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SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED, by Anne Lamott with Sam Lamott

August 11, 2012

ANNE LAMOTT’S LOVING memoir of her grandson’s first year of life (written with his dad and mom) melts the heart.

Grade: B PLUS

SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED: A JOURNAL OF MY SON'S FIRST SON
Riverhead
2012

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LOST KINGDOM, by Julia Flynn Siler

August 10, 2012

THE END OF THE HAWAI’IAN monarchy and the rise of the “sugar kings” come alive in this fascinating history.

Grade: B PLUS

LOST KINGDOM: HAWAII'S LAST QUEEN, THE SUGAR KINGS, AND AMERICA'S FIRST IMPERIAL ADVENTURE
Grove Atlantic
2012

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ASHES OF CANDESCE, by Karl Schroeder

August 9, 2012

MARVELOUSLY ABSORBING SPACE opera, set in an artificial solar system. Lots of action! Last of 5 in a series.

Grade: B PLUS

ASHES OF CANDESCE: BOOK FIVE OF VIRGA
Tom Doherty Associates/Tor
2012

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HARRY LIPKIN, PRIVATE EYE, by Barry Fantoni

August 8, 2012

“MIAMI’S OLDEST DETECTIVE,” 87-year-old Harry Lipkin, is the star of this witty, warmhearted gumshoe tale.

Grade: B PLUS

HARRY LIPKIN, PRIVATE EYE
Knopf
2012

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CEMETERY JOHN, by Robert Zorn

August 7, 2012

THE LINDBERGH BABY KIDNAPPING, reviewed and reopened in the light of memories from New York’s German community.

Grade: SOLID B

CEMETERY JOHN: THE UNDISCOVERED MASTERMIND BEHIND THE LINDBERGH KIDNAPPING
Overlook Press
2012

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THE GENTRIFICATION OF THE MIND, by Sarah Schulman

August 6, 2012

INCISIVE, DEEPLY PERSONAL reflection on the impact of AIDS and gentrification on New York’s queer avant-garde.

Grade: B PLUS

THE GENTRIFICATION OF THE MIND: WITNESS TO A LOST IMAGINATION
University of California Press
2012

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WHATEVER YOU LOVE, by Louise Doughty

August 5, 2012

KEENLY DRAWN PORTRAIT of a mother pushed beyond rationality by the sudden death of her young daughter. Chilling!

Grade: B PLUS

WHATEVER YOU LOVE
Harper Perennial
2012

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THE WATCHERS, by Jon Steele

August 4, 2012

COMPLEX THRILLER TRACES an apocalyptic battle of angels and the plight of humans caught up in the struggle.

Grade: SOLID B

THE WATCHERS
Penguin/Blue Rider
2012

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SYBIL EXPOSED, by Debbie Nathan

August 3, 2012

REVISITING THE FAMOUS psychiatric case written up as “Sybil” reveals collusion, overinterpretation, and fraud.

Grade: SOLID B

SYBIL EXPOSED: THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY BEHIND THE FAMOUS MULTIPLE PERSONALITY CASE
Free Press
2011

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THE CHEMISTRY OF TEARS, by Peter Carey

August 2, 2012

METICULOUSLY CRAFTED NOVEL explores the appeal of technology, difficulty of love in modern and Victorian times.

Grade: B PLUS

THE CHEMISTRY OF TEARS
Knopf
2012

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