Book Reviews

Storytelling is Power in “A Girl is a Body of Water” – Chicago Review of Books

Book ReviewsSeptember 9, 2020 by Aaron Coats

Kirabo presses against the boundaries of tradition in her small village of Nattetta, Uganda. She does not outright reject her people’s customs, but her desire … Read More

Histories and Horrors Endure in “The Bass Rock” – Chicago Review of Books

Book ReviewsSeptember 8, 2020 by Marcie McCauley

In the opening pages of Evie Wyld’s third novel, The Bass Rock, Viv notes: “Somewhere, out in the darkness, I can hear waves breaking against … Read More

The Hauntings of History and the Human Condition in “Rabbit Foot Bill” – Chicago Review of Books

Book ReviewsSeptember 8, 2020 by Dana Hansen

Celebrated Canadian writer Helen Humphreys’s novels almost always find their footing in historical events, often during or around war time, and they seamlessly blend meticulously … Read More

The Enigmatic and Impenetrable in “Sisters” – Chicago Review of Books

Book ReviewsSeptember 4, 2020 by Taylor Griggs

The first two-thirds of Sisters is filled with allusions to the event that lies at the crux of the story; these sprinkled tidbits of information … Read More

Soaring and Singing in “If I Had Two Wings” – Chicago Review of Books

Book ReviewsSeptember 3, 2020 by Marcie McCauley

The Chicago Review of Books acknowledges the unfortunate passing of Randall Kenan on August 28th, 2020. His work as a writer and educator, and contributions … Read More

10 Must-Read Books of September – Chicago Review of Books

Book ReviewsSeptember 2, 2020 by Editorial Staff

Happy September! Fall is in the air, which means it’s time to put great new fall books on our bookshelves. Here are ten of our … Read More

Chronic Complexities in “If the Body Allows It” – Chicago Review of Books

Book ReviewsSeptember 1, 2020 by Maria Kuznetsova

I’ve been lucky enough to know Megan Cummins for over a decade, ever since we did an MA in Creative Writing together at UC Davis. … Read More

A Different Settler Story in “The Exiles” – Chicago Review of Books

Book ReviewsAugust 31, 2020 by Greer Macallister

With starred reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus, a TV deal with Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories already inked, and places on a half-dozen lists … Read More

The Intergalactic Intersections of “The Space Between Worlds” – Chicago Review of Books

Book ReviewsAugust 31, 2020 by Aidan Falk

Sometimes the separation between the lived experiences of neighbors can be just as profound as if they grew up on different planets. Privilege, opportunity, and … Read More

A Fragmented Reconstruction of a Life in “The Death of Vivek Oji” – Chicago Review of Books

Book ReviewsAugust 28, 2020 by Rabeea Saleem

Halfway through Akwaeke Emezi’s captivating second adult novel The Death of Vivek Oji, I had a thought of how much the novel reminded me of … Read More

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