RaveThe New York Times Book Review... the novel’s authors, Laura Blackett and Eve Gleichman, are linguistic magicians, and their sparkling debut manages to expose the hollowness of well-being jargon while exploring, with tender care and precision, how we dare to move on after unspeakable loss ... While themes in The Very Nice Box are clear-cut — heart versus head, form versus function, creativity versus commerce — their execution is anything but. The crowded action unfolds through comic set pieces, red herrings, character reveals and story reversals that make us reconsider everything we’ve just read. Similarly, the authors meld multiple styles and tones — incisive sendup, murky suspense, sexy rom-com — which, in less capable hands, could have yielded a novel with a Frankenstein vibe. Instead, they’ve constructed a mirrored fun house, one that leads us down different paths, each masterfully tied up at the end, yet reflecting and refracting our own quirky selves ... These days, when so many of us are sapped of focus, reading can feel laborious. But remember the pleasure of soaking up a great novel? Who could you be if you indulged in that memory and let yourself go?
Andrew David MacDonald
MixedThe New York Times Book Review... well-intentioned ... When We Were Vikings is the tale of Zelda’s quest for autonomy, and MacDonald charts her course admirably. By rendering typical coming-of-age milestones through Zelda’s decidedly atypical perspective, MacDonald rejects longstanding stereotypes and introduces a 21st-century heroine who is fearless and capable — and who, by the way, happens to be neurodivergent. Unfortunately, while it’s impossible not to root for Zelda, MacDonald’s creative choices occasionally blur the lines between adult and Y.A. fiction, which distracts from the narrative and undermines his efforts ... Zelda is a marvel, a living, breathing three-dimensional character with a voice so distinctive she leaps off the page ... While much of this — along with MacDonald’s exaggerated metaphors, simplified themes, broadly drawn characters and predictable action — seems too juvenile for adult readers, it’s all appropriate, and appropriately rendered, for a coming-of-age novel ... If I could, I’d stop here. No one wants to knock a first-time author, especially one tackling ableism and identity. However, MacDonald fumbles a critical aspect of Zelda’s becoming — her sexual awakening — in a way that’s troubling yet all too familiar ... It’s unclear whether MacDonald expects us to laugh at her naïveté or feel horrified on her behalf; either way, the net effect is jarring ... MacDonald places her in sexual situations that leave her unsatisfied and diminished; Zelda is, by turns, infantilized, duped and very nearly raped. In a book that so lovingly celebrates her autonomy, it’s again unclear why she’s consistently portrayed as powerless — once maybe, but three times? — and this lack of clarity makes these scenes feel gratuitous, as if they were superimposed on the Y.A. themes to reposition the book. Intentional or not (MacDonald is an otherwise respectful writer), given our cultural landscape, authors at every stage are obliged to reach a higher bar when illustrating female sexuality. The bar rises even higher when sexuality is juxtaposed with disability and consent ... Zelda deserves better — as does the reader. Erotic escapades can fuel legendary adventures, but they can also be the stuff of nightmares. To those who write about them, I say this: Choose wisely.
Richard Roper
RaveThe New York Times Book Review[A] winning debut novel ... Like many funny novels, How Not to Die Alone is influenced by the adage that humor equals tragedy plus time. We root for Andrew to come clean and connect, as much for his benefit as our entertainment ... when Roper makes it work, the payoff is tremendous ... Roper’s unbridled compassion for his characters is the book’s greatest strength. He doesn’t judge or patronize, even when they act foolishly. It’s this generosity of spirit that allowed me to forgive, if not ignore, the novel’s shortcomings ... I loved this novel with my whole heart.
