Local and Popular Reviews
Books reviewed in the Providence Journal, Boston Globe or People
December 20, 2020
Fiction Reviews
Nora : A Love Story of Nora and James Joyce
by Nuala O'Connor

A bold reimagining of the life of James Joyce’s wife and muse describes the experiences of an early 20th-century Dublin chambermaid who sacrifices everything to help her addict husband achieve literary acclaim.
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by Rian Hughes

An artificial intelligence expert and his associates at a tech startup work to interpret and trace an extraterrestrial signal, while the outside world erupts into existential mayhem over what the discovery implies. A first novel. Illustrations.
Big girl, small town : a novel
by Michelle Gallen

A U.S. debut by an award-winning writer from Ireland follows the experiences of a plucky chip-shop worker whose coming-of-age in the post-Troubles years is upended by abandonment and growing tensions between local Catholics and Protestants.
The particulars of Peter : dance lessons, DNA tests, and other excuses to hang out with my perfect dog
by Kelly Conaboy

A heartwarming celebration of the author’s devoted relationship with her rescue dog shares anecdotes about their visit to the Woofstock dog festival, training in Canine Freestyle and participation in remarkable scientific experiments. 40,000 first printing.
Nonfiction Reviews
The Last American Aristocrat : The Brilliant Life and Improbable Education of Henry Adams
by David S. Brown

The author of Richard Hofstadter illuminates the less-recognized achievements the 20th-century writer and intellectual, discussing Adams’s relationships with political leaders inside and outside his family and his witness to the dawn of modern America.
Red comet : the short life and blazing art of Sylvia Plath
by Heather L. Clark

Focuses on Sylvia Plath's remarkable literary and intellectual achievements, while restoring the woman behind the long-held myths about her life and art. Illustrations.
Unsinkable
by James Sullivan

Documents the true story of a U.S. Navy destroyer that inspired the writings of John Ford and Herman Wouk, drawing on the journals and other writings of five shipmates who witnessed the Anzio attacks and D-Day invasion. 60,000 first printing. Illustrations.
Barack before Obama : life before the presidency
by David Katz

An intimate collection of photographs of Barack Obama prior to his presidency include images of him walking in New York City unnoticed, playing with his small daughters and making faces at his wife in an elevator mirror. 200,000 first printing. Illustrations.
Girl gurl grrrl : on womanhood and belonging in the age of black girl magic
by Kenya Hunt

The award-winning Grazia UK fashion director presents an evocative anthology of essays celebrating the timeless, thriving potential of being a Black woman, mother and global citizen in today’s dynamic world. 50,000 first printing.
Survival of the thickest : essays
by Michelle Buteau

The stand-up comedian, actress and host of the Late Night Whenever podcast shares an unapologetic collection essays that reflect on her Caribbean heritage, her September 11 newsroom work and her experiences with IVF, surrogacy and motherhood. 125,000 first printing.
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