michellehogmire

A magical realist story collection that covers a great number of subjects from war to love, Valeri Stanoevich’s Fancy Shop is an impressive exercise in surrealist storytelling, illustrating how the short form can pack a heavy punch. The book smartly addresses heady existential quandaries about truth and the meaning of life, while being surprisingly page-turning for a work of multilayered short fiction. The collection would appeal to an audience who’s looking for complex art that asks hard questions, as Stanoevich writes with both eloquence and nuance.

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A classic, emotional romance that unfolds over many years, Adriana Gisselle’s Wildfire tells the story of two young students who develop a caring relationship despite their differences, and initial dislike of each other. Catherine Sanchez is a rich girl with a life plan, while Rubio Salinas is a poor boy from the wrong side of the tracks. When Catherine’s life takes a turn for the worse, Rubio is there to help, showing how bonds can take a long time to form, which can make them even stronger. While the set-up is familiar, and Gisselle doesn’t take many chances with the […]

A sensually playful artbook that combines prose and poetry with literature and pictures, Beatriz M. Robles’ Artwords is a wonderfully imaginative, hybrid creative project. The text is composed of smartly alternating photographs (words written directly on an object), calligrams (words forming images), and redactive poetry (found pieces created from pre-existing books). Robles’ sly turns of phrase, whimsical imagery, and sharp sense of humor make it impossible to read this collection without cracking a smile, while also offering a profound display of creative imagination.

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Thelma and Ezra are an established couple searching for the perfect home, but they get way more than they bargained for in Thorn Osgood’s entertaining paranormal thriller 1500 Emily Circle. This succinct haunted house novella follows the two main characters as their house literally comes between their relationship: Thelma is in love with the place, but Ezra is getting physically attacked. Creating a surprisingly relatable and heartfelt premise for a work of paranormal fiction, Osgood’s book nails the kinds of tensions that break apart romantic couples, as well as the care that can bring them back together.

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An important work of historical fiction that unearths a woman unfortunately forgotten over time, Kelly Evans’ Unfinished tells the story of Elisabetta Sirani, a prolific visual artist in 1600s Bologna whose work was often claimed by men. The novel tracks Sirani as she takes over her father’s studio at a young age, later establishing a major art school in Europe for women, courted by royals, while being a highly productive artist in many mediums. Sirani’s life obviously begs to be told, and Evans does her remarkable life justice, creating a vivid portrait of an extraordinary woman with great artistry and […]

A romance novel set in Rome about three women who are down on their luck, Kimberly Sullivan’s Three Coins is an impeccable combination of approachable characters and sublime descriptions of Italy. Emma, Tiffany, and Annarita develop a close bond after all staying at the same hotel on vacation, and a 1950s film inspires them to make changes in their personal lives. Seeing these women wrestle through strenuous self-discovery and come out on top is remarkably cathartic, while offering the vicarious thrill of being immersed in Italian ex-pat life.

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