Jason Pettus's Blog, page 7

Book Review: Renee Gladman, "Calamities"

(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.) Calamaties By Renee Gladman Wave Books Reviewed by Chris Schahfer Renee Gladman, like many authors, tends to...

Book Review: "The Great Ordeal (The Aspect Emperor: Book Three)," by R. Scott Bakker

(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 Great Ordeal (The Aspect-Emperor: Book Three) By R. Scott Bakker The Overlook Press Reviewed by Karl Wo...

First Time Around: "Run, River," by Joan Didion

It's easy to see why some people just don't like Joan Didion. Granted, I would invite them to reread one of her sentences and consider how well her stuff works from a tonal perspective, but I still get the argument against her, and nowhere is it more evident than Run, River. A typical argument against Didion's work goes something like this: her books are so centered on the lives of affluent Californians that they don't really contain the insight the press kits attribute to her. It's sort of...

Book Review: "Fried Chicken, Jesus and Chocolate, by Fergus mac Roich"

Fried Chocolate, Jesus and Chocolate By Fergus MacRoich America Star Books Reviewed by Chris Schahfer I don't know, I just feel this book could've dug in a lot harder than it actually did. It seems to me that Fergus MacRoich really wanted this to be an unflinching view of poverty, told mainly from the perspective of a boy named Ishmael, although the first two chapters come from the perspective of his heroin-addicted mother, who keeps him in an orange crate but neglects him so badly that he f...

Book Review: "The Art of Mad Max: Fury Road," by Abbie Bernstein

(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 Art of Mad Max: Fury Road By Abbie Bernstein Foreword by George Miller Titan Books Reviewed by Karl Wol...

Book Review: "I'll Tell You in Person," by Chloe Caldwell

(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.) I'll Tell You in Person By Chloe Caldwell Emily Books Reviewed by Chris Schahfer Get ready to find out a lot...

Book Review: "Elephant Vice," by Chris Meekings

(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.) Elephant Vice By Chris Meekings Eraserhead Press/New Bizarro Author Series Reviewed by Karl Wolff After an...

Book Review: "American Wine: A Coming-of-Age Story" by Tom Acitelli

(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.) American Wine: A Coming-of-Age Story By Tom Acitelli Chicago Review Press Reviewed by For those who don't kno...

Book Review: "The Hatred of Poetry," by Ben Lerner

(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.) The Hatred of Poetry By Ben Lerner Farrar, Straus and Giroux Reviewed by Chris Schahfer Ben Lerner, himself a...

CCLaP Rare: "Armadale" by Wilkie Collins (1866), 1st American Ed., 1st Printing

(CCLaP is now selling rare and unusual books through the main website, shipped to customers through USPS Priority Mail and with full refunds always guaranteed. To see the latest full list of volumes for sale, please click here). Armadale (1866) By Wilkie Collins First American Edition, First Printing DESCRIPTION: Victorian novelist Wilkie Collins has sadly started to slip into obscurity here in the 21st century, or at least he's no longer a household name like his good buddy Charles...