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292 ratings | 53 reviews | avg rating:4.21

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Michael Downs

Goodreads Author

Born

Hartford, CT, The United States

Website

http://www.michael-downs.net

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Nonfiction

Member Since

January 2012

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Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Michael Downs is the author of three books, including the novel, THE STRANGE AND TRUE TALE OF HORACE WELLS, SURGEON DENTIST (Acre Books, May 2018).

His first book, HOUSE OF GOOD HOPE: A PROMISE FOR A BROKEN CITY, won the River Teeth Literary Nonfiction Prize. THE GREATEST SHOW (LSU Press, 2012), his second book, is a story collection inspired by the famous Hartford Circus Fire of 1944.

With Jim Hock, he wrote HOLLYWOOD'S TEAM: GRIT, GLAMOUR and the 1950s LOS ANGELES RAMS (Rare Bird Books, 2016).

He served as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar in Kraków, Poland in 2021-22. His other awards include literary fiction fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Maryland State Arts Council, and he has published ...more

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Combine Editions
Michael Downs’s books

Average rating: 4.14 · 106 ratings · 25 reviews · 4 distinct works

	The Greatest Show: Stories 3.98 avg rating — 64 ratings — published 2012 — 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
	The Strange and True Tale of Horace Wells, Surgeon Dentist 4.54 avg rating — 26 ratings — published 2018 — 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
	Hollywood's Team: Grit, Glamour, and the 1950s Los Angeles Rams by Jim Hock, Michael Downs (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 25 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
	House of Good Hope: A Promise for a Broken City (River Teeth Literary Nonfiction Prize) 4.13 avg rating — 16 ratings — published 2007 — 2 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

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Michael is Currently Reading

Michael Downs is currently reading

Fourth of July Creek

by Smith Henderson

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Jul 04, 2026 08:40PM

Michael Downs is currently reading

Rilke's Book of Hours: Love Poems to God

by Rainer Maria Rilke

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Dec 29, 2022 06:16AM

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The Turn of the Screw

by Henry James

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Nov 17, 2020 06:23PM

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Michael Downs rated a book it was amazing The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (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
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Michael Downs and 12 other people liked Katy O.'s review of Tom Lake: "I listened to this entire book today while working on a quilt, and Meryl Streep's voice was soothing and perfect for a quiet and creatively productive Sunday. I have no true critique of the story because Patchett is excellent at her craft, but I can " Read more of this review »
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Michael Downs rated a book it was amazing Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing	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
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