Jason Pettus's Blog, page 18

Book Review: "Hidden History of Lincoln Park" by Patrick Butler

(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.) Hidden History of Lincoln Park By Patrick Butler The History Press Reviewed by Jason Pettus Whenever I'm in a...

Book Review: "Lies, First Person" by Gail Hareven

(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.) Lies, First Person By Gail Hareven Open Letter Books Reviewed by Jason Pettus In a universe where I'm now rea...

First Time Around: "Omensetter's Luck," by William H. Gass

Omensetter's Luck By William H. Gass, 1966 Reviewed by Chris Schahfer While he has both won the admiration of many fellow-writers and raked in a healthy share of literary prizes, it's hard to tell if Gass has the same cultural presence as other postmodernist authors. Pynchon and DeLillo have both had books filmed, received tributes from the indie rock world (the Airborne Toxic Event takes their name from DeLillo's White Noise, while Yo La Tengo named their song "The Crying of Lot G" after a...

Book Review: "Pixiegate Madoka," by Michael Sean LeSueur

(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.) Pixiegate Madoka (New Bizarro Author Series) By Michael Sean LeSueur Eraserhead Press Reviewed by Karl Wolff...

"Shylock Is My Name" by Howard Jacobson

(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.) Shylock Is My Name By Howard Jacobson Hogarth Reviewed By Nora Rawn A better match than Howard Jacobson to ad...

Book Review: "F 250," by Bud Smith

F 250 By Bud Smith Piscastaway House Reviewed by Chris Schahfer The first novel I've ever read about the romantic and financial travails a noise rock guitarist (named Lee, member of a band called Ottermeat), if nothing else. But for a novel about music, F-250 contains a surprising amount of errors. The Etta James version of "At Last" is falsely attributed to Aretha Franklin, while Black Sabbath's [i]Master of Reality[/i] is erroneously titled Masters of Reality. While this in and of itself i...

"A God in Ruins", by Kate Atkinson

(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.) A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson Back Bay Books Reviewed by Nora Rawn No one who read and loved Kate Atkinson'...

(CCLaP is dedicated to reviewing as many contemporary boo...

(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.) A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson Back Bay Books Reviewed by Nora Rawn No one who read and loved Kate Atkinson'...

Book Review: "Haints Stay," by Colin Winnette

Haints Stay By Colin Winnette Two Dollar Radio Reviewed by Chris Schahfer Another milestone: the first western I've ever reviewed! Presumably, this is not your typical western. I don't read many and have no idea what the "mainstream of westerns" looks like. Haven't even cracked Lonesome Dove yet! So maybe I'm unqualified to review one, but who knows? The western has been associated with violence and moral ambiguity since Sergio Leone, and Cormac McCarthy's masterful Blood Meridian upped the...

Book Review: "Drama Dolls" by Jason Tanamor

(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.) Drama Dolls By Jason Tanamor Self-published Reviewed by Jason Pettus So here's an interesting question for co...