Chang-Rae Lee’s A Tender Age, Virginia Eubanks’s A Guide to Open Water Lifesaving, and Téa Obreht’s Sunrise all feature among the best reviewed books of the week.
Brought to you by Book Marks, Lit Hub’s home for book reviews.
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Fiction
1. A Tender Age by Chang Rae-Lee
(Riverhead)
10 Rave • 1 Mixed
“Luminous … In his deftly shaped near-ending, Lee cloaks the specifics of what occurred at that life-altering precipice, leaving ample space for examination and interpretation.”
–Terry Hong (Shelf Awareness)
2. Sunrise by Téa Obreht
(Random House)
7 Rave • 1 Pan
Read an interview with Téa Obreht here
“Obreht captivates across multiple eras, flourishing while bending traditional Western storytelling to reveal the toxic layers of gender, forbidden love, myth, and history, all against a stark survival narrative that reverberates.”
–Donna Seaman (Booklist)
3. Under the Falls by Richard Russo
(Knopf)
1 Rave • 7 Positive • 2 Mixed • 2 Pan
“Russo crafts a dark, moody tale that feels cinematic and emotionally deep, a sharp study of reunion, regret, and the pursuit of redemption.”
–Carol Haggas (Booklist)
=4. The Responsible Party by Claire Carusillo
(Henry Holt & Company)
3 Rave • 1 Positive
“[An] extraordinary tale … Terrifically comic … Carusillo is a master of the brisk and inclusive aside, mixing high and low diction with ease … It suggests we can’t fully escape the actions of those before us, while also celebrating, sentence by sentence, the alchemy that emerges when the right heir handles them.”
–Elizabeth McKenzie (The New York Times Book Review)
=4. Hocus Pocus by Brinda Charry
(Scribner)
3 Rave • 1 Positive
“A richly lived-in portrait of a Boston that barely rests between the American Revolution and today … A gently stirring historical novel, warmly attentive to both ordinary lives and the era’s grand contradictions. When fantasy and authenticity, showmanship and magic meet, the result is thoroughly satisfying.”
–Chris Vognar (The Boston Globe)
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Nonfiction
1. Are They Dead Yet?: The Art of the Obit by Sam Roberts
(Bloomsbury)
3 Rave • 1 Positive
Read an essay by Sam Roberts here
“A charming … Obituary-writing is a serious vocation, yet it also offers moments of lightness. Roberts captures these tones and pays warm homage to his fellow obituary writers as well as their subjects, whether celebrated or not. He remains a genial, if occasionally repetitive, guide through the complexities of the genre.”
–Martin Green (Jewish Book Council)
2. A Guide to Open Water Lifesaving: Lessons on Love, Care, and Survival: A Memoir by Virginia Eubanks
(Farrar, Straus, and Giroux)
3 Rave
“It’s difficult to predict exactly which readers will find resonance—from tired caregivers to intrepid explorers to officials with the power to offer aid. Yet Eubanks’s analysis is admirably rigorous, and she scrutinizes her own impatience and frustrations just as she examines J.’s suffering. The result is a stylish, informative account.”
–Elisabeth Egan (The New York Times Book Review)
3. Depraved: The Story of Dangerous Art by Daisy Dixon
(Viking)
3 Rave • 1 Positive • 1 Mixed • 1 Pan
Read an excerpt from Depraved here
“A probing debut that argues art should be judged on its own terms even when its subjects raise moral concerns. Dixon deftly threads questions of ethics and justice with the book’s aesthetic drive, producing a thoughtful, timely analysis that honors both art and conscience.”
–Publishers Weekly
4. Fed Up: What Evolution Reveals about Food, Diet, Health, and Eating Well by David E. Lieberman
(Knopf)
2 Rave • 1 Positive
“A thoroughly researched explanation of how evolution has shaped our eating patterns and weight. It’s nuanced and evidence-based, and serves as a lifeline for readers navigating a flood of nutrition guidance.”
–Publishers Weekly
5. Days of Miracle and Wonder: Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland by Ashley Kahn
(Atria)
2 Rave • 1 Mixed
“The depth of research behind this volume is unmatched, built over many years. Kahn demonstrates a musical sensitivity that keeps even non-specialists engaged, balancing the narrative elements with equal skill. It’s a life-affirming chronicle that resonates with a wide audience, inviting readers to revisit their favorite songs. Despite the odds, Days of Miracle and Wonder emerges as a joyful and triumphant study.”
–Mike Raftery (Open Letters Review)
