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Book Reviews

NCLR shares a Saturday Review Post weekly: usually a book review from the most recent or forthcoming online issue, but sometimes, in recognition of current events, from a back issue.

Rerun: Bennett reviews Smith & McCorkle

Saturday Review Rerun: Lee Smith’s last novel, Blue Marlin, was reviewed by Barbara Bennett in NCLR Online 2021. Bennett calls Blue Marlin a classic “tale of initiation” of teen Jenny, loosely based on Smith’s own childhood adventure to Key West.

Rerun: Roberts reviews Frazier

Charles Frazier’s latest novel, The Trackers, is out now and we look forward to reading it for a review in the fall issue. Frazier’s work is no stranger in NCLR pages; his last novel, Varina, was reviewed by Terry Roberts in our 2019 Online issue.

Godwin reviews Silverthorne

“Collected Poems of Marty Silverthorne is the tenth compilation of poetry from a man whose writing supported his own healing as it showed the world a quadriplegic person’s capabilities.” Godwin writes.

“The Coming of Wisdom”: Gessell reviews Weiss

“Their experiences transform a typical coming-of-age novel into one that exhibits the coming of not just knowledge but wisdom, revealing the novel’s power to develop universal themes, deepening its significance for readers.”