Jason Pettus's Blog, page 13

Book review: "How to be Drawn," by Terrance Hayes

How to Be Drawn By Terrance Hayes Penguin Poets Reviewed by Chris Schahfer Has Terrance Hayes enjoyed a big few years, or what? "Big years" for a poet, of course, but he already netted a National Book Award for 2010's Lighthead and both guest-edited wrote a brilliant introduction to The Best American Poetry 2014, which was my introduction to the guy. I'd call How to be Drawn a victory lap, but it's more than that: it's his best collection to date, pushing forward his interest in experimental...

Book Review: "The Understory" by Pamela Erens

(CCLaP is dedicated to reviewing as many contemporary books as possible, including self-published volumes; click here to learn how to submit your own book for possible review, although be warned that it needs to have been published within the last 18 months to be considered. For the complete list of all books reviewed here, as well as the next books scheduled to be read, click here.) The Understory By Pamela Erens Tin House Books Reviewed by Jason Pettus (*Please note that I read and reviewe...

Book Review: "Wine: The Ultimate Educational Resource of Red Wine" by Martin Guessmann

(CCLaP is dedicated to reviewing as many contemporary books as possible, including self-published volumes; click here to learn how to submit your own book for possible review, although be warned that it needs to have been published within the last 18 months to be considered. For the complete list of all books reviewed here, as well as the next books scheduled to be read, click here.) Wine: The Ultimate Educational Resource of Red Wine, Types and Origin, Red Wine Selecting & Food Pairing And...

Book review: "And After Many Days," by Jowhor Ile

(CCLaP is dedicated to reviewing as many contemporary books as possible, including self-published volumes; click here to learn how to submit your own book for possible review, although be warned that it needs to have been published within the last 12 months to be considered. For the complete list of all books reviewed here, as well as the next books scheduled to be read, click here.) And After Many Days By Jowhor Ile Tim Duggan Books Reviewed by Nora Rawn It's surprisingly easy to forget wha...

Book Review: "Eileen," by Ottessa Moshfegh

Eileen By Ottessa Moshfegh Penguin Books Reviewed by Chris Schahfer Well, the old backlash seems to have hit Ottessa Moshfegh, and if you take it from me, that's a shame. Of course, it might be inevitable: book gets great reviews, people read it and come away disappointed, they wonder what all the hype was about, and all of a sudden you've got a pile of one- and two-star reviews on Goodreads. Course, Eileen isn't for everyone. The book's set in a small Massachusetts town known only as X-Vill...

Book Review: "Meatspace" by Nikesh Shukla

(CCLaP is dedicated to reviewing as many contemporary books as possible, including self-published volumes; click here to learn how to submit your own book for possible review, although be warned that it needs to have been published within the last 18 months to be considered. For the complete list of all books reviewed here, as well as the next books scheduled to be read, click here.) Meatspace By Nikesh Shukla The Friday Project / HarperCollins Reviewed by Jason Pettus I have to admit, at fi...

Book Review: "Juventud" by Vanessa Blakeslee

(CCLaP is dedicated to reviewing as many contemporary books as possible, including self-published volumes; click here to learn how to submit your own book for possible review, although be warned that it needs to have been published within the last 18 months to be considered. For the complete list of all books reviewed here, as well as the next books scheduled to be read, click here.) Juventud By Vanessa Blakeslee Curbside Splendor Reviewed by Jason Pettus Yes, yes, I know, an author has ever...

Book Review: "The Subversive Utopia," by Yasir Sakr

(CCLaP is dedicated to reviewing as many contemporary books as possible, including self-published volumes; click here to learn how to submit your own book for possible review, although be warned that it needs to have been published within the last 18 months to be considered. For the complete list of all books reviewed here, as well as the next books scheduled to be read, click here.) The Subversive Utopia: Louis Kahn and the Question of the National Jewish Style in Jerusalem By Yasir Sakr MS...

Book Review: "Newlyweds Afloat" by Felicia Schneiderhan

(CCLaP is dedicated to reviewing as many contemporary books as possible, including self-published volumes; click here to learn how to submit your own book for possible review, although be warned that it needs to have been published within the last 18 months to be considered. For the complete list of all books reviewed here, as well as the next books scheduled to be read, click here.) Newlyweds Afloat: Married Bliss and Mechanical Breakdowns While Living Aboard a Trawler By Felicia Schneiderh...

Book Review: "The Heart Goes Last" by Margaret Atwood

(CCLaP is dedicated to reviewing as many contemporary books as possible, including self-published volumes; click here to learn how to submit your own book for possible review, although be warned that it needs to have been published within the last 18 months to be considered. For the complete list of all books reviewed here, as well as the next books scheduled to be read, click here.) The Heart Goes Last By Margaret Atwood Nan A. Talese / Doubleday Penguin Random House Reviewed by Jason Pettu...