By: Dianah,
on 4/8/2015
Martin Marten does for Mt. Hood what Mink River did for the Oregon coast; that is, it somehow shows just how whimsical and quaint a small town can be, and to such a degree that you fall in love with Doyle's version of this place and secretly want to live there. Martin Marten follows the lives [...]
By: Dianah,
on 10/10/2013
Brian Doyle's memoir tells the harrowing story of his young son being diagnosed with a serious heart condition. Through a collection of essays, each touching upon some aspect of his experience, Doyle shows the absolutely horrifying reality of a parent on the brink of losing their child. His vulnerability and stark utter terror are palpable as he [...]
By: Dianah,
on 10/7/2013
Rene Denfeld's The Enchanted is a book like no other. Set in a crumbling prison, the characters are the prisoners on death row, the grieving warden, the corrupt guard, the lady trying to stay the execution, the fallen priest, the white-haired boy, the horrified mother, and the inside drug lords. Almost no one has a name, [...]
By: Dianah,
on 10/1/2013
The Plover is not exactly a sequel to Mink River — more of a companion piece — but fans of the latter will be thrilled to find out what happened to one of the most beloved characters. After sailing his little boat off the final pages of Mink River, the story of Declan O'Donnell continues [...]
By: Dianah,
on 9/4/2012
Aging porn-queen Cassie Wright plans to retire on a high point by having sex, on film, with 600 men. Yes, the title *is* Snuff, but it's not what you think. Not for the faint-of-heart, the graphic content is raunchy, bizarre, and shocking but also laugh-out-loud-hysterically funny. While Palahniuk can be an acquired taste, he is at [...]
