Book reviews: Notes from Neil

Paperback Writers

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FRIDAY, JAN. 16 — Time to get caught up on titles I've raved about in hardcover (some more than once) that have had their paperback release since. Reading groups, start your engines! Here's what we're reading:



THE SIXTH EXTINCTION
- Elizabeth Kolbert
Pretty much every media outlet that published a best-of-2014 included this on on its science list. Ms. Kolbert's thoroughly researched treatise on the current state of species extinction is a must-read.

THE KEPT- James Scott
A moving debut novel of death and revenge, set in a harsh environment with harsh emotions.

THE AGE OF RADIANCE
- Craig Nelson
Not so much a history of the atom; more a history of humans realizing atoms exist and the power they contain.

THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY - Gabrielle Zevin
A sweet novel of family, love, and the sublime joy of bookselling.


THE MARTIAN
- Andy Weir
If you haven't yet read this edge-of-your-seat thriller about an engineer marooned on Mars, do it before the movie gets here. Word is Matt Damon is on board to play the lead. Where do I buy a ticket?.

ANDREW'S BRAIN
- E.L. Doctorow
An American master with nothing to prove succeeds wildly with what might be his riskiest novel to date..


ABOVE
- Isla Morley
A stunning shock of a plot twist at the halfway point could have been the only reason for this novel's existence, but Ms. Morley never lets up on the gas, even as the reader's head is spinning.


THE DIVIDE - Matt Taibbi
One of the most perceptive of modern political writers, the author is one of the last of a dying breed - the doggedly persistent investigative journalist.

STORIES II
- T.C. Boyle
It doesn't matter if it's long format or short, I always finish reading Mr. Boyle wanting more. His new novel, The Harder They Come, is due in March and it's another gem.

COLLISION LOW CROSSERS
- Nicholas Dawidoff
As accurate a look inside the day-to-day life of players and coaches in the NFL as we've seen. And now that Rex Ryan's moved on from the Jets, it could be filed in History as well as Sports.

I'm curious - are there any of you who have recently made the move to an electroninc reader of some sort? What do you think; how does it compare to reading an ink and paper book? I confess to still being on the fence about them.

Until next week,


Neil

NeilNeil Rajala is Currently Director of Community & Business Services for Schuler Books, Neil's decade with the company has included the wearing of many different hats - and lots and lots of reading.

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