84 ratings | 43 reviews | avg rating:4.08

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James’s Bookshelves

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read (91)
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James’s Friends (129)

Renaissance Kate

930 books | 1,875 friends

Jason

3,212 books | 283 friends

Daniel Amory

112 books | 750 friends

A.J. Garner

2,346 books | 187 friends

David Katzman

1,289 books | 823 friends

Andy

1,072 books | 317 friends

Daniel Clausen

554 books | 3,081 friends

Jordan (Forever Lost in Literature)

7,308 books | 284 friends

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James Wallace Birch

Goodreads Author

Born

in Fairfax Virginia, The United States

Genre

Mystery, Suspense, Psychological

Influences

George Orwell, Bret Easton Ellis, J.D. Salinger, John Steinbeck ...more

Member Since

July 2011

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/jameswallacebirch

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James Wallace Birch tells stories about people dangling by one finger from the ledge of society.

His writing has been described as smart, elegant, insightful and poetically bittersweet.

His cult-classic novel is Discontents: The Disappearance of a Young Radical. When a young radical disappears, what remains is not answers but an unsettling void — a mirror reflecting a country where certainty has collapsed, motives are opaque, and no one is sure whether conviction is a form of clarity or self-deception.

His follow up, If You Find Emory Walden, continues the hunt through for the missing radical through the author's eyes. ...more

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Combine Editions
James Wallace Birch’s books

Average rating: 4.14 · 49 ratings · 32 reviews · 2 distinct works

	Discontents: The Disappearance of a Young Radical 3.97 avg rating — 39 ratings — published 2011 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	If You Find Emory Walden 4.80 avg rating — 10 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

31 posts
James Wallace Birch's Blog: James Wallace Birch's Blog

If You Find Emory Walden audiobook now on Audible! (win a free copy)

My suspense/mystery/thriller novel, If You Find Emory Walden, is now an audiobook! You can now listen to If You Find Emory Walden on Audible. It is included with any Audible membership or you can buy a copy of the audiobook through that link.

Enjoy James and Melanie’s journey in a whole new way, through the talented voice acting of Thomas Varga.

Audible Giveaway

I am giving away a FREE code to

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James’s Recent Updates

James Birch rated a book did not like it Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This was an insightful read into the lives of persons from Appalachia, and the unique challenges they face. Let’s be honest. The writing style lacks the engrossing storytelling magic of books like The Glass Castle. Rather, it weaves the author’s perso ...more
Feb 26, 2025 01:39PM · like · see review
James Birch wants to read The Jolliest Bunch: Unhinged Holiday Stories by Danny Pellegrino (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 31, 2024 07:49AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Jolliest Bunch by Danny Pellegrino. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Jolliest Bunch by Danny Pellegrino <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
James Birch wants to read Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't (Rockefeller Habits 2.0 Revised Edition) by Verne Harnish	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 31, 2024 07:49AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Scaling Up by Verne Harnish. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Scaling Up by Verne Harnish <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
James Birch liked fire_on_the_mountain's review of Blankets: "I stumbled on this at the City Library after learning of it's banning at the state level in the Utah and thought, well, let's see what the fuss is about. And boy did I learn exactly what really gets these people all worked up, and what they say get" Read more of this review »
Dec 31, 2024 07:48AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Blankets by Craig Thompson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Blankets by Craig Thompson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
James Birch liked Jason’s status update Jason wants to read Happy Bunny and Other Mischiefs
Dec 31, 2024 07:48AM · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Happy Bunny and Other Mischiefs by Rebecca Gransden. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Happy Bunny and Other Mischiefs by Rebecca Gransden <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
James Birch rated a book it was amazing Beware The Smart Kids by Matthew J. Kushin (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A must-read book for anyone who is struggling to find happiness or who loves someone who is struggling to find happiness.
Dec 31, 2024 07:47AM · like · see review
James Birch rated a book it was ok Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) by Suzanne Collins	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 31, 2024 07:46AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
James Birch rated a book liked it An Abundance of Katherines by John Green (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 31, 2024 07:45AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — An Abundance of Katherines by John Green <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
James Birch rated a book liked it Paper Towns by John Green (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 31, 2024 07:45AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Paper Towns by John Green. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Paper Towns by John Green <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
James Birch has read An Abundance of Katherines by John Green (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 31, 2024 07:45AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — An Abundance of Katherines by John Green <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of James's books…

Quotes by James Wallace Birch (?)

“You're just an over-privileged kid who couldn't adapt to the fact that your life was good.”
― James Wallace Birch, Discontents: The Disappearance of a Young Radical

tags: anger, jealousy, scorn

0 likes

“We live selective lives and construct our own realities. It is how we survive the perniciousness of our time.”
― James Wallace Birch, Discontents: The Disappearance of a Young Radical

tags: life-wisdom

0 likes

“You make me want to jump!”
― James Wallace Birch, Discontents: The Disappearance of a Young Radical

tags: anger-quotes, broken-relationships

0 likes

See all James Wallace Birch's quotes »

Topics Mentioning This Author

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Book Bloggers of ...: Author Interview: James Wallace Birch	1	7	May 30, 2018 02:03PM
Book Bloggers of ...: Post your recent Review	350	320	May 13, 2019 04:35AM
The Perks Of Bein...: * BLOGGERS: Your latest blog post	170	676	Dec 28, 2019 09:57PM
Crazy for Young A...: * What Book Did You Just Finish Reading?	940	1072	Jun 07, 2021 08:01AM
Book Bloggers of ...: Post your book blog updates here!	1220	877	Oct 21, 2021 05:38PM

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James’s Quotes

“We live selective lives and construct our own realities. It is how we survive the perniciousness of our time.”
― James Wallace Birch, Discontents: The Disappearance of a Young Radical

tags: life-wisdom

0 likes

“You make me want to jump!”
― James Wallace Birch, Discontents: The Disappearance of a Young Radical

tags: anger-quotes, broken-relationships

0 likes

“You're just an over-privileged kid who couldn't adapt to the fact that your life was good.”
― James Wallace Birch, Discontents: The Disappearance of a Young Radical

tags: anger, jealousy, scorn

0 likes