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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · 21d

In @sebastiancastillo.bsky.social's new novel, FRESH, GREEN LIFE, "the star of the show is the prose."

Lee Klein reviews the book from @catapultbooks.bsky.social.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/09/17/s...

Fresh, Green Life

Fresh, Green Life By Sebastian Castillo Soft Skull Press. 2025. Reviewed by Lee Klein I ordered Sebastian Castillo’s Fresh, Green Life after a writer friend whose taste I respect texted me the reco…

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · 24d

"FIFTY POEMS is poetry-in-translation at its best. Nimble and inventive, Lehmann gives us the rare English Rilke worth preserving immediately."

Eric Bies reviews Geoffrey Lehmann’s new translation of Rilke from @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/09/14/r...

Fifty Poems

Fifty Poems By Rainer Maria Rilke Translated by Geoffrey Lehmann NYRB/Poets. 2025. Reviewed by Eric Bies “The poet,” William Gass writes in Reading Rilke, “never forgets a metaphor.” And he’s right…

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · Aug 22

"For fans of Ulysses, Oulipo, Joseph Cornell, and the like, [@tomcomitta.bsky.social's latest novel] PATCHWORK takes textual collage to new heights."

Eric Bies reviews the book from @coffeehousepress.bsky.social.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/08/21/t...

Patchwork

Patchwork By Tom Comitta Coffee House Press. 2025. Reviewed by Eric Bies It’s been the trademark of a handful of authors to graft an alien sentence or two among the branches of their own prose. Her…

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Reposted by Orange County Review of Books

Tom Comitta @tomcomitta.bsky.social · Aug 19

Really enjoyed this handwritten, snail mail interview with @ericbies.bsky.social for @necessaryfiction.com . Maybe the most personal public conversation I've had yet? Also very grateful for Eric's generous introduction

Necessary Fiction @necessaryfiction.com · Aug 19

Tom Comitta (@tomcomitta.bsky.social) discusses their new book PATCHWORK (@coffeehousepress.bsky.social) with Eric Bies necessaryfiction.com/interviews/a...

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Reposted by Orange County Review of Books

Necessary Fiction @necessaryfiction.com · Aug 19

Tom Comitta (@tomcomitta.bsky.social) discusses their new book PATCHWORK (@coffeehousepress.bsky.social) with Eric Bies necessaryfiction.com/interviews/a...

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · Aug 13

"To heighten decorum, to ennoble behavior is simply not enough to diminish hate speech online."

Anthony David Vernon reviews a new book by Avinash Awaghade and Ruchika Jain, HATE SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN AN ONLINE ENVIRONMENT from Eliva Press.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/08/13/a...

Hate Speech and Freedom of Speech in an Online Environment

Hate Speech and Freedom of Speech in an Online Environment By Avinash Awaghade and Ruchika Jain Eliva Press. 2025. Reviewed by Anthony David Vernon Freedom of speech is often thought of as a kind o…

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · Jul 22

“Like Gary Snyder if he could draw, McMillan’s artistry conveys an implicit philosophy of openness—to experience, nature, [and] new ideas.“

Eric Bies reviews Michael McMillan’s TERMINAL EXPOSURE from @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/07/22/m...

Terminal Exposure

Terminal Exposure By Michael McMillan New York Review Comics. 2025. Reviewed by Eric Bies The first thing anyone needs to know about a figure like Henry Darger, the Chicago janitor who spent decade…

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · Jun 13

Peter Brooks' HENRY JAMES COMES HOME "charts a journey, clarifies an itinerary, and identifies the encounters in which a writer’s later reflections are rooted."

Eric Byrd reviews the book from @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/06/13/p...

Henry James Comes Home: Rediscovering America in the Gilded Age

Henry James Comes Home: Rediscovering America in the Gilded Age By Peter Brooks New York Review Books. 2025. Reviewed by Eric Byrd In Henry James Comes Home Peter Brooks recreates James’s North Ame…

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · Jun 12

"Immortal Dark" - which is "set in a supernatural, East African-centric world" - "dramatizes the lengths that grieving people sometimes go in hopes of finding a semblance of relief."

Jana Ford reviews Tigest Girma's IMMORTAL DARK @littlebrownyr.bsky.social.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/06/11/t...

Immortal Dark

Immortal Dark By Tigest Girma Little, Brown and Company. 2024. Reviewed by Jana Ford Who knew murder could be the answer to everything? Manipulation at its finest: how to survive Uxlay University? …

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · Jun 9

"This book breaks boundaries for a paranormal horror novel by being the thought-provoking, society-shaming powerhouse that it is."

Shaylee Geary reviews Kylie Lee Baker's BAT EATER AND OTHER NAMES FOR CORA ZENG from MIRA Books.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/06/09/k...

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng By Kylie Lee Baker MIRA. 2025. Reviewed by Shaylee Geary Hungry ghosts and an enraged serial killer—either one is enough to satisfy the typical horror plot. …

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · Jun 8

"This remains true: Collins is more than capable of creating a gut-wrenchingly beautiful narrative that is simultaneously enjoyable and eye-opening."

Baran Bashar reviews Suzanne Collins' SUNRISE ON THE REAPING from Scholastic Press. #suzannecollins #hungergames

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/06/08/s...

Sunrise on the Reaping

Sunrise on the Reaping By Suzanne Collins Scholastic Press. 2025. Reviewed by Baran Bashar Sixteen years after the release of the global sensation The Hunger Games, critically acclaimed author Suza…

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · Jun 7

In this "much-anticipated sequel, Painter reminds her fervent fanbase why they fell in love with her storytelling in the first place."

Emily Hackett reviews Lynn Painter's NOTHING LIKE THE MOVIES from @simonandschuster.bsky.social.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/06/07/l...

Nothing Like the Movies

Nothing Like the Movies By Lynn Painter Simon & Schuster. 2024. Reviewed by Emily Hackett Nothing Like the Movies is the enthralling sequel to Lynn Painter’s hit novel, Better than the Movies. …

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · Jun 7

Perspective(s) is "a breezy yet engrossing story of censorship, suspicion, and betrayal" - "a brisk afternoon read of the type to which all historical fiction ought to aspire."

Claire Elliott reviews Laurent Binet's new novel from
@fsgbooks.bsky.social

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/06/05/l...

Another Perspective on Binet’s New Novel

Perspective(s) By Laurent Binet Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2025. Reviewed by Claire Elliott Brought together by scandal and tragedy, the multitude of historically significant characters of Perspect…

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · Jun 6

@johngreensbluesky.bsky.social's new book "centers on the mind-boggling fact that, though we do have a cure for tuberculosis, roughly 150 million people have died of the disease since the cure’s inception."

Claire Vaughan reviews EVERYTHING IS TUBERCULOSIS.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/06/06/j...

Everything is Tuberculosis

Everything is Tuberculosis By John Green Crash Course Books. 2025. Reviewed by Claire Vaughan Unbeknownst to most, novelist and YouTuber John Green has taken an intermission from his regularly sche…

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · Jun 4

Private Rites is "a perfect read for those who enjoy dark fiction and environmental dystopia, a version of our world that still wishes for the sun to stay shining."

Valentine Wollnik reviews Julia Armfield's PRIVATE RITES from @flatironbooks.bsky.social.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/06/04/j...

Private Rites

Private Rites By Julia Armfield Fourth Estate. 2024. Reviewed by Valentine Wollnik Most days the rain is rough and heavy, the sun a rare sight, or at least that is the case in Julia Armfield’s new …

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · Jun 3

"Jeneva Rose’s The Perfect Divorce delivers exactly what the title promises—a swift and amicable separation—and then turns that promise into a violent, high-stakes legal thriller."

Katelyn Richardson reviews Jeneva Rose's latest, from @blackstonepub.bsky.social.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/06/03/j...

The Perfect Divorce

The Perfect Divorce By Jeneva Rose Blackstone Publishing. 2025. Reviewed by Katelyn Richardson Jeneva Rose’s The Perfect Divorce delivers exactly what the title promises—a swift and amicable separa…

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Reposted by Orange County Review of Books

Open Letters Review @olreview.bsky.social · May 22

Steve Donoghue reviews a book about the story behind one of the great biographies of the 20th century, Ellmann's Joyce by Zachary Leader, out from @harvardpress.bsky.social:

openlettersreview.com/posts/ellman...

Ellmann's Joyce by Zachary Leader — Open Letters Review

The story behind one of the great biographies of the 20th century

openlettersreview.com

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · Jun 2

"Peters [...] portray[s] the unrefined messiness in identity exploration—the same messiness that leads to the beautiful metamorphosis that is a blossoming belief in self-worth."

Milo Spain reviews @torreypeters.bsky.social ‪STAG DANCE from Random House.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/06/02/t...

Stag Dance: A Novel & Stories

Stag Dance: A Novel & Stories By Torrey Peters Random House. 2025. Reviewed by Milo Spain People tend to hate what they don’t understand. When it comes to such fiercely disputed topics as sexua…

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · May 23

"Likes collide with dislikes; hope does its dance with dread. Idiosyncrasies occasionally shade toward universal experience, but only occasionally."

Eric Bies reviews Ed Atkins' FLOWER from @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/05/22/e...

Flower

Flower By Ed Atkins Fitzcarraldo Editions. 2025. Reviewed by Eric Bies For a Rembrandt, a Van Gogh, or a Banksy, Google Images usually does the trick. But for the work of British artist Ed Atkins, …

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Reposted by Orange County Review of Books

ericdbyrd.bsky.social @ericdbyrd.bsky.social · May 14

Social media bumper sticker: READ GUY DAVENPORT!

On Guy Davenport - 3 Quarks Daily

by Eric Byrd

3quarksdaily.com

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · May 13

"The truth and the post-truth, properly applied, can and should be effective partners in the pursuit of a free and harmonious society."

Anthony David Vernon reviews François Noudelmann's CAN WE MAKE TRUTH GREAT AGAIN? from Max Milo Editions.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/05/13/f...

Can We Make Truth Great Again?

Can We Make Truth Great Again? By François Noudelmann Translated by Stephen Twilley Max Milo Editions. 2025. Reviewed by Anthony David Vernon Call it misinformation, disinformation, or “fake news”:…

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · May 5

"Serra’s fine book affirms that Malaparte in exile or in retreat does not write a masterpiece like Kaputt. And masterpieces are all that count."

Eric Byrd reviews Maurizio Serra's MALAPARTE: A BIOGRAPHY from @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/05/04/m...

Malaparte: A Biography

Malaparte: A Biography By Maurizio Serra Translated by Stephen Twilley New York Review Books. 2025. Reviewed by Eric Byrd “The best part of a writer’s biography is not the record of his adventures,…

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · May 2

Vincenzo Latronico's new novel, PERFECTION, "styles itself as an exceptionally dry satire but, ultimately, it succumbs to the same devices it seeks to skewer."

Eric Bies reviews the book from @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/05/01/v...

Perfection

Perfection By Vincenzo Latronico Translated by Sophie Hughes New York Review Books. 2025. Reviewed by Eric Bies Vincenzo Latronico is a different kind of novelist. Scientific, sociological, objecti…

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Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · Apr 26

Laurent Binet's new novel, PERSPECTIVE(S), is "a splendid melange of unreliable narrators."

Eric Bies reviews the book from @fsgbooks.bsky.social.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/04/24/l...

Perspective(s)

Perspective(s) By Laurent Binet Translated by Sam Taylor Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2025. Reviewed by Eric Bies Laurent Binet’s new novel, Perspective(s), is a criss-crossing, polyphonic thing—a ch…

ocreviewofbooks.org

Orange County Review of Books @ocreviewofbooks.bsky.social · Apr 16

"This is a short novel, but few novels of any length that stretch their middles as much as this one can justify their longueurs. This one does, barely."

Eric Bies reviews Solvej Balle's ON THE CALCULATION OF VOLUME BOOK I from @ndbooks.bsky.social.

ocreviewofbooks.org/2025/04/15/s...

On the Calculation of Volume (Book I)

On the Calculation of Volume (Book I) By Solvej Balle New Directions. 2024. Reviewed by Eric Bies Danish writer Solvej Balle’s seven-volume novel series On the Calculation of Volume is not Groundho…

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