George Belden

I wrote a much better review after I finished this and could remember it, but alas, it is still possible for one to disappear here. I was drawn to this book, which I received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review, because it featured actual historical figures, which I enjoy. And I did enjoy, but I think the author could have blended the points of view together better, it felt like there was an abrupt switch from Whitman to Alcott. Whitman came across at times as though speaking in a fever dream, and rather an odd duck, but of course, that may have have been exactly the case. My apologies to the author that my memory faded and I could not describe in better detail some of the finer details of his work - he certainly appears to be quite prolific and must know his history!… (mer)

I requested this novel from the Early Reviewers list when it was available but in those covid times my mail was frequently going astray...and I ended up buying the novel instead. I'm so glad I did! Bellevue Literary Press has never disappointed me. This novel occupies a very short shelf of beloved books that live in the interstitial spaces of an old familiar book and a contemporary fizzy re-look--the sentences and shapes of this novel recall Nathanial Hawthorne's prose style without ever letting the satire become self-serving or overly critical of the source material. It's hard to describe the effect. It's best you read it for yourself. Other beloved books that play in this same territory are Pym by Mat Johnson, and Bob Stevenson by Richard Wiley (also published by Bellevue Literary Press!)… (mer)

This work of fiction is part of a sub genre of retelling American classics. It is extremely difficult to be original when your story is based on another person's work. Norman Lock manages to pull it off. I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The book has some mistakes because it is not the final draft/ edit. The version I read could stand to be a little more fleshed out. Most books I review would benefit from a good editor trimming the fat. This book needed a little more added to it. This is a three star read but really deserves the fourth star for creativity and originality in a challenging genre. I'd be very interested in reading more from this author. I would love to see a collection of wholly original short stories.… (mer)