The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon

Good writing. Novel idea. Imaginative. Unique. Alternate history mystery.

But I was terribly disappointed in the ending. The novel just stops - there is no denouement. There are major threads of the plot that are left hanging. It left me very dissatisfied.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

This book got great reviews and won the Pultizer Prize. Diaz came up with a unique voice. The title is somewhat misleading. The novel is really about the culture of the Dominican Republic and the diasporo follwing unrest there. It follows a family curse that culminates in the death of Oscar Wao.

Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo

Another exceptional book by Richard Russo, and another insightful look at small town America.

Also interesting from a craft standpoint. It's the story of a trio of friends - two boys and a girl. Their interaction comes to a climax in their senior year of High School, but the novel begins when they are 60. The portion of the story that occurs when they are 60 serves as a narrative wrapper around the rest of the story, which follows the two boys from childhood through High School, and the girl from about age thirteen on.

The parents play an important part as well, and the behavior of the children is foreshadowed by that of their parents. The 60 year old characters again have their behavior echoed by their own children.

Third person is used for all the characters except one. that one is used as the central character of the book, and his story is told in first person. He is also a slightly unreliable narrator, in that a lot of the story that he relates is contradicted by other characters. This adds an extra dimension to the storytelling.

There are plenty of echos in the novel, from the bridges that are in the title to the repeated character traits of the parents and children. Richard Russo's insight into human character is what makes the novel an outstanding read.

Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris

A clever, original book. Written in the second person plural ("We"), it is a darkly comic examination of office life. Are they friends, or just co-workers? Do they care for and look out for each other, or are their jobs more important than personal relationships. The book follows an advertising agency as it declines and workers are laid off. Very true to life and authentic.

The Fireman's Wife by Jack Riggs

A sad and tragic book, but intriguing. I especially liked it since the settings were my old stomping grounds - the low country of South Carolina and the mountains of western North Carolina. It's the story of Cassie, who is married to a fireman, Peck, and has a fifteen-year-old daughter. She is having an affair with another fireman, and unwisely exposes her daughter to her misconduct.

Cassie is not a very likable character. She is self-centered, selfish, and whines constantly about her life. I just wanted to slap her. Her husband Peck, coping in the best way he can, is much more likable.

The novel is told in the first-person serial format, unusual and rare, but not unique. There are only two viewpoints, Cassie and Peck. The climax is a surprise, and I can't reveal anything about it without ruining the book for the prospective reader. But, as the title suggests, this is Cassie's story. As much as I might want it to be about Peck, or Peck and Cassie together, in the end Cassie is the focus.

It's a great read, extremely well written, and there are plenty of little things to keep the reader turning the pages.