With its maze-like layers, James chose an ambitious project for a debut novel.
Miraculous Space: A Review of Dog Flowers by Danielle Geller
An intricate life, laden with all of its relational off-ramps and delicate emotional networks, has been organized into this memoir but remains fundamentally intact — raw — in a way that only an archivist could manage.
Abuse, Neglect, and Escape: A Book Review of Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh
Reading a story through memories feels like an old movie, a movie that predates the Second World War.
Everyday Strength and Struggle: Review of Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery
When we “keep faith” in the face of catastrophe, we discover new strength within ourselves to keep going.
Coarsely, Shockingly Real: A Review of My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
Unlikeable main characters abound in modern fiction, and this novel does not break that mold.
Feminism and Witchcraft: A Review of Circe by Madeline Miller
What if Circe could tell her own version of the story? Madeline Miller explores this possibility within her novel Circe: a story that transcends just a simple rewriting of The Odyssey.
Emotional Thrills: Review of The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell
Jewell has crafted a compelling mystery full of twists and turns, making sure you won’t know who to believe.
A Literary Quilt Woven of Golden Thread: Review of How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang
How Much of These Hills Is Gold is a novel that looks readers in the eye, never flinching from its own intensity.
“Unapologetically Brown and Unapologetically South Asian”: A Review of The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar
In Adiba Jaigirdar’s The Henna Wars, Bengali teenager Nishat decides to come out as a lesbian to her traditional parents against the backdrop of her family friend’s wedding.
Mystery Meets Sci-Fi & Fantasy: A Review of The Detective is Already Dead by Nigozyu
With our blind trust in the characters and text, Nigozyu sneakily surprises us with curve balls that prevents us from ever jumping to conclusions.
BERKELEY FICTION REVIEW 