her home for weeks by officials with not-so-secret political ambitions. Henry Clinton puts his reputation and practice on the line to defend her.

Thoughts
Everything seemed aligned for me to absolutely love this book. A murder mystery, set in a historical framework, with racial, gender and socioeconomic issues in the fore. It touches on the impact of both the press and the law on peoples’ lives. What could be better?

The novel is a fictional account of an (apparently famous) actual murder trial, which is fun. I enjoyed the illustrations and snippets from newspapers that opened some chapters. Interestingly, my favorite characters were minor players.

I was a bit annoyed at how the narrative went back and forth in time. I had trouble keeping track of the chronology at times, although usually a nonlinear narrative isn’t a problem for me. It was incredibly slow getting around to the information that did, eventually, make me care deeply about this book. Still these are minor issues.

I found the setting absolutely engrossing, vividly drawn and fascinating. I love when that happens!

Bottom line: 31 Bond Street didn’t quite wow me, but I’ll definitely be looking forward to more from Horan. This was a fun, enjoyable read, a great story.

Read an excerpt.

There’s been talk of a movie based on the book — I think it would make a terrific film — and anyone who has read the book can enter the “Cast the Movie” Contest; the prize is handmade truffles from Bond Street Chocolates as well as a signed first edition of the book. The contest is open internationally; it closes August 31, 2010.

About the author
Ellen Horan previously worked as a freelance photo editor for magazines and books in New York City. She has a background in painting and visual art. 31 Bond Street is her first novel.

Check out the rest of the TLC Book Tour stops for 31 Bond Street by Ellen Horan.

Other reviews
Devourer of Books
Bookin’ with Bingo
Killin’ Time Reading
The Book Book

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Posted in blog tour, books, fiction, historical, mystery, newspapering, review, review copy, TLC book tour

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Something Missing by Matthew Dicks

Posted on June 24, 2010 | 2 Comments

Something Missing by Matthew Dicks (Broadway Books, a Random House imprint, 2009), 304 pages

Summary
Martin is a career criminal with some definite OCD tendencies. He largely keeps to himself, partly because he doesn’t really know how to interact with others in an unscripted environment, and partly because of his secrets. One thing that sets Martin apart from other thieves is the amount of research he puts into choosing his “clients” and the long-term relationships he has with each of them.

Thoughts
Quirky. Fun. The premise is grand — definitely unusual if not wholly unique — and I was smiling as I read.

Isn’t that cover great? I just love it, and it fits the feel of the book perfectly.

Overall, I would say it’s not hugely spectacular, but that doesn’t make it a bad book. Definitely readable, it just felt a bit flat to me. Some of this may be due to my reading time being spare minutes here and there and not the larger chunks of time I’m accustomed to devoting to a book, though.

I think I’d put this is the same category as Lisa Lutz’s Spellman Files series — crime fiction, but with an emphasis on quirky (wounded) characters and a fun story rather than on the actual crime or a breakneck pace. I’ll definitely be looking forward to reading more from Dicks.

About the author
Something Missing is Matthew Dicks’s (@matthewdicks) first book. His second book, Unexpectedly, Milo, is due out August 3, 2010.

Other reviews
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I did not receive this book from the publisher.

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The Queen of Palmyra by Minrose Gwin

Posted on May 3, 2010 | 9 Comments

The Queen of Palmyra by Minrose Gwin (Harper Perennial, April 27, 2010), 426 pages

Summary
In 1963, Florence Irene Forrest (That’s with two Rs, make a note.) lives in segregated Millwood, Mississippi. Her father can’t seem to stick to any job, until he begins selling burial insurance. Her mother sneaks trips to the local bootlegger while making ends meet by baking cakes. Florence spends most of her time with her grandparents’ longtime maid, Zenie.

Thoughts
The Queen of Palmyra is a well-written, compelling story. (I can’t really say it’s great or I loved it because of the story it tells.) The content of the story made me queasy at times, and I had to put it down and walk away for awhile. It’s also terribly sad. I guess you don’t pick up a novel like this one to be uplifted, but still.

Part of my struggle, I think, is that Gwin reveals much to the reader that Florence doesn’t comprehend. Somehow this makes the dread of the inevitable ends that much stronger. It also seemed vaguely creepy at points.

On a lighter note, I did love all the talk of diagramming sentences!

I’m drawn to Southern stories of this time period. This debut novel is an excellent, worthy addition to this category of books, but it’s not my favorite book of its type.

About the author
Minrose Gwin is the author of the 2004 memoir Wishing for Snow. She teaches contemporary fiction at UNC-Chapel Hill. She’s working on a book about Mississippi civil rights activist Medgar Evers.

Other reviews
Book, Line and Sinker
Book Chatter
The Girl from the Ghetto

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Posted in books, fiction, historical, review, review copy

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Balancing Acts by Zoe Fishman

Posted on April 7, 2010 | 12 Comments

Balancing Acts by Zoe Fishman (Harper, March 16, 2010), 384 pages

Summary
Charlie left a high-paying position on Wall Street to open her Brooklyn yoga studio. She attends her 10-year college reunion hoping to drum up business, but while she’s there she reconnects with three former classmates, who, like her, haven’t ended up quite where they planned.

• Sabine edits romance novels but hasn’t gotten around to writing her own book yet.
• Naomi hasn’t picked up her camera in years and is now a single mom doing web design.
• Bess has always dreamed of doing real journalism but instead writes cutlines (photo captions) for a gossip rag.

Thoughts
Balancing Acts struck me as kind of a cross between Sex in the City and Jennie Nash’s The Only True Genius in the Family.

I really enjoyed this book. I particularly loved how Fishman used yoga to not only facilitate the story and its progression — the four former classmates agree to meet for a six-session closed beginner’s class — but also to really inform and illustrate the whole of each character’s life.

Overall, the characters are believable and likable. I loved the focus on creativity and the arts in each of their lives.

This is a small thing, but: I’m really surprised by how technologically illiterate the main characters are. I’m the same age they are (although I don’t live in New York City and I’m not in the same life stage), and I’m much more in tune with technology than basically any of these women are.

Familiarity with yoga isn’t a factor in liking this book; although I’m somewhat interested in yoga, I’ve never done any yoga (unless you count Wii Fit).

If this is women’s fiction (Oh, all these labels!), it’s the first book I’ve heard called that I’ve actually enjoyed. This was a quick read, and I’m very glad I read it.

About the author
Zoe Fishman lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband. Balancing Acts is her first novel.

Check out the rest of the TLC Book Tour stops for Balancing Acts by Zoe Fishman.

Other reviews
S. Krishna’s Books
One Person’s Journey through a World of Books
Pop Culture Junkie
Write Meg
Books, Movies and Chinese Food

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Posted in blog tour, books, fiction, review, review copy, TLC book tour

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