Top Reviewed Books of the Week Include Works by Kingsolver, Perry, and Philbrick

Fiction

1. Partita by Barbara Kingsolver (Harper)

Critical Response: 12 Rave, 2 Positive, 1 Mixed, 1 Pan

In an interview, Heather Scott Partington from The Los Angeles Times remarked on Kingsolver’s ability to articulate the human experience through her distinctive writing style, emphasizing its insights and discoveries as a testament to her evolving narrative.

2. The Occidental Book of the Dead by T. Geronimo Johnson (William Morrow and Company)

Critical Response: 7 Rave

Jason Mott from The New York Times Book Review praised the ambitious nature of Johnson's work, suggesting that while it may not appeal to everyone, its unapologetic creativity is a significant contribution to literature.

3. Fair Ones by Lydia Millet (W. W. Norton and Company)

Critical Response: 3 Rave, 3 Positive

Erin Galloway of Library Journal highlighted Millet’s sharp prose and exploration of themes such as loneliness and grief, noting her characters’ emotional depth and the intricate dynamics of long-standing friendships.

4. Every Story Is A Love Story by Imbolo Mbue (Random House)

Critical Response: 3 Rave, 1 Positive

Toni Cox in Library Journal described Mbue’s introspective narrative that gradually builds intensity, appealing particularly to readers familiar with themes of love amidst tragedy.

5. The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Richard Milford by Nafissa Thompson-Spires (Scribner)

Critical Response: 3 Rave

Publishers Weekly commended Thompson-Spires for her captivating narrative that critiques capitalistic excess and explores competing truths.

Nonfiction

1. Death of an Ordinary Man by Sarah Perry (Mariner)

Critical Response: 7 Rave

Amy Bloom from The New York Times Book Review referred to Perry's work as a precise and beautiful exploration of life and death, asserting its value to readers facing grief.

2. Cormac McCarthy: A Legacy Revisited by Tracy Daugherty (St. Martin’s Press)

Critical Response: 5 Rave, 1 Mixed

Bill Heavy of The Wall Street Journal described Daugherty’s biography as engrossing, successfully navigating McCarthy’s life and writing evolution while addressing complex details.

3. The Rush: California Gold, the Civil War, and the Making of the Modern World by Nathaniel Philbrick (Viking)

Critical Response: 5 Rave

Hamilton Cain in The Boston Globe praised Philbrick for his vivid portrayal of historical tensions, likening the book's style to that of Mark Twain.

=4. Will and Attention: A Memoir by Meghan O’Gieblyn (Doubleday)

Critical Response: 4 Rave, 1 Positive

Jennifer Szalai from The New York Times highlighted the memoir's depth in exploring moments of grace amidst human suffering.

=4. The Savage Mind: An American Legacy by David Treuer (Little Brown and Company)

Critical Response: 4 Rave, 1 Positive

Linford Fisher of The Boston Globe found Treuer’s narrative to be a profound and necessary reflection on national identity, blending personal history with broader social issues.