A Book A Week

By the time of his passing in 2014, Gabriel García Márquez had already secured his place among the literary greats. Works like One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera were celebrated as masterpieces, and the Colombian author enjoyed his later years as a revered figure in global literature. Toward the end of his life, his publisher hinted at a new novel in the works. However, news of Márquez’s battle with dementia cast doubt on whether this final piece would ever see the light of day. Now, a decade after his death, Until August has been released posthumously, offering readers a final glimpse into the mind of the legendary storyteller.

On the surface, Ana Magdalena Bach’s life appears perfect. She has been happily married for over twenty years, with a loving husband and children waiting for her at home. So why does she perform this peculiar ritual each August? Every year, she boards a ferry to a remote Caribbean island where her mother is buried, spending the night in quiet contemplation—and in the company of a stranger. She knows how the evening will end. It is always the same. She’ll leave the bar with one of the men, lose herself in a fleeting night of passion, and then return home the next day as if nothing has happened.

But with each passing year, Ana finds herself drifting further into the shadowed corners of her desires and anxieties, forced to confront the fragile balance of the life she has constructed. In this annual act, she begins peeling back the layers of her heart, wrestling with the haunting realization of what might lie beneath the perfect image she presents to the world.

I question whether Until August is a novel Gabriel García Márquez would have wanted the world to see. In the afterword, his longtime editor acknowledges the author’s frustration with the book’s progress, feeling the limitations of his diminishing faculties and growing dissatisfied with his attempts to evoke the magic that defines his earlier works. Yet, even within this unfinished narrative, Márquez's genius flickers, especially in his ability to pull profound emotional weight from seemingly simple, everyday moments. Ana’s character, burdened by guilt and haunted by the life she’s chosen, reflects the poignant image of a self gradually slipping away. Her portrayal feels hauntingly reminiscent of what Márquez himself might have experienced in those final years—a struggle to hold on to an identity that time and circumstance slowly erode.

Despite these evocative moments, Until August feels incomplete, lacking the lush vibrancy and depth that characterize Márquez's best work. While it serves as a fascinating, intensely personal window into the mind of a literary legend, it’s also a sobering reminder of his decline—a book that, while intriguing, underscores the frailty of even the most significant artists in their final days.

For more information, visit Amazon and Goodreads. 

(2024, 82)

I became a Blake Crouch fan back in 2016 with Dark Matter. Ever since, I've eagerly devoured each of his releases, captivated by his knack for blending high-concept thrillers with deeply developed characters. So, when I received a copy of Run from his publisher, I was quick to dive in. Only after some research did I realize this was actually a reissue of one of his earlier novels from 2011, predating most of the breakout hits that first drew me to his work.  I was curious to see how this early book would stack up against the Crouch novels I've come to know and love.

The country has spiraled into utter chaos. Each day, violence spreads like wildfire, with people turning on each other in a frenzy, and no one is safe. Jack huddles in his powerless home, surrounded by his family, listening to the ominous voice of the Emergency Broadcast System announcing the names of those targeted for death. His blood runs cold when his own name is read. Now marked for death with a family to protect, Jack has no choice. He doesn’t know why he’s been targeted, but only one option remains—to run for their lives.

I went into Run expecting one of Blake Crouch’s trademark high-concept sci-fi thrillers but was immersed in a tense, post-apocalyptic survival story instead. Unlike his recent books, this one doesn’t rely on significant twists or reveals. Instead, it dives into the raw, unflinching experience of a family on the run as civilization crumbles around them. While it’s undeniably gripping—a fast-paced and often brutal journey—it feels more like an intense thrill ride than a story with lasting depth. Run is a quick, captivating read, but one that probably won’t leave a lasting impact once the final page is turned.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 81)

Think back to the classic literature you read in school. How many were written by women? While authors like Harper Lee, Mary Shelley, and Kate Chopin made the list, most “essential” works in my literary education were written by men. But what if that wasn’t entirely the case? Take William Shakespeare, for instance. Known for his brilliant storytelling, mastery of language, and genre-spanning talent, he is celebrated as one of history’s most prolific playwrights. Yet, the authorship of some of his most famous works has sparked controversy for decades. What if, some suggest, he didn’t write them all himself? What if a woman penned these iconic plays? From this tantalizing “what if,” Jodi Picoult spins her latest novel, By Any Other Name.

Melina Green has all but let go of her dream to see one of her plays produced in New York. She knew the path to becoming a playwright wouldn’t be easy, but her resolve faltered after a disheartening experience in a masterclass with one of the city’s leading critics. Melina poured her heart into a story drawn from her own experiences, tackling the delicate dynamics of a mentor crossing the line with a student. But the critic, Jasper, dismissed her work as lacking authenticity and depth. Now, she’s losing hope of breaking into the theater scene dominated by men. 

With renewed inspiration, Melina has written a new play based on the life of her ancestor, Emilia Bassano. Tempted to submit it to a prestigious festival, she hesitates, haunted by the memory of Jasper, who’s set to judge the competition. When her friend secretly submits the play under a male pseudonym, Melina decides to roll with the plan, determined to prove the strength of her writing and, perhaps, make Jasper rethink his earlier judgment. Will her work finally be judged on its merits without her gender standing in the way?

Picoult weaves Melina’s journey with the story of Emilia Bassano, a young woman in 1581 who lives as a ward of English aristocrats. Emilia’s language, history, and writing studies sharpen her wit and feed her gift for storytelling, but like many women of her time, her voice is suppressed. Drawn into an affair with the influential Lord Chamberlain, she becomes captivated by the powerful effect of theater. Determined to see her words brought to life, Emilia enlists a young actor, William Shakespeare, to present her plays as his. As Melina’s and Emilia’s stories unfold, Picoult reveals a timeless struggle for women seeking recognition in a world that often silences them.

In By Any Other Name, Jodi Picoult combines meticulous research with compelling fiction to question whether William Shakespeare truly authored the iconic plays we celebrate. This isn’t just a provocative exercise in speculation, although Picoult provides plenty of that across the novel’s 500+ pages. At its core, it’s a story about the resilient power of women, who often have to work twice as hard to receive even a fraction of the recognition their male counterparts enjoy. Through alternating timelines, the book captures this timeless struggle, showing that despite progress, certain obstacles endure.

The parallel narratives—one set in history and one in the present—underscore this universality with skillful resonance. Picoult’s clever narrative mirroring reveals how both her contemporary and historical protagonists navigate a world stacked against them. It's a story that feels as relevant today as it would have centuries ago. If I have one critique, the present-day storyline doesn’t quite reach the gripping intensity of the historical one. Nevertheless, By Any Other Name is a remarkable novel that challenges readers’ assumptions while providing an engaging and thought-provoking read.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 80)

October wouldn’t be complete without reading at least one novel by the master of horror, Stephen King. The iconic American author has ventured into various genres in recent years, skillfully crafting thought-provoking plots and deeply developed characters. Yet it’s horror that made King a household name, and his ability to terrify readers will remain his lasting legacy. With that in mind, I knew I wanted to tackle a classic King novel this season, and 'Salem's Lot seemed like the perfect choice.

Jerusalem's Lot is a charming, postcard-perfect small town in New England. It is the kind of place where everyone knows each other and it feels safe to raise a family. Author Ben Mears returns to the Lot, a town he once called home, hoping to confront some personal demons while working on what he hopes will be his breakout novel. His focus is the ominous Marsten House, a decaying mansion that casts a long shadow over the town.

Mears has long believed the house harbors a deep evil, and his suspicions grow when a mysterious new resident, an antique dealer named Mr. Straker, moves in. Not long after, strange events begin to plague the town—children disappear, people fall ill under mysterious circumstances, and creeping darkness seems to envelop the community. As Mears investigates, he uncovers a chilling truth: Straker is merely a pawn for an ancient, far more sinister force threatening to consume the entire town. Now, Mears and a small group of allies must fight for their lives, testing their courage and resolve as the line between life and death blurs.

Originally published in 1975, following the success of Carrie, 'Salem's Lot established many of the signature elements that would come to define Stephen King's body of work. The protagonist is an author—an autobiographical archetype King would revisit in numerous future novels. The setting is a small Maine town, the cast is large and richly developed, and the narrative is driven by a horrifying evil layered with complexity. I'll admit, the first third of the novel took some time to get into. King dedicates much of this section to meticulously introducing the town and its residents. While this slow build pays off later when the action intensifies, it does give the book a bit of a sluggish start.

However, it’s the sheer terror of 'Salem's Lot that has secured its lasting legacy. King’s twist on the classic vampire tale infuses familiar elements with his unsettling, unique vision. On the surface, the novel is about a town gradually succumbing to an ancient monster’s darkness. On a deeper level, it reflects the decline of small-town America, once the heart of the country, and already beginning to fade when the book was first published. Because King brings this setting and its inhabitants to life with authenticity and depth, the horrors they face feel all the more chilling. 'Salem’s Lot remains a timeless Stephen King classic, proving that masterful storytelling will always endure.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 79)

I’ve always credited John Grisham’s novels with sparking my love of reading. As a younger reader, I devoured most of his political thrillers and have been captivated by his work ever since. Grisham has a knack for crafting entertaining page-turners that also weave in more profound themes, prompting readers to reflect on important issues. One theme that consistently runs through much of his work is injustice, particularly the flaws within the criminal justice system. While most of Grisham’s books are fictional, his 2006 novel The Innocent Man tackled real-life true crime and brought this issue to light. Now, Grisham has teamed up with Jim McCloskey, founder of Centurion Ministries—an organization dedicated to freeing wrongfully imprisoned individuals—to share ten true stories of wrongful convictions in their book Framed. I was fortunate enough to receive a copy from the publisher. It’s a powerful exploration of the human cost of injustice.

"Among innocence advocates and lawyers, it is often said that it is much easier to convict an innocent person than to get one out of prison."

The authors take turns sharing these stories, with each contributing five that alternate throughout the book. They focus on the real-life accounts of men who were wrongfully convicted—innocent but found guilty—and forced to sacrifice their friends, families, wives, and decades of their lives in prison while the actual perpetrators walked free. In each case, the authors immerse readers in the moments that led to these wrongful convictions, shedding light on the racism, misconduct, flawed testimony, and corrupt court systems that make these errors so difficult to reverse. As I read the first couple of stories, I was struck by the overwhelming injustice. But as I continued, patterns emerged between the cases, leaving me bracing for the inevitable heartbreak that unfolded with each new story.

The U.S. criminal justice system is built on the principle of "innocent until proven guilty," a notion that should instill confidence in the system. However, as the stories in Framed reveal, the presumption of innocence isn’t always upheld. Investigators’ theories, personal egos, and the intense pressure to close cases can often result in wrongful convictions that, when examined closely, seem blatantly incorrect, given the lack of solid evidence. Reading these stories, I found myself outraged on behalf of these people—victims of the very system designed to protect them.

Even more troubling was the refusal of those in power, particularly in my home state of Texas, to reconsider the evidence, clinging instead to blind faith in the original convictions. This unwillingness to question the finality of a verdict, even when faced with overwhelming evidence of innocence, became painfully clear as a fatal flaw in the system. John Grisham and Jim McCloskey’s Framed is an essential work that highlights the severity of wrongful convictions and serves as a call to action. Hopefully, it will inspire readers to push for the reform this broken system desperately needs.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 78)

Christmas is a time for giving, togetherness, and sharing the season's joy. While I’m a sucker for the heartwarming holiday stories that flood the season, I’ve found them becoming a bit predictable. Recently, I’ve been searching for something different. This year, I was thrilled to come across You Better Watch Out, a thriller set during the holidays by James S. Murray (of Impractical Jokers fame) and Darren Wearmouth. With its eerie twist, it’s a fresh, unexpected Christmas novel that blends holiday cheer with a dash of horror—just what I was looking for.

Just days before Christmas, Eddie Parker is making the long drive home when he pulls into Old Forge for a quick stop. It’s a classic small town, the kind that time—and everyone else—seems to have forgotten. As he browses the dusty shelves of the general store, his eyes are drawn to an elderly couple shuffling through the aisles. A glimpse of crisp bills in the woman’s purse catches his attention, and despite knowing better, temptation gets the best of him. Old habits die hard, and Eddie could use the extra cash. He follows them out, ready to make his move. But just as he’s about to strike, he realizes he may have underestimated his targets. A sharp sting on his neck is the last thing he feels before the world darkens.

Jessica Kane wakes with blurred vision and a splitting headache. Her fingers brush her forehead, coming back slick with blood. Panic sets in. Where is she? How did she get here? As her vision clears, she recognizes the town of Old Forge, but something is wrong. The once-familiar place is completely abandoned, draped in eerie, vintage Christmas decorations as if frozen in time. But it’s not the past she’s traveled to. Soon, Jessica discovers five other strangers, including Eddie, each with no memory of how they arrived in this strange place. They share the same confusion and dread, but one thing is clear: they must find a way out. Escape, however, won't be easy. Someone is hunting them, methodically orchestrating their deaths, one by one. Each time, they watch helplessly as another life fades before their eyes. They must find a way out of this nightmare before they become the next victim. 

You Better Watch Out isn’t your typical holiday read. It unfolds more like a horror thriller than anything else, making for a refreshing take on the genre. Authors Murray and Wearmouth fully embrace the fun of this unique narrative, crafting a gory and thrilling holiday tale that feels like a blend of A Christmas Carol and the Saw movies. The characters aren’t exactly good people. They find themselves in a scenario that forces them to confront their past while seeking redemption for their futures. But first, they’ll have to survive.

I went into the novel blind and was blown away by the adrenaline rush it delivered. There’s a central mystery surrounding the mastermind behind this holiday horror, and the twist caught me completely off guard. While you might need to suspend some logic to fully enjoy the ride, don’t let that deter you. You Better Watch Out is a thrilling, clever novel that is a unique addition to the holiday reading season.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 77)