Reviews and Comments

Not only is this book unsparing in its description of the plight of the North Atlantic Right Whale, but it's superbly written. Far from a clinical tone, Dr. Moore's prose is warm and eloquent. His passion for the preservation of whales is evident without ever resorting to preaching or sentimentality.

Far from being objectionable in any conceivable way, this graphic non-fiction work should be essential reading for young and old alike. It's an honest, first-hand account of suffering and survival during the holocaust as passed down from father to son.

Snippets of reviews on the back cover of this edition used words like "magic", "exquisite" and "enchanting", setting an incredibly high bar. Happily, this wonderful collection of poems is all of the above and more - it is a story of an unlikely friendship in an idyllic setting.

The translation by Antonio T. de Nicolas transports the reader into the poet's world of rural Spain in the early twentieth century without being nostalgic or intrusive. Each poem has room to breathe, celebrate or mourn as the seasons dictate. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

The Sky Over Lima is a classic tale of two twenty year-old would-be poets wooing an acclaimed "maestro" by impersonating a fawning young woman. The ruse continues far longer than expected before coming to a surprising conclusion.

After one chapter I'm already hooked.

Recommended by the NY Times.

A scholarly, thoroughly researched book, and yet very pertinent - dare I say essential - for the non-scientists it targets as its readership. I'm a bit biased in that I work at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, which is prominently featured in several chapters, but some of the accounts of wartime and Cold War-era research have opened my eyes to the tightrope my predecessors walked, and serve as a cautionary tale today.

A very compelling, relatable story of a woman who walks away from responsibility in search of identity. It's alternately funny and brutal, but always unapologetic. Without giving too much away, the author was very effective at weaving letters into a story line. I finished the book very quickly - not because it's "a quick read" but because the journey was so exhilarating.

Javier Cercas' mastery of the "non-fiction novel" is evident in that "Outlaws" reads like a true story. I came away believing that all of the characters, as well as their interweaving histories, could easily be 100% real. The author's first-hand knowledge of Barcelona helped frame the action in neighborhoods that evolved over the years, as if it were yet another character. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down until I finished.

As provocative a read as you can get from a graphic history, Nate Powell challenges himself to maintain an activist stance while also raising a family, and in so doing challenges all of us "armchair activists".

Javier Cercas is a master of the non-fiction novel. As in past books like "The Lord of all the Dead", the in-depth history of the deception of the main character is interlaced with the author's misgivings about writing the book, reaching a climax in an imagined dialogue with the protagonist. The why behind the lies is never fully fleshed out, leaving the distinction between truth and fiction as a continuing exercise for the reader.

"Song of the Simple Truth" compiles all of the known poetic output of Julia de Burgos, a cultural icon of Puerto Rican literature. While her best known poems (e.g. "Rio Grande de Loiza") are prominently represented, the crowning achievement of this collection are others that appear in writing for the first time. This bi-lingual edition features the translation of Jack Agüeros, who also provides an extensive introduction which serves as a brief biography of a woman whose poetry was shamefully neglected during her short lifetime.

Essential reading, beautifully illustrated. It begins with George as a young boy, believing that he and his family were going on an exciting new adventure, only to witness moments when his parents are barely able to hide their sorrow and bitterness. The book ends on a note of hope, but also with a warning to remain vigilant lest history repeat.