Greg Bear, The Forge of God

Greg Bear, The Forge of God. A decent science fiction read, enjoyed the Von Neumann machines, and good characters with some believable relationships. But such a terrible, terrible translation to digital with lots of mistakes, wonky font, and page problems; I don't know if my basal irritation was with the format or the book.

Michael Chabon, Mysteries in Pittsburgh

Michael Chabon, Mysteries in Pittsburgh. Much less polished than Chabon's later work, but nice to see a male's bisexuality taken seriously and explored in a matter-of-fact and believable way.

Sherman Alexie, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

Sherman Alexie, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. Intense, concentrated stories.

Alison Lurie, Foreign Affairs

Alison Lurie, Foreign Affairs. Alison Lurie is a new author to me, and one I think I will really appreciate. An American professor of folklore and children's literature on research. She's middle aged, solitary, interesting. I loved the scenes where she stews over an unfair critical review of her work - so realistic to academia, so funny and true, She's the sort of character who is rare. really really rare, in my reading. I will read more of Lurie.

Ruth Ozeki, A Tale for the Time Being

Ruth Ozeki, A Tale for the Time Being. I am a sucker for an epistolary novel (even a not-quite epistolary novel like this one). A transoceanic correspondence between a lonely 16 year old young woman and an isolated middle-aged writer who can't write. Mystical/mythical/metaphysical and disjointed in time without stupidity or bullshittery. Comic and touching, without irritating or soggy sentiment.