In London, a group of people have lost that which they hold most dear. A girl stands in the airport waiting for her lover while her feet turn to roots and her skin to bark. A recluse loses the front wall of her home, while a workaholic cannot find his office building. Piano keys, a sense of direction, and a boy's relationship with his father all have gone astray. Slowly, each victim adapts, unwittingly helping one another during the briefest encounters. Each loss is heartbreaking and each character's struggle to survive is inspiring. With stunning prose and insight, Matthewson uses magic to illuminate truth in this hauntingly beautiful debut novel. ~ Reviewed by Amelia Stymacks
Highly recommend! This story of a young Nigerian woman struggling in America is both highly readable and eye-opening. ~ Reviewed by Amelia Stymacks
Set in a fantastical 18th century world where rain falls up and color storms wash the land with bright hues, “Bell Weather” is, at its core, the story of a spirited young woman fighting for the freedom to choose her own path. Although Molly tells the townsfolk of Root almost nothing of her past, readers learn about her childhood with an overbearing governess, a cold father, and a brilliant, cunning brother who will stop at nothing to ensure that he and Molly are together and unbridled. Mahoney has created a marvelous world that readers will want to visit again and again.
I loved Bell Weather—it pulled me out of a slow reading slump—and, to my great pleasure, author Dennis Mahoney agreed to exchange emails with me. (READ MORE)
Delightfully strange, dark and witty, The Family Fang is an insightful exploration of art and its effects on both artists and bystanders. I thoroughly enjoyed this story of Annie and Buster, adults still trapped in the madness of their parents's art. ~ Reviewed by Amelia Stymacks
This is my first Murakami and I'll definitely be diving into his backlist. There's just the right amount of dreamworld to tell the story of Tsukuru, who once had four great friends and now has none. Encouraged by his girlfriend, Tsukuru recounts his life and begins unraveling the mystery of why his friends cut him off. We read this for my book club - Armchair Explorers - and talked all night. ~ Reviewed by Amelia Stymacks