Joseph Peschel.com

Here are some of Peschel's book reviews, articles, and interviews.
Books to which he has given favorable reviews are now linked to Barnes & Noble.

Playhouse, by Richard Bausch
Playhouse, by Richard Bausch
The Brooklyn Rail, March, 2023
Elizabeth Finch, by Julian Barnes
A Tribute to a Teacher Elizabeth Finch, by Julian Barnes
America, January, 2023
Wonderland: Essays on the Life of Literature, by Charles Baxter
Wonderland: Essays on the Life of Literature, by Charles Baxter
The Brooklyn Rail, September, 2022
Life Without Children, by Roddy Doyle
"Ten Tales of Dubliners": Life Without Children, by Roddy Doyle
America, July/Aug., 2022
Stay Gone Days, by Steve Yarbrough
Stay Gone Days, by Steve Yarbrough
The Brooklyn Rail, June, 2022
How Strange a Season, by Megan Mayhew Bergman
How Strange a Season, by Megan Mayhew Bergman
The Brooklyn Rail, May, 2022
Strangers I Know, by Claudia Durastanti
Strangers I Know, by Claudia Durastanti
The Brooklyn Rail, Feb. 1, 2022
April in Spain, by John Banville
April in Spain, by John Banville
The Brooklyn Rail, Oct. 1, 2021
Talk To Me, by T.C. Boyle
"In T.C. Boyle’s Latest, Communicating With Apes in Talk To Me"Talk To Me, by T.C. Boyle
Boston Globe, Sept. 9, 2021
Matrix, by Lauren Groff
Matrix, by Lauren Groff
The Brooklyn Rail, Sept. 1, 2021
Morningside Heights, by Joshua Henkin
Morningside Heights, by Joshua Henkin
The Brooklyn Rail, July 12, 2021
Phase Six, by Jim Shepard
Phase Six, by Jim Shepard
The Brooklyn Rail, June 4, 2021
Second Place, by Rachel Cusk
Second Place, by Rachel Cusk
The Brooklyn Rail, May 4, 2021
Open Water, by Caleb Azumah Nelson
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
The Brooklyn Rail, May 4, 2021
The Souvenir Museum, by Elizabeth McCracken
"This Thing called Life in Elizabeth McCracken’s The Souvenir Museum"The Souvenir Museum, by Elizabeth McCracken
Boston Globe, April 18, 2021
Trio, by William Boyd
Trio, by William Boyd
The Brooklyn Rail, March 10, 2021
The Arrest, by Jonathan Lethem
The Arrest, by Jonathan Lethem
The Brooklyn Rail, Dec. 14, 2020
Black Hole Survival Guide, by Janna Levin
"Lost in Space in Black Hole Survival Guide"Black Hole Survival Guide, by Janna Levin
Boston Globe, Dec. 6, 2020
The Office of Historical Corrections: A Novella and Stories, by Danielle Evans
The Office of Historical Corrections: A Novella and Stories, by Danielle Evans
The Brooklyn Rail, Nov. 11, 2020
Leave the World Behind, by Rumaan Alam
Leave the World Behind, by Rumaan Alam
The Brooklyn Rail, Nov. 11, 2020
The End of the Day, by Bill Clegg
"The Past is a Ticking Bomb in The End of the Day "The End of the Day, by Bill Clegg
Boston Globe, Sept. 27, 2020
Transcendent Kingdom, by Yaa Gyasi
Transcendent Kingdom, by Yaa Gyasi
The Brooklyn Rail, Sept. 9, 2020
Red Pill, by Hari Kunzru
Red Pill, by Hari Kunzru
The Brooklyn Rail, Sept. 9, 2020
Love, by Roddy Doyle
"In Roddy Doyle’s Love, Sharing beers -- and Memories While Visiting the Pubs of Dublin, Two Men Look Back on Life"Love, by Roddy Doyle
Boston Globe, June 21, 2020
Shakespeare in a Divided America, by James Shapiro
"James Shapiro’s Latest Book Examines Key Moments in American history in Light of the Themes and Rhetoric of Shakespeare’s Plays. "Shakespeare in a Divided America, byJames Shapiro
The Christian Science Monitor, June 19 2020

Heathcliff Redux: A Novella and Stories, by Lily Tuck
The Brooklyn Rail, June 5, 2020
Galileo and the Science Deniers, by Mario Livio
"The Life and Times of Galileo"Galileo and the Science Deniers, by Mario Livio
America, May 5, 2020
Run Me to Earth, by Paul Yoon
Run Me to Earth, by Paul Yoon
The Brooklyn Rail, February 6, 2020
On Democracy, by E. B. White
"E.B. White Spoke to His Time – and Ours"On Democracy, by E. B. White
The Portland Press Herald, January 26, 2020
MacTrump: A Shakespearean Tragicomedy of the Trump Administration, Part I, by Ian Doescher and Jacopo della Quercia
"MacTrump" Turns Donald Trump’s First Two Years as President into a Shakespearean Satire"MacTrump: A Shakespearean Tragicomedy of the Trump Administration, Part I, by Ian Doescher and Jacopo della Quercia
The Oregonian 3, 2019
Orange World and Other Stories, by Karen Russell
"Karen Russell's Orange World and Other Stories"Orange World and Other Stories, by Karen Russell
The Brooklyn Rail September 4, 2019
Outside Looking In, by T. C. Boyle
"T.C. Boyle's Outside Looking In"Outside Looking In, by T. C. Boyle
The Brooklyn Rail September 4, 2019
The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead
"Colson Whitehead's The Nickel Boys"The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead
The Brooklyn Rail September 4, 2019
Raised in Captivity: Fictional Nonfiction by Chuck Klosterman
"Chuck Klosterman’s New Short Story Collection Ranges from Topical Tidbits to Questionable Gimmicks."Raised in Captivity: Fictional Nonfiction, by Chuck Klosterman
The Oregonian, August 2, 2019
Where We Come From, by Oscar Cásares
"Oscar Cásares's Where We Come From"Where We Come From, by Oscar Cásares
The Brooklyn Rail, June 5, 2019
Magic Is Dead, by Ian Frisch
"Ian Frisch's Magic is Dead: My Journey into the World's Most Secretive Society of Magicians"Magic Is Dead, by Ian Frisch
The Brooklyn Rail, April 3, 2019
The Altruists, by Andrew Ridker
"St. Louis Provides Novel's Setting for Dysfunctional Altruists"The Altruists, by Andrew Ridker
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Mar. 17, 2019
The Feral Detective, by Jonathan Lethem
"Jonathan Lethem's latest, The Feral Detective, is More than the Usual Whodunit. " The Feral Detective, by Jonathan Lethem
The Portland Press Herald, March 3, 2019
Demolition Night, by Ross Barkan
"Ross Barkan’s Demolition Night" Demolition Night, by Ross Barkan
The Brooklyn Rail, February 6, 2019
The William H. Gass Reader, by William H. Gass
"At Mere 900 Pages, "Reader" is Introduction to William Gass"The William H. Gass Reader, by William H. Gass
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 25, 2018
The Beginning Place, and The Eye of the Heron by Ursula K. Le Guin
"2 of Ursula K. Le Guin's Early 'Minor Masterpieces' Reissued"The Beginning Place, and The Eye of the Heron, by Ursula K. Leguin
The Oregonian, September 12, 2018
Florida, by Lauren Groff
"Braving Every Storm: Lauren Groff’s 'Florida'"Florida, by Lauren Groff
The Los Angeles Review of Books, July 19, 2018
The Order of Time, by Carlo Rovelli
"A Physicist Explains the ‘Greatest Remaining Mystery’: The Nature of Time."The Order of Time, by Carlo Rovelli
The Washington Post, June 24, 2018
No Time to Spare:Thinking about What Matters, by Ursula K. Le Guin
“The Wit and Weight of Ursula K. Le Guin's Last Book "No Time to Spare:Thinking about What Matters, by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Houston Chronicle, January 28, 2018
Code Girls, by Liza Mundy. The Woman Who Smashed Codes, by Jason Fagone
“Female Code Warriors."Code Girls by Liza Mundy and The Woman Who Smashed Codes, by Jason Fagone .
The Los Angeles Review of Books, October 28, 2017
Code Girls, by Liza Mundy
“The Women Who Worked Undercover in World War II."Code Girls by Liza Mundy
The Houston Chronicle, October 15, 2017
Brave Deeds, by David Abrams
“Novel Captures Fear, Fellowship – Even Humor – of Soldiers in Baghdad."Brave Deeds, by David Abrams
The News & Observer July 30, 2017
Out in the Open, by Jesús Carrasco
“Story of a Boy and Goatherd a Tale of Violence with an Odd Beauty."Out in the Open, by Jesús Carrasco, (translated by Margaret Jull Costa)
The News & Observer July 23, 2017
Why?: What Makes Us Curious, by Mario Livio
“An Inquisitive Physicist Delves into the Psychology and Neuroscience of Human Curiosity.” Why?: What Makes Us Curious, by Mario Livio
Science, July 7, 2017
The Graybar Hotel, by Curtis Dawkins
"The Graybar Hotel: Writer Serving Life Sentence Offers Short Stories from Behind Bars” The Graybar Hotel, by Curtis Dawkins
The Houston Chronicle, July 2, 2017
The Jane Austen Project, by Kathleen Flynn
"Time Traveling to Meet Jane Austen; Fun Novel is Fantasy of Manners” The Jane Austen Project, by Kathleen Flynn
The News & Observer, June 18, 2017

and:
"Time Traveling to Meet Jane Austen; Fun Novel is Fantasy of Manners.” The Jane Austen Project, by Kathleen Flynn
The Charlotte Observer, June 18, 2017
New Boy, by Tracy Chevalier
"'Othello’ Moves to Middle School and Loses Nothing in Tracy Chevalier’s Re-telling.” New Boy, by Tracy Chevalier
The News & Observer, May 14, 2017
Border Child, by Michel Stone
"SC Author Takes on Border Crossings.” Border Child, by Michel Stone
The News & Observer, April 16, 2017
Living in the Weather of the World, by Richard Bausch
"In Story Collection, Characters Endure ‘Weather of the World.’” Living in the Weather of the World, by Richard Bausch
The Houston Chronicle, April 2, 2017
Bright Air Black, by David Vann
"Retelling of Medea and Jason a Brutal, Graphic Read.” Bright Air Black, by David Vann
The News & Observer, March 12, 2017
The Underworld, by Kevin Canty
"In the 'Underworld': Gritty Life and Death in a Mining town.” The Underworld, by Kevin Canty
The Houston Chronicle, March 5, 2017
The World to Come, by Jim Shepard
"Short Stories That Entertain and Teach.” The World to Come, by Jim Shepard
The New & Observer, February 26, 2017
All Our Wrong Todays, by Elan Mastai
"A Time Machine, a Likable Dimwit and a Future Gone Awry." All Our Wrong Todays, by Elan Mastai
The Houston Chronicle, February 5, 2017
Reality Is Not What It Seems, by Carlo Rovelli
"Meditation on Physics Deep and Eloquent." Reality Is Not What It Seems, by Carlo Rovelli
The News & Observer, January 29, 2017
Fever Dream, by Samanta Schweblin
"Fever Dream is Both Thriller and Beautifully Tangled Allegory." Fever Dreamn, by Samanta Schweblin
The Houston Chronicle, January 8, 2017
Whatever Happened to Interracial Love?, by Kathleen Collins
"Racial Inequality, Rage and Poverty With a Filmmaker’s Touch." Whatever Happened to Interracial Love?, by Kathleen Collins
The News & Observer, December 18, 2016
Moonglow, by Michael Chabon
"Under Guise of Memoir Chabon’s Moonglow Illuminates the Past." Moonglow, by Michael Chabon
The News & Observer, December 4, 2016

"Mister Monkey Not a Barrel of Fun." Mister Monkey, by Francine Prose
The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 20, 2016
A Gambler's Anatomy, by Jonathan Lethem
"In A Gambler's Anatomy, Backgammon Hustler Gets Played." A Gambler's Anatomy, by Jonathan Lethem
The Houston Chronicle, October 16, 2016
Hag-Seed, by Margaret Atwood
"Atwood’s Re-imagined The Tempest is Gloriously Good Fun." Hag-Seed, by Margaret Atwood
The News & Observer, October 9, 2016
Substitute, by Nicholson Baker
"Substitute: Sympathy for the Student, Little for the System." Substitute, by Nicholson Baker
The News & Observer, September 4, 2016
Peacock & Vine, by A. S. Byatt
"Suffer the Details for Byatt’s Art." Peacock & Vine, by A. S. Byatt
The News & Observer, August 21, 2016
We Come to Our Senses, by Odie Linsdey
"Stories as Raw as the Wars that Inspire Them." We Come to Our Senses, by Odie Lindsey
The News & Observer, August 7, 2016
The Life of the Word to Come, by Dan Cluchey
"First Novel Looks at Love, Break-ups and the Nature of Time."The Life of the Word to Come, by Can Cluchey
The Charlotte Observer, July 10, 2016
Enchanted Islands, by Allison Amend
"Of Secrets, Friendship, and War."Enchanted Islands, by Allison Amend
The News & Observer, June 5, 2016
Hystopia, by David Means
"Hystopia: A Demanding Novel on the Trauma of War ,"Hystopia, by David Means
The News & Observer, May 8, 2016
"It’s Always a Surprise: A Conversation with Allison Amend and Others." Joseph Peschel interviews Allison Amend
The Los Angeles Review of Books, April 25, 2016
The Little Red Chairs, by Edna O'Brien
"O’Brien at 85 Still Writing with Grace and Precision,"The Little Red Chairs, by Edna O'Brien
The News & Observer, April 3, 2016
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics, by Carlo Rovelli
"A Poetic Contemplation of Physics,"Seven Brief Lessons on Physics, by Carlo Rovelli
The News & Observer, March 20, 2016
Shylock Is My Name, by Howard Jacobson
"Shylock Comes to Modern-day Britain in Jacobson's Novel."Shylock Is My Name by Howard Jacobson
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 6, 2016
Free Men, by Katy Simpson Smith
" Backwoods Massacre at Heart of Free Men," by Katy Simpson Smith
The Charlotte Observer, Febraury 28, 2016
Sweetgirl, by Travis Mulhauser
"Sweetgirl is Grit Lit With a Touch of Humor," by Travis Mulhauser
The News & Observer, January 31, 2016
Ways to Disappear, by Idra Novey
"Ways to Disappear is Engaging Debut Novel," by Idra Novey
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 14, 2016
The Children's Home, by Charles Lambert
"Charles Lambert's The Children's Home is Gothic Tale of Recluse" The Children's Home, by Charles Lambert
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 10, 2016
One Hundred Years of the Best American Short Stories, by Lorrie Moore and Hedi Pitlor
"Collection of Best American Stories Complements Updike's Picks" One Hundred Years of the Best American Short Stories, by Lorrie Moore and Hedi Pitlor
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 27, 2015
A Wild Swan and Other Tales, by Michael Cunningham
"Modern Folks Don't Need Goblins and Witches to Find Trouble in 'A Wild Swan'" A Wild Swan and Other Tales, by Michael Cunningham
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 20, 2015
The Relic Master, by Christopher Buckley
"Book Review: 'The Relic Master' by Christopher Buckley" The Relic Master, by Christopher Buckley
The Boston Globe, December 15, 2015
The 6:41 to Paris, by Jean-Philippe Blondel
"Train Trip Tense for Former French Lovers" The 6:41 to Paris, by Jean-Philippe Blondel
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 22, 2015
Avenue of Mysteries, by John Irving
"John Irving Revisits Odd characters, Circuses, Orphange in New Novel," Avenue of Mysteries, by John Irving
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 8, 2015
Fates and Furies, by Lauren Groff
"Lauren Groff Offers Stunning View Of A Long Marriage," Fates and Furies, by Lauren Groff
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 20, 2015
I Refuse, by Per Petterson
"Per Petterson Brings Steinbeck to Norway in His Latest Novel," I Refuse, by Elijah Wald
The Daily Beast, August 20, 2015
Dylan Goes Electric!, by Elijah Wald
"‘Dylan Goes Electric’ by Elijah Wald" Dylan Goes Electric!: Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties, by Elijah Wald
The Boston Globe, July 24, 2015
The Sunken Cathedral, by Kate Walbert
"Novel's Characters Live in Land of 'What Ifs,' None of Them Good," The Sunken Cathedral, by Kate Walbert
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 21, 2015
Our Souls At Night, by Kent Haruf
"Fine Last Novel by Kent Haruf," Our Souls At Night, by Kent Haruf
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 14, 2015
How Sweet It Is!, by Thane Rosenbaum
"How Sweet It Is!, by Thane Rosenbaum"
The Washington Post, June 7, 2015
Ten Windows: How Great Poems Transform the World, by Jane Hirshfield
"Caution: World-Changing Poetry at Work. Ten Windows: How Great Poems Transform the World," by Jane Hirshfield
The Daily Beast, May 25, 2015
B & Me: A True Story of Literary Arousal, by J.C. Hallman
"B & Me: A True Story of Literary Arousal, by J.C. Hallman,"
San Francisco Chronicle, March 29, 2015
She Weeps Each Time You're Born, by Quan Barry
"She Weeps Each Time You're Born, by Quan Barry"
Boston Globe, February 20, 2015
The World of Raymond Chandler, by Barry Day
"The World of Raymond Chandler, edited by Barry Day"
Boston Globe, December 22, 2014
The Strange Library, by Haruki Murakami
"Book review: ‘The Strange Library,’ by Haruki Murakami"
Washington Post, December 17, 2014
Before. During, After, by Richard Bausch
"Before, During, After, by Richard Bausch"
San Francisco Chronicle, November 16, 2014
"All You Need is Love: Paolo Coelho’s New Novel, Adultery"
Los Angeles Review of Books, August 24, 2014
Last Stories and Other Stories, by William T. Vollmann
"Last Stories and Other Stories, by William T. Vollmann"
San Francisco Chronicle, August 3, 2014
Problems With People, by David Guterson
"Book Review: "Problems With People," by David Guterson"
Boston Globe, June 24, 2014
Updike, by Adam Begley
"New Biography Offers a Telling Portrait of the Sometimes Controversial Author"
Chicago Tribune, Printer's Row, April 11, 2014
A Life in Men, by Gina Frangello.
The San Francisco Chronicle, April 6, 2014
The Apartment, by Greg Baxter
"Greg Baxter's First Novel"
The Boston Globe, December 21, 2013
Quiet Dell, by Jayne Anne Phillips
"Story Of Murdered Family Combines Fact, Fiction"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 24, 2013
Hide Island, by Richard Burgin
Local Souls, by Allan Gurganus
"Absurd Mixes With Tragic In Short Story Collections"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 6, 2013
All the Land to Hold Us , by Rick Bass
"Time Can Seem Ruled By Geology In Bass’s Latest novel"
The Boston Globe, Aug.26, 2013
Last Car Over the Sagamore Bridge , by Peter Orner
"Intriguing, Humorous, Even Poetic: Peter Orner’s New Story Collection"
The Daily Beast, Aug.13, 2013
Snow Hunters, by Paul Yoon
"60 Years After Korean War, Slim Novel Tells POW's Story"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Aug.4, 2013
A Nearly Perfect Copy, by Allison Amend
"Art Forgery Meets Genetic Engineering In 'A Nearly Perfect Copy.'"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 16, 2013
The Cursing Mommy's Book Of Days, by Ian Frazier
"Mommy’s Daybook Chronicles Her Frustrations With Daily Life."
The Boston Globe, October 10, 2012
My Heart Is An Idiot, by Davy Rothbart
"Davy Rothbart Regales With Tales Of Drinking And Heartbreak."
The Boston Globe, September 26, 2012
Fobbit, by David Abrams
"'Fobbit' Aims To Be Iraq's 'Catch-22'"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 9, 2012
The Scent Of Scandal, by Craig Pittman
"Greed, Betrayal, and the World's Most Beautiful Orchid"
The Minneapolis Star Tribune August 26, 2012
The Way The World Works, by Nicholson Baker
"Nicholson Baker On The Way Of The World"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch August 19, 2012
A Case for Solomon, by Tal McThenia and Margaret Dunbar Cutright
"Bobby Dunbar And The Kidnapping That Haunted A Nation"
The Boston Globe August 8, 2012
Chapman's Odyssey, by Paul Bailey
"Tapdancing And Dreaming Toward The End Of Life"
The Minneapolis Star Tribune July 18, 2012
This Bright River, by Patrick Somerville
"Troubled Souls Return Home To Remake Lives"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch July 1, 2012
A Land More Kind Than Home, by Wiley Cash
"Wiley Cash's first novel, 'A Land More Kind Than Home,' Is Woven Together From The Narratives Of Three Characters"
The Boston Globe May 5, 2012
Arcadia, by Lauren Groff
"Commune's Hippies Face Bleak Future In Novel"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Mar. 25, 2012
"Another 100,000 Galleys: if you self-publish, you’re branded a sinner of sorts."
The Los Angeles Review of Books Mar. 12, 2012
Birds Of A Lesser Paradise, by Megan Mayhew Bergman
"Megan Mayhew Bergman's Debut Story Collection "Birds Of A Lesser Paradise Looks At Women Struggling With Identity"
The Boston Globe Mar. 7, 2012
Mr g, by Alan Lightman
"Author Alan Lightman Looks At Creation Through His Own Creation: Mr g."
The Boston Globe Jan.26, 2012
Smut, by Alan Bennett
"Playwright Alan Bennett's New Novel "Smut" Looks At Roles People Play"
The Boston Globe Dec. 28, 2011
Murder In Mount Holly, by Paul Theroux
"Paul Theroux Goes Out On A Limb In This Satirical Novel, Originally Published In The 1960s."
The Minneapolis Star Tribune Dec. 25, 2011
Before the End, After the Beginning, by Dagoberto Gilb
"Dagoberto Gilb’s Characters Struggle To Make Ends Meet."
The Boston Globe, Dec. 5, 2011
Shadow Traffic , by Richard Burgin
"Burgin's Stories Temper Despair With Dark Wit"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Oct. 9, 2011
Cream of Kohlrabi , by Floyd Skloot
"Skloot’s Short Stories Face Pain, Suffering With Humor."
The Boston Globe, Oct. 7, 2011
Best American Short Stories 2011 , guest-edited by Geraldine Brooks
"Short Story Collection Is Solid If Not Complete"
The Boston Globe, Oct. 6, 2011
Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin , by Calvin Trillin
"A Collection Of 40 Years' Worth Of Lighter Pieces By Calvin Trillin"
The Minneapolis Star Tribune. Sept. 11, 2011
Anatomy Of A Disappearance , by Hisham Matar
"Hisham Matar Brings Poetry and Heart to a Mysterious Kidnapping"
Web-only. Aug. 9, 2011
In The Fall They Come Back , by Robert Bausch
"Teacher Tries To Fix It All In Masterful Story"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Aug. 28, 2011
In the Sea There Are Crocodiles , by Fabio Geda.
"Harrowing Tale of Young Afghan Refugee"
The Boston Globe. Aug. 2, 2011
The Warsaw Anagrams , by Richard Zimler
"Thrilling Murder Mystery Set In The Warsaw Ghetto"
The Boston Globe. July 7, 2011
My review of The Burning House ,by Paul Lisicky, was selected by the National Book Critics Circle as an "exemplary review" and re-posted at Powell's Books
"Poetic Novella Aches With Desire, Despair"
Powell's Books, June 22, 2011
The Burning House, by Paul Lisicky
"The Burning House Aches With Desire, Despair"
The Boston Globe. May 31, 2011
All The Time In The World, by E. L. Doctorow
"First-Rate Collection Satirizes Modern Life"
The Minneapolis Star Tribune Apr. 10, 2011
The Architect Of Flowers, by William Lychack
"A Collection Of Lyrical Stories About New Englanders"
The Boston Globe Mar. 26, 2011
Rodin's Debutante, by Ward Just
"'Rodin's Debutante' Another Fine Dose Of Realism"
The Boston Globe Mar. 12, 2011
Open City, by Teju Cole
"Stoic Man Walking Through 'Open City'"
The Boston Globe Feb. 24, 2011
Drinking Closer To Home, by Jessica Anya Blau
"Bickering Characters Drive A Story Of Family Dysfunction"
The Boston Globe Jan 19, 2011
Gryphon: New & Selected Stories, by Charels Baxter
"Charles Baxter's 'Gryphon: New and Selected Stories' Finds Magic In Everyday Life"
The Kansas City Star Jan 16, 2011
Lawn Order, by Molly MacRae
"Murder With A Dose Of Drollery: 'Lawn Order' Keeps The Puns Coming"
The Boston Globe Jan 5, 2011
The Last Lingua Franca, by Nicholas Ostler
"'The Last Lingua Franca' Examines English's Eventual Demise As The World's Dominant Language"
The Boston Globe Dec. 23, 2010
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, by Walter Mosley
"With 'Last Days,' Mosley Exchanges Hard Times For Mystery"
The Boston Globe Dec. 14, 2010
Tauvernier Street, by Jay Atkinson
"On 'Tauvernier Street,' Tales Of People Finding Their Way"
The Boston Globe Nov. 29, 2010
Luka And The Fire of Life, by Salman Rushdie
"Rushdie's Latest Fable Is Buoyant And Charming"
The Minneapolis Star Tribune Nov. 24, 2010
Sunset Park, by Paul Auster
"Sunset Park By Paul Auster"
The Kansas City Star Nov. 21, 2010
The-Universe In Miniature In Miniature, by Patrick Somerville
"Somerville Spins Tales Of The Future And End"
The Boston Globe Nov. 20, 2010
The Wilding, by Benjamin Percy
"The Wilding--Fathers, Sons And The Pull Of The Forest"
The Boston Globe Oct. 20, 2010
Best American Short Stories 2010, guest-edited by Richard Russo
"2010 Was A Fine Year For The Best American Short Stories"
The Boston Globe Oct. 15, 2010
My Life As A Russian-Novel, by Emmanuel Carrère
"Begins With Emmanuel Carrère's Erotic Dream On A Train To Russia"
The Boston Globe, August 21, 2010
Finny, by Justin Kramon
"Dickensian Optimism, Plus Character Quirks"
The Boston Globe, July 22, 2010
My review of Dear Money,by Martha McPhee, was selected by the National Book Critics Circle as an "exemplary review" and re-posted at Powell's Books
"Social Commentary, And A Seduction Of Sorts"
Powell's Books, June 16, 2010
Dear Money, by Martha McPhee
"Social Commentary, And A Seduction Of Sorts"
The Boston Globe, June 5, 2010
A Dead Hand: A Crime in Calcutta, by Paul Theroux
"A Stymied Writer Is Drawn Into A Mystery With Religious Overtones"
The Barnes & Noble Review, May 12, 2010
Something Red, by Jennifer Gilmore
"A Family Plays Out Diverse Roles In Post-Vietnam America"
The Raleigh News & Observer April 25, 2010
and in The Charlotte Observer
"A Family Plays Out Diverse Roles In Post-Vietnam America"
The Charlotte Observer, April 24, 2010
Stations West, by Allison Amend
"Strong Characters Inhabit Story About Jewish Pioneers Heading West"
April 4, 2010
and in The Charlotte Observer
"Strong Characters Inhabit Story About Jewish Pioneers Heading West"
The Charlotte Observer, April 1, 2010
The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien
"Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried," Released in 20th Anniversary Edition, Renews War's Ambiguity"
The Washington Post Blog, March 23, 2010
Something Is Out There, by Richard Bausch
"Artful Characters Generate Empathy"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 21, 2010
Wild Child, T. C. Boyle
Review of Wild Child," by T. C. Boyle
January 29, 2010
Fun With Problems, by Robert Stone
"Ruined Lives With No Escape"
The Raleigh News & Observer, January 24, 2010
A Fair Maiden, by Joyce Carol Oates
"He's 68. She's 16. Oates Spins A Suspect Seduction"
The Raleigh News & Observer, January 10, 2010
and
"He's 68. She's 16. Prolific Oates Spins A Suspect Seduction"
The Charlotte Observer, Jan.17, 2010
Summertime, by J. M. Coetzee
"The Author Is Digging Himself"
The Raleigh News & Observer, January 10, 2010
But Not For Long, by Michelle Wildgen
"Life Goes On As Society Falls Apart"
The Raleigh News & Observer, December 20, 2009
"Wrapping Up The Year In Books"
50 Favorite Books from 2009
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 6, 2009
Twisted Tree, by Kent Meyers
"Twisted Tree"
The Barnes & Noble Review, November 23, 2009
Invisible, by Paul Auster
"Youth And Desire Collide"
The Raleigh News & Observer, November 1, 2009
Best American Short Stories 2009, edited by Alice Sebold
"'Best' Might Be A Stretch"
The Raleigh News & Observer, October 18, 2009
and
"Short Take"
The Charlotte Observer, October 16, 2009
Amigoland, by Oscar Casares,
"Well-Drawn, Vivid Characters Dominate"
The Raleigh News & Observer, September 6, 2009
and
"Brotherly Discord Fades On Road Trip"
The Charlotte Observer, September 6, 2009
Homer & Langley, by E. L. Doctorow,
"Doctorow's Account Of Sibling Packrats Is A Masterpiece"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 30, 2009
This Wicked World, by Richard Lange,
"'Wicked' Debut Exposes Vile L.A."
The Raleigh News & Observer, August 9, 2009
Old Girlfriends, by David Updike,
"John Updike's son steps out from young-adult genre to craft poignant, elegant tales for grown-ups"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 9, 2009
Waveland, by Frederick Barthelme,
"Details Reveal Character in Post-Katrina Town"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 19, 2009
Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi, by Geoff Dyer,
"Geoff Dyer's Hero Embarks on Sexual, Spiritual Odyssey"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 3, 2009
It Will Come To Me, by Emily Fox Gordon,
"College-Set Debut Is A Comedy Of Manners"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 22, 2009
The Cradle, by Patrick Somerville,
"Wacky Humor Weaves Through Two Stories"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 15, 2009
Love Stories, edited by Diana Secker Tesdell,
"19 Varieties Of Love Story Arrive For Valentine's Day"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 8, 2009
Lark and Termite, by Jayne Anne Phillips,
"War, Flood And Family Intersect In Fascinating Tale"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 4, 2009
I See You Everywhere, by Julia Glass,
"Lighter Fare Than Her Previous Books, Julia Glass' Latest Novel Is An Examination Of Sibling Rivalry And Loyalty"
The Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 19, 2008
Best American Short Stories 2008, edited by Salman Rushdie,
"Rushdie Assembles First-Rate Anthology"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 12, 2008
Indignation, by Philip Roth,
Review of Indignation, by Philip Roth
Web-Only, October 1, 2008
How Fiction Works, by James Wood,
"Critic Deconstructs Art Of Writing Fiction"
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 27, 2008
The Garden of Last Days , by Andre Dubus III,
"9-11 Shadow Over Garden; Lush novel Not As Satisfying As Fog"
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 8, 2008
The Soul Thief, by Charles Baxter,
"Charles Baxter Conjures A Rewarding Follow-Up To Feast Of Love"
The Kansas City Star, April 20, 2008
Diary of a Bad Year, by J. M. Coetzee,
"Coetzee’s New Novel Is Adventurous, But Does It Really Succeed As Fiction?"
The Kansas City Star, February 17, 2008


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