Etudes. Studies. In music, these were thought to be mere technical exercises to develop a student’s skill with an instrument. Then Frédéric Chopin came along, so the story goes, and elevated the étude to the realm of highest artistry. I imagine Michael Hettich similarly. He sits down at his writing desk to do these studies, […]
“The Amalfi Curse” by Sarah Penner
January 5, 2026 by Leave a Comment
Are you ready to be transported to a picturesque setting on the Amalfi Coast, where the warm rays of the sun are warming your skin, the salt spray is in the air, and the sand is between your toes? The Amalfi Curse (Park Row 2025) by Sarah Penner is an enjoyable tale of mystery, adventure, […]
“Behind the Waterline” by Kionna Walker LeMalle
January 1, 2026 by Leave a Comment
In her debut novel, Behind the Waterline (Blair 2025), author Kionna Walker LeMalle tells a dual timeline story in two historically significant periods set apart by about four decades. First and foremost, Behind the Waterline is a coming-of-age story about teenage Eric and a courageous journey that he is seemingly forced to take in a […]
Read of the Month: “Leta Pearl’s Love Biscuits” by Arlon Jay Staggs
December 31, 2025 by Leave a Comment
First, you’re entranced by the title: Leta Pearl’s Love Biscuits (Koehler Books 2025). Then, buckle up. You’re about to enter three-hundred mischievous pages of 1982 small-town Alabama in this wildly entertaining romp by Arlon Jay Staggs. The protagonist, Trudy Abernathy, is a young woman with a past that continues to haunt her, largely because of […]
“Bees in June” by Elizabeth Bass Parman
December 30, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Sometimes a book sneaks up on you. I don’t normally read “light, easy” fiction, yet Elizabeth Bass Parman’s Bees in June grabbed me by the heart and didn’t let go. It’s a magical realism story set in the South that balances charm, emotional depth, and a touch of whimsy, much like the bees that hum […]
Southern Literary Review’s 2025 Books of the Year
December 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
The editors of Southern Literary Review select several books each year to receive special recognition. (See criteria here.) Congratulations to the authors of these fine additions to Southern literature! Book of the Year – (Tie) The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff The Miniaturist’s Assistant by Katherine Scott Crawford Poetry Lullaby for […]