“Now you’re nothing but tinsel. Flimsy tinsel, here one day, in the garbage can the next.” Set primarily under the Californian sun and spanning 1955-1980, Melanie Benjamin’s historical California Golden (Delacorte Press 2023) is an easy read full of sunshine, salt water and grit. While I wish it had gone a bit deeper, it wasContinue reading “CALIFORNIA GOLDEN – Melanie Benjamin”
Author Archives: Tommi Powell
SHARK HEART: A LOVE STORY – Emily Habeck
“There is never a right time to say goodbye.” I didn’t have being absolutely destroyed by a book about a man turning into a shark on my bingo card, but here we are. Emily Habeck’s Shark Heart: A Love Story (Marysue Rucci Books 2023) positively shattered me. It was very nearly a 5-star read, butContinue reading “SHARK HEART: A LOVE STORY – Emily Habeck”
A GIRL IN EXILE – Ismail Kadare
In my ever-constant desire to devour the world, I’ve decided to commit myself to reading a work from every country. I anticipate the journey to take several years as I intend to only read a couple from the list (which I’m slowly curating!) each month. I’m starting with the As. Country: AlbaniaTitle: A Girl in Exile:Continue reading “A GIRL IN EXILE – Ismail Kadare”
ELENA KNOWS – Claudia Piñeiro
In my ever-constant desire to devour the world, I’ve decided to commit myself to reading a work from every country. I anticipate the journey to take several years as I intend to only read a couple from the list (which I’m slowly curating!) each month. I’m starting with the As. Country: ArgentinaTitle: Elena KnowsAuthor: ClaudiaContinue reading “ELENA KNOWS – Claudia Piñeiro”
MR. POTTER – Jamaica Kincaid
In my ever-constant desire to devour the world, I’ve decided to commit myself to reading a work from every country. I anticipate the journey to take several years as I intend to only read a couple from the list (which I’m slowly curating!) each month. I’m starting with the As. Country: Antigua and BarbudaTitle: Mr.Continue reading “MR. POTTER – Jamaica Kincaid”
MY PEN IS THE WING OF A BIRD: New Fiction by Afghan Women
In my ever-constant desire to devour the world, I’ve decided to commit myself to reading a work from every country. I anticipate the journey to take several years as I intend to only read a couple from the list (which I’m slowly curating!) each month. I’m starting with the As. Country: AfghanistanTitle: My Pen isContinue reading “MY PEN IS THE WING OF A BIRD: New Fiction by Afghan Women”
THE BEE STING – Paul Murray
Booker season continues with Paul Murray’s The Bee Sting Western Lane (Farrar, Straus & Giroux 2023 – thanks for the advanced copy!) – a chunky tragicomic family saga set in post-crash Ireland that boosts a unique approach to storytelling. The first section of the novel is divided into four parts – one for each family memberContinue reading “THE BEE STING – Paul Murray”
WESTERN LANE – Chetna Maroo
Booker season continues with Chetna Maroo’s Western Lane (Farrar, Straus & Giroux 2023). This slim novella packs both a powerful punch and a tender hug – all with a backdrop of squash. Eleven-year-old Gopi has been playing squash for as long as she can remember, but when her mother dies, her father’s grief leads toContinue reading “WESTERN LANE – Chetna Maroo”
OLD GOD’S TIME – Sebastian Barry
Booker season continues with Sebastian Barry’s Old God’s Time (Viking 2023). Barry is no stranger to the longlist – out of 9 novels, he’s been longlisted for 5 (2 of which made it to the shortlist – we’ll see what the fates hold for this one). It’s a very prettily told story with – aContinue reading “OLD GOD’S TIME – Sebastian Barry”
A SPELL OF GOOD THINGS – Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
Booker season continues with Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ ’s A Spell of Good Things (Knopf 2023). The novel is Wole Soyinka (without the bitter wit) meets The Girl with the Louding Voice – full of political corruption, a hunger for both food and education, and a sharp division between classes while still showing, quite literally, that we allContinue reading “A SPELL OF GOOD THINGS – Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ “
A Girl Named Tommi 