Book Reviews

By Claire North
9/6/22
400 pages
$28
Orbit

‘Ithaca’

“The Odyssey” is an ancient tale with a mountain of scholarship and retellings to its name, yet there are still threads left to be pulled, new variations to explore, and exciting new stories to uncover. Claire North takes on the task of fleshing out the shadows in the bright, heroic tale we all know — but this time from the perspective of the women left at home. 

We all know Odysseus left a loving wife at home, but how did Penelope actually survive her husband’s long absence? With sharp, nuanced narration from the queen of the gods herself, this novel tells the story of Penelope’s long wait and the grand adventures she undertook to save her home and family. 

Rich with details and compelling characters, this gorgeously written novel left me brimming with warmth and courage. The often-misunderstood Hera provides the perfect lens for a new take on this epic tale, while remaining faithful to the broader details. I’m loving the rash of feminist mythology these days. Keep it coming. ♦ 

 — Review by Julie Goodrich

By Katherine Dunn
11/1/22
352 pages
$28
MCD

‘Toad’

The darkest, most acerbic wit collides with the sharpest human insights from one of the most incisive writers I’ve ever read. I was utterly delighted to learn there was an unpublished work from much-missed Katherine Dunn. This one is deeply depressing, but the twisted characters and bitter hearts speak to something I think might be universal. 

“Geek Love” is a cult classic for a reason. Sometimes a person needs the odd comfort of crude, colorful, creepy characters whose weirdness speaks to the side of yourself you’d rather ignore. 

Sally Gunnar, the bitter, slightly crazy main character, lives like a hermit, determined to stay as far away from people as possible. As Sally reminisces about her long-lost college days, her failed romances, and the bitter memories she’s forced to live with, these sad, winding stories draw the reader into the twisted, darkly humorous tales of her strange life and the even stranger people she met along the way. 

This is a brilliant take on what being an outsider actually feels like, how difficult it can be to find the “line” and learn you crossed it ages ago. And, really, does it matter that much?  ♦ 

— Review by Julie Goodrich