Romantic Parvenu

Book Review: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

May 18, 2015

All the Light We Cannot See is good, but it’s not excellent. Anthony Doerr’s concept is good, but the book is unwieldy, with a structure that does nothing more than drag things out, and a mystical side-plot that’s entirely unnecessary. Bare ...

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Book Review: She Weeps Each Time You’re Born by Quan Barry

May 16, 2015

Quan Barry’s She Weeps Each Time You’re Born is a poetic, magical exploration of 20th century Vietnamese history, told through the lens of one family group. This is a debut novel by a poet, and it shows. Not that the book is ever flowery or ...

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Book Review: Unveiled by Courtney Milan

May 14, 2015

This was an excellent book, about two strong, nuanced characters who learn about each other and themselves. The strong family element was also a huge point in this book’s favor, as were the few moments of comic relief provided by said family. ...

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Book Review: Nobody Is Ever Missing by Catherine Lacey

May 13, 2015

On the sixth anniversary of her sister’s suicide, Elyria boards a flight to New Zealand, leaving behind her unsuspecting husband in New York. Her goals are uncertain—not even Elyria truly understands why she’s leaving. To be alone, to get away, ...

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Book Review: The Killing Moon by N.K. Jemisin

May 10, 2015

The Killing Moon was extremely good. Jemisin introduces readers to this entirely foreign world with ease but without boring exposition, and the plot is fast-paced without being rushed. The world itself is, obviously, extremely detailed and well ...

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Book Review: Spinster by Kate Bolick

April 30, 2015

The essence of Spinster, I feel, is an examination of women living life as they choose, according to their own internal compasses, whether that’s married or single or dating, reclusive or vibrantly social. Or any combination thereof. As I said, ...

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