A review of Inside Scientology: The Story of America’s Most Secretive Religion, by Janet Reitman. @@@@@ (5 out of 5). A balanced and objective yet thoroughly damning account of the history of Scientology by an investigative journalist.
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A review of Liberation Movements, by Olen Steinhauer. @@@@ (4 out of 5). Mystery piles atop mystery in this fourth installment of Olen Steinhauer’s five-novel cycle of life behind the Iron Curtain in Central Europe. The book is populated by secret policemen, Armenian terrorists, and a woman with psychic powers.
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A review of Telegraph Avenue, by Michael Chabon. @@@@@ (5 out of 5). The themes in Telegraph Avenue include birth and death, loss and betrayal, the glories of fatherhood, teenage angst, the continuing challenges of interracial relationships, and the intensely present power of music in the lives of so many Americans.
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A review of Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn. @@@@@ (5 out of 5). This is the story of Amy Elliott Dunne and Nick Dunne, the perfect couple in the ideal marriage. Then one day Amy goes missing, and it slowly begins to dawn on you that one (or both) of the two is a sociopath.
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A review of KaBoom! How One Man Built a Movement to Save Play, by Darell Hammond.
@@@@@ (5 out of 5). Three books in one: Darell’s story, and the organization’s; an essay on the importance of play and the implications for public policy; and a how-to manual for communities to build playgrounds themselves.
Mysteries & Thrillers Tuesday includes my latest mystery and thriller book review,
with links to other science fiction content.
Nonfiction Wednesday includes my latest nonfiction book review,
with links to other nonfiction content.
The Weekly includes summaries and links to all the previous week’s three to five book reviews, including some that don’t appear in any of the other newsletters.
Mysteries & Thrillers Tuesday includes my latest mystery and thriller book review, with links to other science fiction content.
Nonfiction Wednesday includes my latest nonfiction book review, with links to other nonfiction content.
The Weekly includes summaries and links to all the previous week’s three to five book reviews, including some that don’t appear in any of the other newsletters.