Author: Rodney Nelsestuen
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About Grace, A Novel by Anthony Doerr
Doerr is most recently known for his novel All the Light We Cannot See, which I’ve read and agree with the critics that it’s phenomenal accomplishment (also made into a short series for TV.) Literary, lyrical, and heartbreaking for much of the plot, a blind girl with only street memory has to overcome attacks from…
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Rabih Alamenddine and the “True, True” truth about his National Book Award novel.
“The True, True, Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) won the National Book Award for fiction in 2025. Written in English, billed as a dark comedy, the novel, like so many others I’ve read from award winning authors with different ideas, jumps all over the place – although the cover blurb says “the…
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Recognition of 2 of my novels
Both Too Many Stones and Quiet Desperation were named 2025 notable books of the year by Shelf Media https://shelfmediagroup.com/in-the-media/2025-top-notable-indies/ They are available at Amazon Quiet Desperation on Amazon and Too Many Stones on Amazon which also won the 2025 IndieReader Discovery Award in the Literary Fiction Category. Both Neighbors and Why Belize? my other 2…
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Tropic of Capricorn by Henry Miller
Some time ago I posted a review of Miller’s Tropic of Cancer. It was a cautionary post that suggested the content, and especially its treatment of women – while always wrong – was now so far beyond the norms of decency that his approach and his writing might be justifiably dismissed. It’s misogynistic, often horrifically…
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Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan Small Things Like These is another prize-worthy book of fiction. As maybe a unique element, it’s a novella of less than 30,000 words. It was published in 2021 and was cited by the New York Times as a top-rated book and top seller and it was winner or…
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Willa Cather as Soulmate of the Land
O Pioneer by Willa Cather I just finished Willa Cather’s (1873-1947) O Pioneer, the story of Alexandra Bergstrom who at a young age took the reins of their Nebraska farm as her father died. Supported by 3 brothers, 2 of them became farmers under her guidance just as their father had wished. The 3rd brother…
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Ian McEwan’s 2025 Novel: What We Can Know
This novel is described by some as “immersive.” No argument there. But this book is likely going to appeal to a reader of a certain age, (I mean older) and certainly one who reads a lot. The plot centers around Tom and Rose, two academics in what is left of the UK, in 2119. Tom…
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The Dangers of Literary Hero Worship
In a previous post I praised John Updike’s writing and the story he told in his 2006 novel Terrorist. I still hold that all I said then is true. Yet now I’ve just finished his 1996 novel In the Beauty of the Lilies, and I have mixed feelings. With a career that started in the…
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Revisiting John Updike
I just finished reading John Updike’s Terrorist. Written in 2006, the shadow of 9/11 was still great over America. In this novel, Updike follows the development of a religious young man, Ahmed, and his journey toward terrorism through mentors using the words of the Quran that served as grooming by those wishing to punish America…
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The Evolving Nature of Artistic Growth
Many years ago I read Richard Russo’s Pulitzer Prize winning book Empire Falls. It takes place in a small New England town that is well worn and probably going to continue deteriorating. Lots of blue collar class issues and pitiable characters. But the writing is rich and one can’t help but care for the characters.…
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