By Felix J. Palma

The Short Take:

This sly book is not quite the fantasy about time travel you think it is at first glance. Or is it? Written like three novellas with a common thread, it is witty, sweet, a bit frightening, and has H. G. Wells as a central character. What more can you want?

Why?

I admit to a fondness for fantasy. I also like it when real people are incorporated into fiction books: In addition to Wells, you encounter Jack the Ripper, Bram Stoker, and more. So right away this book has two things in its favor for me. But what really wins me over is the way Palma sends his story line down one path and then suddenly veers off in a surprising new direction. I just really enjoy it when a writer puts one over on me, so to speak.

There’s so much that is fresh and interesting in this novel. For example, there’s a sequence between H. G. Wells and the Elephant Man (aka Joseph Merrick) that is excellent reading though it doesn’t really have a lot to do with the story. With gems like this scattered throughout the book, plus the engaging three main stories, there’s a lot to enjoy. I certainly did.

A Little Plot:

As usual with me, very little. I hate giving things away.

Set in Victorian England, right after Well’s success with The Time Machine, all three story lines (which do intertwine) have to do with time travel. A recently opened business, Murray’s Time Travel, which takes people to a specific point in the future, also weaves throughout.

The first story centers on a suicidal young man who yearns for his now dead (and highly inappropriate) lover. He wants to go back in time.

The second story involves a bright young woman who feels suffocated by the restrictions placed on her in the present and wants to travel to the more adventurous future.

While both these stories involved H. G. Wells in some way, he plays a central role in the third. Someone is using the fourth dimension of time to steal unpublished masterpieces from their authors. This is the one that can really make your head spin.

Originally written in Spanish, the author’s website has an English option. If you would like to know more about him and this book, click here.

By Aravind Adiga

The Short Take:

This book is brilliant. It should be one for the ages, not only for the characters and plot but because it delivers insights on the India of right now — the good, the bad, and the “could go either way.” Loved it.

Why?

I had thoroughly enjoyed Adiga’s White Tiger but thought this novel was even better. It wasn’t as hard edged as his last novel, instead bringing the reader a much more nuanced and richer tale, populated by characters who are neither good nor bad but simply trying their best.

At first the multitude of characters felt overwhelming (possible exacerbated by the fact I was reading the book in ten minute intervals), but they were each so distinctly drawn that keeping them straight became no problem. And, they were such interesting characters: filled with conflicting emotions, able to reasonably decide on one course of action only to change direction dramatically based on a single flare of emotion.

The people in Adiga’s novel might live in a foreign world — with different customs, religions, and lifestyles — but you could understand their actions and motivations as if they lived right in your neighborhood.

A Little Plot:

Vishram Society Tower A is like a condo: all the tenants are joint owners. The building is deteriorating but their sense of community is strong. That is until a highly-motivated property developer offers the residents far more money for their flats than they are worth. Why? He wants to build the most prestigious apartment development around and he must have their land to do it.

For some, the money is a wished-for miracle. For others, the whole situation is highly questionable. By hook or crook, the developer convinces more people to sell; but there are still holdouts and the decision to sell Vishram Society Tower A must be unanimous.

That is when things get really interesting.

To visit the author’s website, click here. And put this book on your list to read. You don’t want to miss it.

By Erin Morgenstern

The Short Take:

This is one of the most beautifully magical books I have ever read. It makes the Harry Potter series seem as dry as law text books (and I loved Harry, et al). Of course, this is another type of story entirely: Two magicians each train an apprentice who will compete to prove who has the best skill. But, love gets in the way.

Why?

If you don’t like fantasy or magic, forget it. This book is drenched in the fantastical, and it has never been addressed so beautifully. The descriptions of places, people, and even clothes are absolutely magical — which is appropriate, since this book is all about magic. Not tricks or illusions, but the “real” stuff.

Leave your disbelief at the cover and dive into a throughly enchanting tale of two young apprentices in a crucial contest that slowly evolves into a desperate love story. To be honest, the plot gets a little hinkey towards the very end, but the journey is so visually rich and entertaining, you just don’t care.

I could see The Night Circus in my mind so clearly; it’s obvious Morgenstern is an artist. The mental pictures she creates are fabulous. I loved every minute I spent in her world.

A Little Plot:

Two rival magicians have different theories about magic: how to learn it and how to use it. To test who has the better approach, they train young apprentices who later compete. There are no real rules to the competition, and the competitors don’t even know who their rival is — but this competition is deadly serious.

A remarkable circus is the arena for the competition. It arrives unannounced, opens only a night, has only black and white (and silver) coloring, and features some of the most amazing performances ever seen — much of it courtesy of the two young apprentices.

Of course, one is a woman and the other a man. You know what that means.

Morgenstern has created a visual feast for the mind. I couldn’t have enjoyed it more. For more about her, click here.

By Laurence Bergreen

The Short Take:

It’s fascinating to read about Christopher Columbus’ other voyages and his exploits in the New World. But I kept wanting a better sense of “being there.” Still, this book was certainly worth exploring.

Why?

Every school child knows Columbus discovered America in 1492. Only he didn’t have a clue where he was and actually didn’t set foot on either North or South America on that first voyage. For that matter, he wasn’t even the first European to come to the New World. There were even whole settlements of Europeans well before his venture.

So why does Columbus matter? His four voyages marked the beginning of an exchange of food and culture between the Old and New Worlds. While others tread lightly on these lands and did not bring home things that were unique to the New World, Columbus and others like him did.

Potatoes, tomatoes, chocolate, maize (corn), and squash are just a few New World edibles that Europe had never seen before. On the other hand, horses, chickens, bananas, and sugarcane made their way from the Old to the New. This Columbus Exchange made huge changes everywhere. And, it all started with that first voyage.

Bergreen recounts Columbus’ four voyages in detail, as well as what went before and after. He quotes from Columbus’ own journals and multiple other contemporary sources. The research seems impeccable. Despite this, I often found myself wanting more information: What was life like on one of Columbus’ ships? What are the actual names of those native American animals described in European terms? Where did the Pinta go when its captain just took off? But that might just be my innate curiosity.

The author did seem to present a balanced picture of Columbus, a man who has been both deified and reviled. Columbus’ courage cannot be denied, and his skills as a seaman are exceptional. However, he is also very much a product of his time and place — seeing his discoveries only as a means to wealth for himself and Spain. In his own writings he contradicts himself constantly, first praising the indigenous peoples and then suggesting they would make excellent slaves.

It’s interesting to note that the people he encountered on his voyages were largely welcoming, freely giving everything from gold to parrots to countless meals. You have to wonder what would have happened if these friendly people had been the ones “discovering” Europe instead of the other way around.

A Little Plot:

Christopher Columbus wanted to reach the Orient by crossing the Atlantic. He finally convinced the rulers of Spain to finance this endeavor. You know what happened next.

But you might not know about his other three voyages, the various betrayals and court intrigues he faced, the time he was shipwrecked for a year on Jamaica, and the daring expedition that finally led to his rescue. Add to that his attempts to establish and administer settlements in the New World — something at which he did not excel, his religious fevor, and constant ailments.

Christopher Columbus overcame phenomenal odds yet never accomplished his goal. He was a man of contradictions, a Genoan sailing for Spain; traveling far away while those at court plotted against him. His is a remarkable life and well worth reading about.

For more about the author and his works, click here.

By Anuradha Roy

The Short Take:

This beautifully written novel follows the lives of several people in a single Indian family. All are haunted by feelings of isolation and longing. My only complaint is that I wanted more. I loved the characters so much, I hated when the story moved on to someone else.

Why?

The key characters of Roy’s central dysfunctional family are all achingly beautiful in some way. Their feelings of “otherness” latch onto your heart and do not let go. Even when one character’s actions seriously harm another, you might not forgive, but you do understand.

Roy does a wonderful job of bringing to life the India of the 20th century — it’s changing political structure as well as its heat, scents, and sights. She presents social structures like caste and the unquestioned dominance of men in a non-judgmental way — it’s simple the way things were.

The result is a novel that fulfills its promise and rewards the reader. Smoothly told with language that is outright luscious at times, it carries you to another time and place and envelopes you with the passions and impossible longing of its people.

A Little Plot:

A man, solitary by nature, moves his family to a small community in India to start a cosmetics business. His lonely wife begins to lose her sanity. One son disappears for years after a tragic loss. Their Anglo neighbor meets with tragedy. And, an orphan boy and spoiled granddaughter form a bond that can not be broken by time or distance.

Over three generations, the residents of one house — along with the widowed woman across the street — impact each other’s lives in unexpected ways, creating impossible longing. Enchanting.

To find out more about Roy and her books, click here.

By Carolyn Turgeon

The Short Take:

Any twist on Hans Christian Andersen’s original is an improvement for me. I truly hate that fairy tale. Turgeon has added more context to the original tale as well as adding some motivation and (most important of all) twisting the ending. All improvements.

Why?

As a rule I love fairy tales, even the dark ones. But Andersen’s Little Mermaid was just too futile and joyless. Turgeon’s twist is still pretty grim, but there is also purpose and achievement. That makes a big difference.

The love triangle of mermaid, princess, and prince is enhanced by the growing empathy the princess develops for the mermaid as well as the princess’ desire to halt an impending war.

Turgeon actually puts more reasoning behind everyone’s actions — even the rather callow and shallow prince. She also adds in a fair dollop of sex. But the best thing is she alters the ending just enough to keep you from throwing the book across the room (like I did when I read the original). And, I deeply thank her for that.

A Little Plot:

Turgeon stays pretty close to the original fairy tale plot-wise. She does add in an impending war between the families/countries of the prince and princess. And the mermaid’s relationship with the prince gains a whole new dimension.

Plus, the ending is different. Not Disney different — which appeals to all who love completely happy endings but is totally out of keeping with Andersen’s story — but just different enough. Too bad Andersen didn’t think of this one. Glad Turgeon did.

Now, if Turgeon would just rework Andersen’s The Steadfast Tin Soilder. I hate that one, too.

Read more about Turgeon by clicking here.

By David Whitehouse

The Short Take:

This is one strange yet highly compelling book. A man takes to his bed on his 25th birthday and thereafter his family revolves around caring for him. Told through the eyes of his younger brother, this tale unfolds beautifully. It is thoughtful, witty, and entirely mazing — a real winner.

Why?

You could call this a love story, but certainly not a traditional one. You could call it a commentary on the futility of modern lives, and that would not be wrong. You could say it points out the insanity of  media obsessions that invent celebrities. Or, you could just say this is one terrific book and be done with it.

When I picked it up, I didn’t know what to expect. And, at first I had some problems with the descriptions of Mal’s (the older brother) incredible obesity. They do have a certain “eww” factor. But with each page turned I was drawn irresistibly into this fictional family where love is shown in such unexpected — and not always understandable — ways.

It’s a slim book that packs a lot of power. I’m so glad I found it.

A Little Plot:

Mal has always done what he wants the way he wants. His younger brother both loves and hates him for this. Most of all, he envies Mal for winning the heart of Lou, the girl the younger brother adores.

When Mal takes permanently to his bed to avoid a typical gown up life, their mother waits on him hand and foot, their engineer father retreats to the attic to invent something that might make up for the guilt he carries, and the younger brother tries to figure out just where he fits in. If at all.

The tale moves between the present and past, tracing the boys’ growing up years as well as Mal’s final  – and only — media interview and it’s aftermath. In the end, it all makes sense and has a certain aching symmetry.

For more about David Whitehouse and his first novel, click here.

By Helen Simonson

The Short Take:

This thoroughly delightful dramedy of manners with its witty writing and wicked sense humor was a joy to read. I did think there was a bit more plot that it needed, but with so much to enjoy who am I to complain?

Why?

This book came out over a year ago but I just recently got my mitts on it. Set in the the present day English countryside, it revolved around the 68-year-old title character and his relationships with his son and the widowed Mrs. Ali who runs a local handy mart.

What sets this book apart are the wry observations, both spoken and thought, of Major Pettigrew. A scrupulously proper gentleman himself, he is quick to note the failings of others but his reactions are so amusing that you just fall in love with him.

You could almost call Simonson’s first novel a worthy homage to Jane Austin’s brilliant works, with their sly comments on society and manners. That alone is a good enough reason to pick up this book.

A Little Plot:

Just as Major Pettigrew learns his younger brother has suddenly died, Mrs. Ali arrives at his doorstep to collect money for the ailing paperboy. The next thing you know she is helping the Major deal with his loss and the two discover they share a love of literature.

The Major also has a very shallow, self-centered son who darts in and out of his life, usually in a way Major Pettigrew finds quite embarrassing. Plus Mrs. Ali’s in-laws want her to hand over the shop to a nephew. And, of course, no one in the area is too thrilled about the Major keeping company with a Pakistani woman. Complications of all sorts ensue.

Kudos to Helen Simonson for her lovely first book. If you want to more know about her, click here.

By Mitchell Zuckoff

The Short Take:

Once again, truth is wilder than fiction. This all-true story about some WWII soldiers who crash in uncharted territory surrounded by possible headhunters is amazing. The plans for getting them out are even more so. What an adventure!

Why?

I saw the author on The Daily Show and immediately bought this book. It is an incredible story set in (then) Dutch Papua New Guinea during the final days of WWII.

This book has it all — from a beautiful blonde in danger to the almost unbelievable culture of the isolated people who surround  the crash survivors to the actor/jewel thief/director who shows up to document everything. Indiana Jones has nothing on this adventure! You have to wonder why this story hasn’t been repeated ever since and made into a movie or two instead of simply forgotten.

Thankfully, Zuckoff gives us the full story. He even presents it in thriller style to heighten the tension. In addition, he actually revisited that remote tribe, where some of the natives who met the “strangers from the sky” still live today.

It’s simply an incredible story from start to finish. Hopefully it will not be forgotten again

A Little Plot:

An unknown Stone Age society exists in a hidden valley — totally isolated from the rest of the world. They’re accidently discovered by an Army pilot. Several buzz-by flights subsequently occur to look at these unknown people. One takes along a group of WACs. The plane crashes in that hidden valley but there are survivors, including one gorgeous WAC.

The survivors, suffering from severe burns and wounds, face tribes of warring natives — possibly cannibals and headhunters to boot. Meanwhile, back at their base, strategies to find the survivors and ultimately rescue them are weighed and rejected — the valley is virtually inaccessible.

A brave company of Filipino-American soldiers parachutes into this dangerously-dense jungle to stage a rescue. But still no one knows how to get everyone out. Surrounded by hundreds of miles of mountains, jungles, known headhunters, and Japanese soldiers — hiking out is no option. The solution? Read it and find out.

Zuckoff has a really interesting website with visuals from the book you can visit by clicking here.

By Shane Jones

The Short Take:

This dreamlike fable is completely unique. How Jones manages to put so much imagery, emotion, imagination, and story telling into such a slim little book is a tribute to his artistry. At turns frightening, uplifting, discouraging,and amusing this story about a people who are enduring endless winter will hold special meaning for those suffering from seasonal depression, but it also has a lot to say to us all.

Why?

This is a hard book to explain because there’s no ready reference point for comparison. The closest I can get is a cross between a Tim Burton animated movie and an Aesop’s fable but with a lot more metaphysical qualities.

It’s definitely a niche read, and a very narrow niche at that. But it’s hard not to be enchanted (and sometimes horrified) by this moving tale of a community engaged in a collective struggle against the depressing effects of everlasting February.

If you’ve ever felt dreary and depressed when winter lingers on too long, you’ll understand.

A Little Plot:

February  (the month and an actual entity) has come to stay for hundreds of days in a small town. Plus he has banned all things that fly, from birds to balloons. The town should be crippled by depression, but they refuse to accept the situation and begin to mount a Quixotic war against February.

Then their children start to disappear.

I couldn’t find a website for Shane Jones with any content, but to find out more about the interesting way his novel made it into print, click here.