This week: The Times's Neil MacFarquhar on his experiences in the Middle East; Caitlin Macy on Jill Ciment's new novel, "Heroic Measures"; Motoko Rich with notes from the field; and Jennifer Schuessler with best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

Holly's review of Hidden Currents (Drake Sisters, book 7) by Christine Feehan Elle Drake has gone missing. She’s a strong telepath and even her six magical sisters cannot find her, although they all agree she is alive. Something terrible has happened or she would have contacted them and let them know where she is. Jackson Deveau, a deputy sheriff in the small village of Sea Haven, off the northe...

This novel was the June selection of the International Fiction Book Group of New Orleans. The book club members and I felt sorry for Kate of North London. Even though she is a physician, she doesn't lead the life that she would if she lived in the US. She has no maid, no nanny, and her husband, a local newspaper columnist, doesn't value her contributions to the household expenses and doe...

I think this is the first time the Complete Review and Open Letter reviewed the same book on the same day. Here's the first graf from each. The Complete Review: Curriculum Vitae is a life-account -- of sorts. In 100 pieces and a number of line-drawing illustrations by the author, Hoffmann conveys impressions and stations of his life, as well as odd thoughts and observations (which are, in fact, of...

Title: Storm Front Author: Jim Butcher Publisher: Orbit Format: Paperback Pages: 341 Release Date: 1st September 2005 Lost items found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Reasonable rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment. Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he's the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends ...

       The most recent addition to the complete review is my review of Georges Perec's The Machine, finally available in English translation.        Currently it's only available in the most recent issue of the Review of Contemporary Fiction; I hope they eventually print it in its own little booklet too. It's bril...

Bonnie Grove 368 pages “You said you were still working on forgiving him.” I’d thought about his statement many times since. It made me realize that perhaps forgiveness wasn’t a singular event, but a progression, or better, a dance that took some figuring before you could perform the steps. -Talking to the Dead, page 305  Kate’s husband Kevin

Title: Darkness Calls Author: Marjorie M. Liu Genre: Urban Fantasy Publisher: Ace Publication Date: June 30, 2009 Paperback: 320 pages Stand alone or series: Book two in the Hunter Kiss series, following last year’s release of The Iron Hunt. There’s also a companion novella for the series titled “Hunter Kiss” in the Wild Thing anthology. Why did I read this book: I

Originality, great characters, a terrific plot, beautiful dialogue and prose and appropriate pacing are all key to a great story and influence how books are rated. Any book that meets this criteria would be a keeper on my bookshelf. Unfortunately, a percentage of the books I read and review fall short of some of these elements, resulting in ratings that are below the 'recommended' level, which bri...

Meet Maybelline Mary Katherine Mary Ann Chestnut ("Maybe" for short). Maybe was named for her mother Chessy's favorite brand of mascara and two of Chessy's favorite Miss Americas. Living above her mother's charm school, perhaps it's not surprise that a lot of what Maybe does in Absolutely Maybe (2009) by Lisa Yee is part of a backlash against her mother. Chessamay Chestnut Abaj...