MixedThe Pittsburgh Post-GazetteAfter I got over my surprise that LSD didn’t turn her into a tripping head case, there’s not much about how she improves that’s terribly fascinating ... But two things make this short book more interesting than being merely the story of a self-aware writer who takes steps to get better and succeeds. The first is that LSD is, of course, an illegal drug. Much of the humor and suspense of the book comes from Ms. Waldman’s attempts to secure her initial dosage and her subsequent plan to get more after she’s sure it’s working, not to mention her desire to hide what she’s up to from almost everyone around her...The other thing that will intrigue readers is what the author, an accomplished essayist and writer of mystery novels, always brings to the table in her work. Her husband is the acclaimed novelist Michael Chabon, a man famous enough that some will read his wife’s book just to catch glimpses of him. Ms. Waldman never refers to him by name, but there’s some gossipy stuff here, about their marriage and occasional drug use.
Stewart O'Nan
PositivePittsburgh Post-GazetteSometimes feeling a little lost is a good thing. I confess that through much of my reading of Stewart O’Nan’s new novel, City of Secrets, that’s how I felt: a bit lost, but also quite content. I did not completely understand the setting and events of the book, but I felt confident in Mr. O’Nan’s words, always clear and illuminating about the human condition.
