Mark Stevens's Blog, page 47

Colum McCann – “Transatlantic”

Yellow Post-It notes jut from my copy of “Transatlantic” in bunches, flagging choice passages. “The engines throw out a taunt of red flame and then the Vinny hangs motionless a second, grows heavy, keels over as if it has taken … Continue reading →

Emma Donoghue – “Room”

“The American writer has his hands full, trying to understand and then describe and then make credible much of the American reality. It stupefies, it sickens, it infuriates, and finally it is even a kind of embarrassment to one’s own … Continue reading →

Manuel Ramos – “Desperado”

For decades, Denver’s “North Side” was forgotten, overlooked. There was no reason to go there (at least, most citizens of Denver believed) except for a few choice taco joints. If you lived there, you knew better.  Many long-time residents of … Continue reading →

David Shields — “How Literature Saved My Life”

All criticism is a form of autobiography. That’s the first line from “How Literature Saved My Life.” Every book recommendation (like this one) says something (lots) about the recommender. So I’m going to strongly urge that you read this book … Continue reading →

Tana French – “Broken Harbor”

Tana French has established her own rules—and expanded the mystery-crime-suspense genre—by ignoring conventions. I read “In The Woods” and now “Broken Harbor” and I’ll go back, at some point, for the other two, “The Likeness” and “Faithful Place.” Tana French … Continue reading →

Environmental Mysteries: You Don’t Need to Preach

This article was published in Volume 29, No. 1 edition of Mystery Readers Journal.   There I was on a big, black beautiful mule. His name was Eli. His character ran against type—he was energetic. He liked his ears rubbed … Continue reading →

Richard Hell — “I Dreamed I Was A Very Clean Tramp”

I belong to the blank generation. Well, not really. I’m a bit too old, but I loved the punk era and was lucky enough to see Richard Hell & The Voidoids at the Village Gate in New York.  It was … Continue reading →

Jim Gavin – “Middle Men”

I started with “Luau.”  It was assigned in our monthly short story book club and it’s the next-to-last story in this collection.  “Luau” is followed by “Costello.” The pair of stories form a duet about a son and his father—who … Continue reading →

Richard Ford – “Canada”

In discussing “Canada” with The Guardian Richard Ford talked about the concept of normal and how we develop constructs to help us deal with reality. Said Ford: “Internal chaos does not suit us and we can’t cope with it for … Continue reading →

Ian McEwan – “Sweet Tooth”

Ian McEwan’s prose is effortless, silky. He can get a big story up and running as easily as flipping a switch. He moves from big picture to small detail seamlessly. I devoured “Sweet Tooth” like an ice cream addict given … Continue reading →