Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch

Summer House with Swimming Pool
by Herman Koch
(pub. 5/14)

Dr. Marc Schlosser finds himself caring for a patient whose life he may not be particularly interested in prolonging.  With regard to his actor friend Ralph Meier, their families have vacationed together and the social/professional boundaries have been thoroughly breached.  This is a book that begs for discussion as there are themes of status, sexism, medical ethics and how closely we must adhere to our biological imperatives . . .  all of which made compelling reading.  As hungrily I devoured the pages I confess there is a wicked aftertaste!

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Long Man by Amy Greene

Long Man
by Amy Greene
(pub. 1/14)

The Long Man river in East Tennessee is about to overflow it’s banks and flood a small town in Appalachia. (Real event in 1936)  While longtime residents are forced to relocate, a small child goes missing and priorities are re-ordered.  Things go from bad to worse in the ceaseless rain, and with the clock ticking many powerful emotions and the accumulated heartbreaks of the community rise to the surface.  This was a very exciting and satisfying read that puts the reader dead-center in the action, boots on the ground in the squishing mud.

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Norwegian By Night by Derek Miller

Norwegian By Night
by Derek Miller
(pub. 5/13)

Sheldon Horowitz, hero of this thrilling novel, is in his 80’s and not about to go gently into that good night.  He’s finally got a chance to save lives, dementia and infirmities notwithstanding.  Loved his story!

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The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

The Goldfinch
by Donna Tartt
(pub. 10/13)

My favorite of 2013, this novel is an accomplishment commensurate with the decade it took to write.  It’s worth every day, every page and every penny!  I really don’t want to relinquish Theo, Boris or Hobie . . . even after almost 800 pages.  And someday I hope to see Fabritius’ painting which is the heart of The Goldfinch.

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Night Film by Marisha Pessl

Night Film
by Marisha Pessl
(pub. 7/13)

A trio of investigators try to untangle the mysterious, possible suicide of a beautiful 24-year-old woman . . . who is the daughter of reclusive filmmaker Cordova.  The author has created a multi-media novel, if you will, in that there’s a website devoted to Cordova film clips, and the book is fleshed out with newspaper clippings and other bits of information that fortify the narrative.  Meanwhile, the trio lead by disgraced journalist Scott McGrath, whose career foundered on the rocks of his prior remarks about Cordova, endures all manner of challenge in their quest for the truth about Ashley Cordova’s death.  This is quite the wild ride, and I’d like to talk about the ending with other readers!

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The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison

The Silent Wife
by A.S.A. Harrison
(pub. 5/13)

Two more ill-fated young (un)marrieds never there were than Jodi and Todd.  The life they share in a lovely penthouse overlooking Lake Michigan is about to be put at risk.  And even though you know the final outcome from the first pages you just can’t resist the compulsion to connect the dots.  Divulged in a “he said/she said” format, it’s not possible to choose a side to root for because each of them is despicable and crazy.  This will leave you breathless–get two so you can give a copy to a friend without turning loose of yours!

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Quiet Dell by Jayne Anne Phillips

Quiet Dell
by Jayne Anne Phillips
(pub. 9/13)

The true story of the murder of the Eicher family of Park Ridge, IL is chronicled by Phillips, as seen through the eyes of (fictitious) heroine/journalist Emily Thornhill.  Emily is as passionately involved in the capture of the Eicher’s killer as she is in the dramatic turns her personal life takes as the trial evolves.  The two stories intertwine to make the novel much more than “seeing justice well served” for the reader.  As in Lark and Termite, there is an element of fantasy and imagination that adds a uniqueness to the writing and offsets the sadness of the tragic deaths of the Eichers.

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The Execution of Noa P. Singleton by Elizabeth L. Silver

The Execution of Noa P. Singleton
by Elizabeth L. Silver

This is a completely engrossing “can’t-turn-the-pages-fast-enough” drama.  Noa is on death row, ready to receive her 3-drug cocktail, but there is a sliver of hope for amnesty.  And what about everything that led up to this moment?

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The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton Disclafani

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls
by Anton Disclafani
(pub. 5/13)

Thea Atwell has strayed from the straight and narrow and is banished to an equestrian camp at the tender age of 15.  The family history and the details of Thea’s transgressions unspool against the backdrop of the Great Depression.  The stark differences between the haves and have-nots at this time in our country’s history may be relevant for us today as well.

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Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

Where’d You Go, Bernadette
by Maria Semple
(pub. 6/12)

This is the funniest book I’ve treated myself to in a long time! Bernadette has vanished from an Antarctic cruise ship, leaving behind her husband and incredibly precocious and appealing young daughter Bee  (who you’ll wish you could kidnap right off  the page). Why would Bernadette do that?  The story is told by Bee, via personal observations and all manner of supporting evidence.  A very clever and entertaining read.

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