Link: amzn.to/ypehPF

Grade: B-

L/C Ratio: 80/20
(This means I estimate the author devoted 80% of his effort to creating a literary work of art and 20% of his effort to creating a commercial bestseller.) 

Thematic Breakdown:
40% - Cultural exploration
30% - Investigation of the human condition
30% - Crumbling of society

When people ask about my favorite authors, Don DeLillo is always on the list (even though all that really means is that I read White Noise in college and thought it was awesome). Right now he’s one of the few writers who has earned automatic purchase status – meaning I buy every new book of his without thinking twice.

Nothing against the short story format, but I came into The Angel Esmeralda with limited expectations. The book is a collection of nine stories, spanning 30+ years of DeLillo’s career. There are no particularly memorable characters or plots to discover, as the stories feel more like sketches or vignettes than fully-formed narratives.

If you enjoyed 2010’s Point Omega, then The Angel Esmeralda is certainly worth a read. The combination of sharpness and depth distinguishes DeLillo’s writing and reminds you why he is one of the kings of contemporary fiction.

(This is a guest review by Heather. To submit your own, use the button in the column to the right.)

Link: amzn.to/w3X3hH

Grade: A-

L/C Ratio: 70/30
(This means Heather estimates the author devoted 70% of her effort to creating a literary work of art and 30% of her effort to creating a commercial bestseller.) 

Thematic Breakdown:
40% - Family
30% - Coming of age
20% - Nature
10% - Apocalyptic

Into the Forest is a beautifully written novel about two sisters and how they survive as their family, aspirations and entire society subsequently fall apart. The storyline is very realistic, which made me question various aspects of my daily life and consider how I would react if put in their position. I am not always a huge fan of the first-person point of view (despite the fact that it seems like that’s all I’ve been reading lately), but in this novel it was incredibly effective - making the emotions and situations that much more powerful.

As a biology major (and having taken a grueling Field Botany course in college), I also found the natural aspects of Into the Forest very interesting.

The reason the grade for this novel isn’t slightly higher is that some of the scenes were rather sensual and a little uncomfortable to read. Also, I could vaguely tell where the author was going with the conclusion of the novel, but it still was a tad unsatisfying; the decisions were understandable with everything the characters had been through, but as a reader, I questioned their choices. Other than that, this is an amazing, well-written story with relatable characters and a frighteningly plausible plot that will leave you questioning the world around you.

Link: amzn.to/ADylNS

Grade: C-

L/C Ratio: 40/60
(This means I estimate the author devoted 40% of his effort to creating a non-fiction work of art and 60% of his effort to creating a commercial bestseller.)

Thematic Breakdown:
40% - Overcoming tragedy
30% - Coaching
20% - Basketball
10% - Midwest community spirit

I consider Buster Olney to be one of the top sports reporters in America, so when I heard he had spent months writing a book about a Division-II college basketball coach, I assumed it was a story I couldn’t afford to miss.

And that’s where my disappointment with How Lucky You Can Be begins (the awkward title doesn’t help, either). Despite a devoted attempt by Olney to paint the life of coach Don Meyer as inspirational and magical, the book never managed to connect with me as a reader. Nonstop generic quotes from former players saying “he changed my life” and “I wouldn’t be where I am now without him” lose their zest pretty quickly. Then again, I’m sure my reaction to the book would have been different if the game of basketball had played a bigger role in my youth, or if I had a special relationship with a coach that was comparable.

Nevertheless, I took issue with coach Meyer’s prevailing philosophy and the way Olney treats it like gospel. In the book, everyone at Northern State University (which is ironically located in South Dakota) praises Meyer for the positive values he instills in his players. But then anytime Meyer’s wife or kids are mentioned in the text, Olney describes how Meyer’s overwhelming obsession with basketball led to him neglecting his own family for most of his coaching career.

Of course, the car accident that How Lucky You Can Be centers around gives Meyer a chance to reevaluate those broken relationships – but that moral conflict prevented me from buying into what were meant to be heartwarming moments.

(This is a guest review by Heather. To submit your own, use the button in the column to the right.)

Link: amzn.to/y8S8aX

Grade: B

L/C Ratio: 40/60
(This means Heather estimates the author devoted 40% of his effort to creating a literary work of art and 60% of his effort to creating a commercial bestseller.) 

Thematic Breakdown:
50% - Family dynamics
30% - Auto racing
10% - Terminal illness
10% - Legal battle

Stein’s novel is full of surprises – beginning with the narration style and perspective. His language is eloquent, and he crafts a story that tugs at your heartstrings from the start thanks to the very likable and realistic main character.

Although it should have been obvious from the title, The Art of Racing in the Rain contained more auto racing information, descriptions and analogies than I anticipated. At times this angle was effective and interesting, and other times it seemed to be forced and caused the narrative to drag. Other than that, my only complaint is that the ending was rather jarring and jumped from flashbacks to the real-time conclusion too quickly. Even still, it did not stop my tears from falling as I read the last chapter.

Link: amzn.to/x7uoi1

Grade: C

L/C Ratio: 20/80
(This means I estimate the author devoted 20% of his effort to creating a literary work of art and 80% of his effort to creating a commercial bestseller.) 

Thematic Breakdown:
50% - Detective mystery
30% - Action/Adventure
10% - Horror
10% - Romance

I don’t know what is wrong with me. This is twice in a row I’ve broken my own rule and read a book from a series. And in both cases I jumped right into the middle of the series instead of starting from the beginning like a sensible human being. Although in the case of The Snowman, I didn’t have much of a choice since not all of Jo Nesbo’s novels have been translated from Norwegian to English yet.

I was worried the whole foreign translation thing would be an issue, but the language flows relatively well throughout the book. (My one complaint regarding word choice is that it feels like the term “duvet” appears five times per chapter. Maybe people in Norway just really love their bedding.)

Look, The Snowman is a serviceable detective mystery. The serial killer plot creates some intricate puzzles and suspenseful moments, which makes certain chapters legitimate page-turners. But the characters are largely stale, and as the number of twists in the investigation grows, the outcome begins to feel less shocking and more arbitrary.