Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead

I received this book from Barnes and Noble's First Look program a long time ago, but only recently got around to reading it. The book's tone is elegiac, as the narrator remembers both the Sag Harbor vacations of his childhood generally, and the summer he and his brother spent mostly alone in Sag Harbor in 1985, which the reader senses marks a turning point in Benji's memories. The narrator's persona is one I really enjoyed--he is obviously smarter now than he was at the time he narrates, and his aspirations, fears, and bad decisions struck me as realistic. If the book is weak anywhere, I'd say it's weak in plot--while it moves mostly chronologically through the summer, and a lot of stuff happens, there's also a sense in which nothing happens. I'm sure that the non-happenings of summer are partially the point, but it does seem to take something away.

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

I received an ARC of this book for free from Barnes and Noble's Sneak Peek program. I'm putting the rest of the review behind a cut since we haven't finished discussing the book on the boards yet.

The Wake of Forgiveness by Bruce Machart

I received this book for free from Barnes and Noble as part of their First Look program. As we haven't yet finished discussing the book on the forums, I'll put the rest of my review behind a cut.

Antiphon by Ken Scholes

This book continues the Psalms of Isaak series--and it really increases the stakes. As Jin Li Tam, Rudolpho, Petronus, Nebios, Winters, Vlad Li Tam, and Isaak all seek to serve the Light, alliances shift and the path to serve the light becomes less and less clear. This book has lots of surprises--and really, no one seems truly safe. Scholes investigates what family means and what we owe our family--and what separates man from machine in this beautiful and intriguing book. I can't wait till the last two in the series come out!

The Writing Circle by Corinne Demas

Because the First Look group has not yet finished discussing this book yet, I'm putting my review under a cut.

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

This book examines the ways that war can change one's values--as it shows two women making decisions that they would never have made in peacetime to protect a third. I found the story engaging, especially Frankie Bard's pursuit of the story of what was happening to Jews throughout Europe after her flatmate died in the London Blitz. I thought the story about Harry Vale and the U-boats was a bit tacked on and disappointing. All in all, an enjoyable read, but neither the best First Look nor the best book about World War II that I've ever read.

The Poacher's Son by Paul Doiron

I received this book through the Barnes and Noble First Look program. As we have not yet begun our discussion online, I'm putting the rest of my review behind a cut.

Seized: A Sea Captain's Adventures Battling Scoundrels and Pirates While Recovering Stolen Ships in the World's Most Troubled Waters by Max Hardberger

I received this book via Sneak Peek, a branch of Barnes and Noble's First Look program. I have put the rest of my review behind a cut as we're still discussing the book on the Barnes and Noble boards.

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

I received this book from the Barnes and Noble First Look program. Discussion hasn't finished yet, so I'll post my review behind a cut.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

I give this book credit for dealing in fallen archangels instead of in vampires. But otherwise, you've got a Twilight-copycat type of book here. There were some mild surprises throughout the story, but I felt like the situations rang false and the characters' actions even more so. Vee, the sidekick/best friend, was a cardboard cut out, and I thought the mythology/powers of the angels was neither clear nor well thought out.

Eternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger

I received this book for free courtesy of the Barnes and Noble First Look program. As we're still discussing the book on the boards, the rest of my review is posted beneath the cut.

Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan

This book is one of Stewart O'Nan's better attempts. He does an excellent job of evoking the community response to a local girl's disappearance and the gradual process of secrets coming out into the open. Of course, the facts of her disappearance are secondary to the response, but this book is generally a pretty good portrait of a loss.

The Sister by Poppy Adams

I found this book a little frustrating because I did not like the narrator. Piecing together her past, and realizing her limitations was intriguing, of course, but the mystery ultimately ended up being too little for a proper mystery and yet too much built up. Mostly, I found the book sad, and lacking redemption.