Member Reviews
The Algonquin Reader - Fall 2018 Issue is an absolute treat to read.
I love the fact that each featured author has written an essay that lets readers in on what their inspiration was behind their book.
In addition to the essay, readers are also able to read an Excerpt from each book. This is a fantastic way to decide which books to go ahead and read in full.
Included in this issue are the following books:
The Collector's Apprentice by B. A. Shapiro
Sugar Run by Mesha Maren
Other People's Love Affairs: Stories by D. Wystan Owen
The Museum of Modern Love by Heather Rose
Blood Highway by Gina Wohlsdorf
and
The Current by Tim Johnston.
I rate the Fall 2018 Issue of the Algonquin Reader as 5 out of 5 Stars and I highly recommend picking up as many issues as possible.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this issue of The Algonquin Reader.
Another good and varied sampler from Algonquin. I enjoyed all the pieces. In particular, the samples have since led me to the finished books of Mesha Maren's "Sugar Run" and Tim Johnston's "The Current" -- both of which were clever, intriguing, and propulsive thrillers. High marks to both of those books, and to the sampler as a whole.
I'm also hoping to get to D. Wystan Owen's story collection in full one of these days.
Algonquin continues to publish books I enjoy reading, and that's a fine thing.
I never have anything bad to say about these books because it gives you a sneak peek into upcoming releases. There is always a good mix of authors being featured along with release dates. Being able to read excepts definitely gives it another element because there have been books I wasn't sure about buying and then having those few chapters ended up selling me on the book.
I love these because most of the time I discover a book coming out that I didn't know about at first or some hidden gems. It's a great resource to keep you updated on upcoming books.
Thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for the chance to read these essays and excerpts.
It seems that not very much happens in either these essays or book portions. Instead, the essays talk about some ideas or raise some questions, and the excerpts establish our location and characters but cut off before much else can happen. In THE COLLECTOR'S APPRENTICE by BA Shapiro, our heroine looks for a job and gets denied by many people, but the end hints at a family connection that will make things difficult. In SUGAR RUN by Mesha Maren, our heroine is released from jail and is riding buses to her destination. In "Virginia's Birthday" from OTHER PEOPLE'S LOVE AFFAIRS by D Wystan Owen, our heroine thinks about her daughter and her ex-lover. In THE MUSEUM OF MODERN LOVE by Heather Rose, our hero walks around New York City and steps into a museum. In BLOOD HIGHWAY by Gina Wohlsdorf, our heroine sits around and steals the wallet of some guy who creeps on her. In THE CURRENT by Tim Johnston, our hero is arrested and claims to have no idea what is happening, though the final paragraph hints otherwise.
All of these end with a sense of potential, of things that are going to happen. For my part, however, rather than being intrigued enough to read more, I wish there had been more of the books themselves to convince me that what was about to happen would make a good story.
As also this was informative. I am not sure why I did not do a review sooner. I obtained insight into books I have since read and enjoyed.
I always look forward to seeing what Algonquin is recommending in their seasonal catalog. Their suggestions are always interesting and unique. Something out of the ordinary.
I received a complimentary review copy of The Algonquin Reader: Fall 2018 from NetGalley.
The first page describes what's in this issue, with a brief paragraph introducing each author and what their content is about. There is a total of 6 book exceprts and 6 essays included. I really enjoyed being able to preview enough of the book to know whether I'd be interested enough to read the whole thing. What makes this sampler really unique is that there is an essay before each novel excerpt.
After I saw them here I searched and read some of the books you published (although I did not see them all at Netgalley).
I love the privilege of to reading excerpts from new books! I am always on the lookout for a good read and appreciate the opportunity to preview new authors or catch up with my favorites.
I appreciate this download from #AlgonquinBooks #NetGalley
This was a quick little synopsis of some upcoming reads and in this case, the book that catches my eye is #TheCurrent by #TimJohnston I have never read his books before, but this issue has intrigued me and the excerpt from his upcoming (now released book has encouraged me to reconsider this. I will be looking for his books in the future.
Also, #TheMuseumOfModernLove by #HeatherRose was interesting as well. This wasn't as typical a pick for my taste but I liked it.
Thank you.
Anthologies and snippets to whet your appetite for the full books. Aren't these something that any real reader would love? This series is new to me but I'll be sure to look for more in the future.
I love The Algonquin Reader! I really enjoy reading the excerpts and getting a feel for new books before committing to them. Thanks for the chance to preview great books by great authors!
This is a fantastic sampler of books that are being published by Algonquin. Included is an excerpt from new book by B. A. Shapiro whose new novel is about post Impressionist Art, the Barnes Foundation and Paris in the 1920s. I am quite excited about this one as I have been a frequent visitor to Philadelphia's Barnes Foundation and have taken a class on Contemporary Art.
There is another fictional story set in the world of art, Heather Rose's The Museum of Modern Love. This is about the artist Marina Abramovic.
There is also Mesha Maren's debut novel which takes place in West Virginia. It is a book which explores the meaning of home. The novel was written when the author lived in a one-room cabin in the state.
Also included are a short story collection by D. Wystan Owen and books by Gina Wohlsdorf and Tim Johnston. (Ms. Wohlsdorf's novel, Blood Highway is a thriller while Tim Johnston is a crime story.)
Of note is that the sampler includes essays with the authors. These may serve to whet your appetite for reading their works even more.
So...lots of good suggestions for reading as we move toward fall's shorter days.
Thanks for this sampler NetGalley and the publisher.
The Algonquin Reader Fall 2018 carries original essays by their fiction writers and excerpts from their forthcoming books. The ones that had me hooked are The Collector's Apprentice by BA Shapiro, Sugar Run by Mesha Maren and Blood Highway by Gina Wohlsdorf.
The Collector’s Apprentice seems promising for any Post Impressionist art lover. Set in the 1920s, mixed with love and betrayal the excerpt had me hooked.
In Sugar Run, the main protagonist is going back home after eighteen years post her stint in prison. It’s her exploration into the place she once called home. Does it feel the same to go back? Or even if the surroundings are familiar everything else is not. We need to read the book to know more.
Blood Highway feels like a dystopian novel. A thriller at the end of the world.
There were others on the list which seem equally promising and have been promoted widely on Algonquin's Instagram being Other People's Love Affairs: Stories by D. Wystan Owen, The Museum of Modern Love by Heather Rose and The Current by Tim Johnston. While I would pick up Other People’s Love Affairs sometime in the future. The other two I’m not so sure of.
Great to see the essays paired with novel excerpts. Easy to preview a large range of upcoming titles to see which ones are a good fit for my reviews. Thanks!
Nothing gets me more excited that previews on books that are soon to be published, so I could'nt resist this collection. Although I have read and enjoyed an earlier edition of The Algonquin Reader, I found that none of the essays in this particular collection really intrigued me. But that is not to say I won't be on the lookout for the next Algonquin Reader.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I truly appreciate it!
My favorite aspect of the Algonquin Reader is the essays by the authors. An excerpt of the actual book is lovely, but the way an author writes about that book has a visceral impact on me. I have a weak spot for beautifully constructed sentences, especially those that convey the very personal process of birthing a book. Including the author essays is nothing less than genius, and doing so put several books (and authors!) on my radar that previously hadn't been.
This is a great preview of upcoming books. I also enjoyed tbe essays written by the authors. I'm excited to read many of tne books mentioned.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of it.
I adore samplers and “The Algonquin Reader Fall 2018” is a superior example, with a sneak peek at Algonquin’s forthcoming autumn fiction. You’ll learn the inspiration behind each of the six books through original author essays, followed by a short preview of each novel. Featured books are:
The Collector's Apprentice by B. A. Shapiro
Sugar Run by Mesha Maren
Other People's Love Affairs: Stories by D. Wystan Owen
The Museum of Modern Love by Heather Rose
Blood Highway by Gina Wohlsdorf
The Current by Tim Johnston
Highly recommended!
Pub Date 31 Jul 2018
Thanks to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.
#TheAlgonquinReader #NetGalley
I love previews of upcoming books. This one had an interesting format: each excerpt is preceded by an essay written the author. It's a nice way to get each author's point of view. I do with there was a clickable table of contents to make it easier to navigate the Reader.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.