RaveBlogCritics... her examination of Keats’ poetry is highly personal. As a person of Iranian descent coming of age in the United States she felt as much an outsider as Keats must have in his society. It’s through this lens that she looks at his work; bringing a perspective to her critiques both unique and intriguing ... While Nersessian is an academic, and she does delve deeply beneath the surface of Keats’ odes to give us a better understanding of his work, the book and her ideas are surprisingly accessible. Each of the six [ods]...examined in the text, are given an in-depth and loving treatment ... The book is not just unstinting praise as she takes a very much warts and all approach to her subject. While some might find that odd for what is supposedly a love letter to the poet, this ability to be objective but retain her affection for Keats gives more credence to her opinions ... a deep and accessible delve into the poetry of one of the great Romantic poets. It is the perfect antidote to the way most of us had his poetry foisted on us in school as it\'s a wonderful combination of reverence for Keats’ sublime writing and reality based analysis.
Ava Homa
RaveSeattle Post-Intelligencer... a searing, heart rending, and heart breaking tale ... While this book is about a Kurdish family in Iran, the story could be about any minority living under the rule of an oppressive majority demanding their assimilation. Homa has created a story that\'s both personal and universal in its scope. Daughters of Smoke and Fire might break your heart, but its also a book of sublime beauty that will engrave itself into your memory for years to come.
Guy Gavriel Kay
RaveBlogcritics.orgGuy Gavriel Kay\'s newest release...is one of those wonderful books which gradually worms its way under your skin. In the manner of a subtle seduction, it works its magic on you until, without noticing, you\'ve become totally immersed in the world the author has created ... it\'s his characters who keep us in the story ... New or old each of them are not only fascinating characters but their habits and behavior also contribute to our picture of the society they live in. It\'s not often you read a book which effectively evokes a time and place and tells a great story. Not only does A Brightness Long Ago accomplish all three, Kay does it with an elegance that leaves you savoring every page, indeed almost every word ... Read, enjoy and revel in its depiction of a fascinating world.
Ahmet Altan
RaveQantaraReaders can expect more than just a straightforward historical political novel. Altan draws us in deep to demonstrate just how much history depends on those who are doing the telling ... Reads like a grand adventure story: intrigue, suspense, romance and politics on an impressive scale. However, as each little incident is described in detail, from the in-fighting in the palace to the conditions aboard Ottoman naval vessels, we realise there is a deep current of rot running through the entire undertaking.
Anthony Horowitz
RaveSeattle Post-Intelligencerreading The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz requires a certain amount of suspending you\'re disbelief and believing a couple of impossible things before breakfast, it is an enjoyable and wonderful mystery. While the quirks of the story could have interfered with the actual mystery and investigation, Horowitz manages to balance the two to create something unique and fun.
Christopher Moore
RaveThe Seattle Post-IntelligencerI have to admit that on occasion I\'ve found some of Moore\'s work a little silly. In this case though he\'s spot on. His characters are just the right side of over done. So while some might verge on the cartoonish, we soon realize there is more to them than initially meets the eye. Of course it doesn\'t hurt that the story, and the intricate plots which keep it spinning over, are examples of Moore\'s imagination at its finest. While the absurdities come fast and furious... they\'re all part and parcel of the plot. No matter how far-fetched something might appear to be at first, within the context of the story everything fits together perfectly.
