Playworld by Adam Ross – I’m halfway through the novel and it’s amazing. Long, but funny and deft. It’s a coming of age story based in New York in the 80s. The main character is a child actor whose parents are self-absorbed and is floating along the currents of expectations and other adults shortcomings.

Colored Television by Danzy Senna – I enjoyed this novel. It walks a thin line between being too clever and not working and just clever enough and all coming together. For me, after some weeks, it fell into the category of coming together and not being too clever or too cute.

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao – I feel bad for not liking this novel as it was a gift from Ruthann. It felt too disjointed to me.

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo – Another gift from Ruthann and I loved it. Part murder mystery, part revenge plot, this novel takes place in China and Japan the early 1900s and explores the myths of foxes that could change into people. Similar to vampires.

Blood Test: A Comedy by Charles Baxter – I totally hated this book. I like Charles Baxter’s books on writing and his early novels. I think he came to one of my creative writing classes at Hope College. But, man, this book was dumb.

Playground by Richard Powers – Great read with an interesting twist at the end. I loved Power’s The Overstory, but disliked his follow up novel that was like a ripoff of Flowers for Algernon but more depressing.

Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino – Science fiction or weird coming of age story? This novel lets the reader decide whether or not they believe the narrator. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it.

Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner – Neat idea, poor execution. Honestly, I’d rather read this novel written by TC Boyle than what Kushner produced. Her book leaned into tedium to make a point and left the reader wanting something to happen.

James by Percival Everett – Best book I’ve read this year. It’s Huck Finn from Jim’s point-of-view and so damn smart.

The Demon Cycle Series by Peter Brett – The first book was kind of fun and then each one got stupider. And yet, I skimmed through all five. I think it was because I checked the ebooks out on my phone from the library and they were easy to read while having trouble sleeping. 

Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel – Interesting novel that’s more like a series of short stories. The structure is that of a boxing tournament and it follows the different boxers who are teenaged girls.

The Searcher by Tana French – Retired Chicago cop settles down in Irish countryside; murder ensues. If you want a captivating mystery, this is your book.

Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh – I remember nothing of this book, but my notes say I didn’t like it. “If you combined the books Wool and Ender’s Game in a space opera but not as good as either of those books.”

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray – Off the cuff I’d say this reads like an Irish version of The Corrections, sprawling, dysfunctional family epic. It was also weird reading The Searcher soon after.

Greta & Valdin by Rebecca Reilly – Cute, humorous novel that verges on fluff set in New Zealand.

Orbital by Samantha Harvey – Seinfeld in space without the laughs. A largely plotless novel that would have made a killer short story, the writer is so taken with the beauty of her language that the sentences crack and fall apart under the weight of taking moments too far. (I know, it won the Booker Prize. Based on Booker Prize winners, I don’t put much stock in that award as most of the novels have been unreadable or boring.)

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith – I’ve meant to read this book for years and I’m so glad I finally did. It’s a creep-inducing knockout!

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer – Feels very inspired by West World, but not violent. Feminist, sci-fi that explores sex and relationships where men hold power.

Last Acts by Alexander Sammartino – What would Anton Chekhov say about introducing a gun store in the first act? To Sammartino, he might say, well done. Sammartino makes full use of the gun shop in Last Acts. It’s both the source of failure and redemption. It’s tied to a mass shooting. If a gun store can be fired, then Sammartino demonstrates how with a certain Wile E Coyote verve.

The Morningside by Téa Obreht – It’s her covers that get me. They’re beautiful! Unfortunately, I’ve never enjoyed one of Obreht’s novels. Uneven. Feels like three different book ideas mashed into one. 

Touched by Walter Mosley – I really loved it but wondered how the ending would pay off in such a short novel with a grand idea. In the end, it didn’t work out. So many loose ends. But it was cool while it lasted.

The Fraud by Zadie Smith – Fun, captivating novel.

Antimatter Blues by Edward Ashton – Sequel to Mickey7, which is coming out as a movie soon by Bong Joon-ho. Quick read and entertaining, but thin on plot. And honestly part of the fun of Mickey7 is watching him die terribly and coming back to life.

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff – I’m conflicted about this novel. I really enjoyed the first half and then it dragged so much. Incredibly repetitive as the girl flees through the wilderness and her body continues to suffer and break down. As for the ending, it would’ve worked better if the book had been novella length.

The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa – I like the idea of this novel; but, the pace is so slow that the novel drags. After reading a review in the New Yorker, I had more appreciation for what the writer was doing. Think of something like the passenger pigeon, which is now extinct. Can you think of it? What comes to mind? Do you feel uncomfortable thinking about something that no longer exists and that you don’t have words for? Can you even describe what color it was? In The Memory Police, this idea is made real for the inhabitants of an island. Things disappear. They’re forgotten. Life goes on. Except for the people who can’t forget. They mourn the losses and must watch out for the memory police who will take them away.

What are some books you’ve enjoyed recently?