Starred Review Roundup (3/13/2024)

       

Stars all around! These titles all received multiple starred reviews:

GLORIOUS EXPLOITS by Ferdia Lennon
9781250893697 | 3/26/24

 “Lennon’s debut is a wonderfully odd, riotously funny story of two poetry-loving potters in 412 BCE. This superb novel builds to a page-turning crescendo that evokes the great tragedy the men stage.”—Booklist, starred review

 “Irish-born Lennon’s distinctly modern voice adds levity and wit to this highly recommended narrative about the tragic aftermath of war and the tragic beauty of the human condition.”—Library Journal, starred review

 “Lennon brings ancient Sicily to life with humor and pathos in his stunning debut. Lennon’s vital tale captivates.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

SMOKE AND ASHES: Opium’s Hidden Histories by Amitav Ghosh
9780374602925 | 2/13/24

 “An insightful study of the opium trade as a shadowy background to the rise and fall of nations. A well-informed, readable, disturbing journey down a dark avenue of history.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

 “Ghosh’s literary prowess supercharges this eye-opening excavation of the full extent of the opium-industrial complex.”—Booklist, starred review

“Ghosh offers up a scintillating and kaleidoscopic vision of opium’s role in the past several centuries of global history. Exquisitely written and packed with astonishing insight, this is a must-read.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

CHANGE by Édouard Louis
9780374606800 | 3/5/24

 “A beautifully executed, memorable, and highly recommended novel.”—Booklist, starred review

 “This fast page-turner will stir emotions and quicken heartbeats as Eddy creates his ideal self-image.”—Library Journal, starred review

 “With frank prose and staggering insights, Louis makes the story of his metamorphosis feel vital and alive. This is irresistible.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

WHO’S AFRAID OF GENDER by Judith Butler
9780374608224 | 3/19/24

 “A deeply informed critique of the malicious initiatives currently using gender as a political tool to arouse fear and strengthen political and religious institutions. A master class in how gender has been weaponized in support of conservative values and authoritarian regimes.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

 “Butler’s legacy of transformational work extends back decades, and their newest offering is urgent, returning breathable air into a toxic cloud. The result is exhilarating and life-changing.”—Booklist, starred review

“An influential and sometimes controversial philosopher and gender theorist, Butler goes mainstream by asking WHO’S AFRAID OF GENDER? and responding that anti-gender sentiment is at the core of right-wing movements.”—Library Journal, starred review

 “Thoughtful and powerfully assured, this is an essential take on an ongoing political battle.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

THE FAMILIAR by Leigh Bardugo
9781250884251 | 4/9/24

 “Part fairy tale, part political thriller, part romance, the novel unfolds like a winter tree bursting into unnatural bloom in response to one of Luzia’s refranes, as she and Santángel learn about power, trust, betrayal, and love. Lush, gorgeous, precise language and propulsive plotting sweep readers into a story as intelligent as it is atmospheric.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

 “Fans of historical fantasy, tortured love interests, and Bardugo’s Grishaverse will fall hard for this new novel. A new Bardugo is a major event for adult and teen readers alike, and this historical fantasy is sure to dazzle.”—Booklist, starred review

“Bardugo masterfully weaves magical realism with historical fiction and romance, which makes this book impossible to put down. Great for fans of Rebecca Ross, Heather Fawcett, and Holly Black.”—Library Journal, starred review

 “The sharp realism mixes with a genuine feeling of enchantment to create a top tier historical fantasy.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

ANITA DE MONTE LAUGHS LAST by Xochitl Gonzalez
9781250786210 | 3/5/24

 “Anita’s passionate, thrilling voice—’Fast! Fast! Fast!’—drives the story lines to a felicitous collision. Inspired by and dedicated to artist Ana Mendieta in light of her tragic death, this is a brutal but ultimately heartwarming and certainly thought-provoking novel of Latinx magic, family, and feminine power.”—Booklist, starred review

 “Gonzalez crafts excoriating and whip-smart commentary on the art world’s Eurocentric conceptions of beauty and the racism faced by first-generation students of color. This is incandescent.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

WITH MY BACK TO THE WORLD by Victoria Chang
9780374611132 | 4/2/24

 “Chang’s lines are immediate and affecting; much like Martin’s radiant paintings, they exist to be seen and felt, read and absorbed.”—Booklist, starred review

 “This collection is full of memorable insights as Chang experiments with erased and occluded work, all the while operating in the realm of feeling, where ‘desire is the only thing/ with nerve endings.’ These elegiac poems thoughtfully balance the head and the heart.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

ANOTHER WORD FOR LOVE by Carvell Wallace
9780374237820 | 5/14/24

 “Whether writing about race, sex, climate change, or making bread, Wallace is unabashed about and humbled by the embodied human condition and the human longing for authentic connection, lending richness and vulnerability to the link between a writer and his readers. Ultimately, this is an intricate and exhilarating memoir—heartbreaking, humbling, and hopeful. An exquisite, soulful must-read.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

 “This profoundly compassionate volume hugs the reader tightly and doesn’t let go.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review