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IT’S ALL RELATIVE, by Wade Rouse

December 31, 2011

HOLIDAYS AND FAMILY are the theme of these short essays on seasonal themes.  Equal parts snark and sweet!

Grade: SOLID B

IT'S ALL RELATIVE: TWO FAMILIES, THREE DOGS, 34 HOLIDAYS, AND 50 BOXES OF WINE
Crown
2011

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BEFORE VERSAILLES, by Karleen Koen

December 30, 2011

JUICY COURT DRAMA revolves around the loves and hatreds of the young Louis XIV. Lots of detail and intrigue!

Grade: SOLID B

BEFORE VERSAILLES: A NOVEL OF LOUIS XIV
Crown
2011

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MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN, by Ransom Riggs

December 29, 2011

DREAMLIKE, GOTHIC TALE of time travel, paranormal powers, and a boy who misses his grandfather.  Enchanting.

Grade: B PLUS

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN
Quirk
2011

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THE PILE OF STUFF AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS, by Christina Hopkinson

December 28, 2011

PORTRAIT OF A MARRIAGE in crisis combines a breezy, humorous chick-lit style with unexpectedly deep insights.

Grade: SOLID B

THE PILE OF STUFF AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS
Grand Central
2011

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THE IMMORALITY ENGINE, by George Mann

December 27, 2011

BEAUTIFULLY PACED AND CRAFTED steampunk Alt-Victorian adventure with lots of twists, turns, and technology.

Grade: B PLUS

THE IMMORALITY ENGINE: NEWBURY & HOBBES INVESTIGATION #3
Tor
2011

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HUMILIATION, by Wayne Koestenbaum

December 26, 2011

POET/CULTURAL CRITIC Wayne Koestenbaum’s meditations on the Big Idea of “humiliation” are quirky, fascinating.

Grade: SOLID B

HUMILIATION
Macmillan/Picador USA
2011

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1Q84, by Haruki Murakami

December 25, 2011

DREAMLIKE, HAUNTING TALE of parallel universes and crossed destinies from Haruki Murakami. Vast and astonishing!

Grade: B PLUS

1Q84
Knopf
2011

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CREEP, by Jennifer Hillier

December 24, 2011

COMPLEX, WELL-CONSTRUCTED SUSPENSE novel has plenty of chills and an interesting, troubled heroine. Spooky!

Grade: SOLID B

CREEP
Simon and Schuster/Gallery
2011

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MISS DIMPLE RALLIES TO THE CAUSE, by Mignon F. Ballard

December 23, 2011

CHARMING HISTORICAL COZY features a group of spunky Georgia schoolteachers as sleuths, lots of WWII details.

Grade: B PLUS

MISS DIMPLE RALLIES TO THE CAUSE
St. Martin's/Minotaur
2011

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SEX, MOM, AND GOD, by Frank Schaeffer

December 22, 2011

APOSTATE FROM THE US’s Christian Right Frank Schaeffer looks at his childhood’s mixed messages on sex, love.

Grade: SOLID B

SEX, MOM, AND GOD: HOW THE BIBLE'S STRANGE TAKE ON SEX LED TO CRAZY POLITICS--AND HOW I LEARNED TO LOVE WOMEN (AND JESUS) ANYWAY
Da Capo
2011

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