Excellent: 89%
Compelling historical fiction encompassing Ireland and American in the mid-1800s, this book was widely praised by bloggers and professional reviewers alike. The only issue few took with that one of the four main character’s story was less interesting.
Excellent: 91%
Madeline Miller manages to craft a compelling love story while sticking very closely to Homer’s “Iliad”. The few issues reviewers had with it were minor and varied.
Excellent: 92%
Despite its length and a somewhat overly sentimental final act, ‘The Snow Child’ is a satisfying and beautifully-written debut novel about a couple that makes a child out of snow.
Excellent: 97%
An excellent debut novel about a failing American newspaper in Rome, ‘The Imperfectionists’ is at some points slightly disjointed and sentimental, but the genuine, well-written story and characterizations win out. It’s a Prosenotes Pick!
Above Average: 85%
A baseball book that isn’t really about baseball, ‘The Art of Fielding’ almost staggers under its literary references, but it is an excellent debut novel for Harbach full of intricate characters and an interesting plot.
Above Average: 85%
Takes the old story of the inspirational teacher and does something a little different with it. Some critics complained about a lack of creativity and a flat main character, but overall a compelling read with excellent writing.
Below Average: 59%
Beautiful and visually descriptive prose are weighed down by a weak plot and romance cliches. If you are looking for much else other than a book about magic with descriptive imagery, then this may not be for you. Still, a very strong debut for this author.
Average: 70%
This debut author handles the material very well with this beautifully-written work. The story is a bit shaky in places, and her writing can come off as overly-polished, but the writing and the handling of the subject matter overcome these flaws.
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