Category Archives: Literary Fiction

Istanbul Passage by Joseph Kanon

Posted on September 10, 2021 by bseat

There are usually two kinds of spy stories: the thriller/action type like The Red Sparrow series by Jason Matthews or Shanghai Factor by Charles McCarry and the the more cerebral/thinking type like John Le Carré’s  Agent Running in the Field … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Spy/Covert Operatives, Suspense | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

Posted on September 3, 2021 by bseat

if you had the chance, would you live your life differently? What changes would you make? These are the questions that are central to this novel by Jodi Picoult, and they are just as provocative and challenging for the main … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Beach Read, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Romance, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

Posted on August 20, 2021 by bseat

“Brief and beautiful,” was one reviewers reaction to this 2011 Man Booker Award winner and I tend to agree. I find that award winning books do not always sustain my interest or are particularly readable, but Barnes has written a … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Literary Fiction, Prize Winner | Tagged , | 2 Comments

The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante, translated by Ann Goldtstein

Posted on August 13, 2021 by bseat

These novels by Elena Ferrante have been described as “ferocious”, “explosive,” as if they are describing some kind of action/thriller series, but instead Ferrante tells the story of two girls growing up in post WWII Naples whose friendship becomes more … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Literary Fiction, Series, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Our Kind of Traitor by John Le Carré

Posted on July 16, 2021 by bseat

Somehow I missed this book by John Le Carré when it came out in 2010! I imagine I was waiting for the price to go down or for it to show up in my library queue. Whatever the reason it … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Literary Fiction, Spy/Covert Operatives, Suspense, Thriller | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Searcher by Tana French

Posted on July 9, 2021 by bseat

Tana French is one of my favorite authors. Every book is a joy to read with new and different mysteries, new characters that are interesting and complicated and great writing that just draws you in and doesn’t let go until … Continue reading →

Posted in Beach Read, Detective novel, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Suspense | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Plot by Jean Hanf Korelitz (Books to Read During a Pandemic, Part 66)

Posted on July 2, 2021 by bseat

Jean Hanf Kroelitz wrote You Should Have Known, which became a TV series called The Undoing, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant. That book and the TV show were unique, and powerful and I was impressed by Korelitz’s writing and character … Continue reading →

Posted in Beach Read, Books to Read During a Pandemic, Books to take on vacation, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Suspense | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan (Books to Read During a Pandemic, Part 65)

Posted on June 25, 2021 by bseat

Anthony Peardow began collecting last things after his fiancée died unexpectedly. On that very day he also lost the keepsake she had given him. Bereft and alone, he began noticing things that people lost on the sidewalk, or in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Beach Read, Books to Read During a Pandemic, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah (Books to Read During a Pandemic, Part 64)

Posted on June 18, 2021 by bseat

Sometimes, during hard times it is helpful to be reminded that there have been other hard times in our past, some that were even more tragic or more difficult than the ones we are currently going through. In The Four … Continue reading →

Posted in Books to Read During a Pandemic, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex (Books to Read During a Pandemic, Part 60)

Posted on May 21, 2021 by bseat

Spooky, ethereal, and unsettling are the words that come to mind about this book, but strangely this is not a syfi, fantasy or a horror novel, instead it is firmly based in reality. In the 1900’s three men stationed on … Continue reading →

Posted in Books to Read During a Pandemic, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Psychological Mystery, Suspense | Tagged , , | 1 Comment