I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and biographies. I recently received a book which opened the window on a frightening and horrific story. Freedom Libraries: The Untold Story of Libraries for African Americans in the South by Mike Selby. Mike “is a professional librarian. He received his MLS from the University of Alabama, which is where he first unearthed the story of the Freedom Libraries. He has published over nine hundred articles

Some of the most interesting novels I have read over the years, are those I discovered through a small press publisher. Edward J. Delaney’s gripping novel, Follow the Sun is a prime example of the many hidden treasures from a small press. He has also written two other novels— Broken Irish and Warp and Weft. I am sure I will soon haul in these two exciting novels. Follow the Sun describes the difficult and dangerous job as lobster men in cold treacherous waters. Quin Boyle is a lobsterman who is

I could easily name five or six novels that have brought me to tears at the end of my reading. Today, I am telling a story that drove me to tears from the first two or three paragraphs. The Library Book by Susan Orlean has done just that. This review will be different than most. Let’s begin. “On the morning of April 29, 1986, a fire alarm sounded in the Los Angeles Public Library. As one fireman recounted later, ‘Once that first stack got going, it was “Goodbye Charlie”. The fire was disastrous:

I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and biographies. Aside from Margaret Attwood, I rarely encounter novels from Canada. However, when Death and the Seaside by Alison Moore grabbed my attention, I was intrigued. Then I began the novel, and my intrigue meter went off the charts. Her first novel was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. And her short fiction has been included in Best Short Stories and Best British Horror anthologies and

I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and biographies. On occasion, I like to dip into some unusual novels referred to as “Chick Lit.” This popular genre seems to be everywhere I see readers. Tracey Garvis Graves has written eight novels. The Girl He Used to Know is her ninth. Aside from an occasional romp in the bedroom of a pair of students, I found the story amusing with a truly gripping twist.

I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and biographies. As the companion of two affectionate and smart Labrador Retrievers, I was happy to run across Clive D. L. Wynne’s fascinating story of dogs and their relationship to humans. Professor Wynne is the founding director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University. He has published a number of articles, and he has appeared on National Geographic Explorer , PBS, and the BBC

I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and biographies. According to the Penguin notice, Stewart O’Nan is the author of eleven novels and two works of nonfiction. I first read his work in, Last Night at the Lobster, which became a national bestseller. He has won a number of awards, and Granta named him one of the twenty Best Young American Novelists. He lives with his family in Connecticut. Just finished Songs for the Missing. This novel is

I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and biographies. A recent reminder that I had neglected the works of Colm Tóibín drew me to one of only a couple of his works I had not read. The South is the story of Katherine Proctor who abandons her family in a move to Barcelona. There she meets Miguel, an anarchist veteran of the Spanish Civil War. This is a thrilling story of art and exile and a search for love. Note there are several brief adult

I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and biographies. Dame Jean Iris Murdoch is—to my way of reading—one of the greatest novelists of the 20th century. She passed away February 8, 1999. She was a British novelist and philosopher. She has written 26 spectacular novels, along with a short story, plays, philosophy, and poetry. I have so many stories about her and her works, I could fill several episodes of Likely Stories.

I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and biographies. After a few intense stories, I turned my eyes to an interesting novel with some romance and some danger all wrapped up in a nifty story of two women who share a bizarre tale. Sarah Jio’s ninth novel, All the Flowers in Paris will give you moments of pleasure while keeping you on edge.