The Inheritance By: Matthew Lopez

WOW! This is an outstanding piece of writing-never mind that it must be epic on stage! What do we inherit from ourselves and our community, and what do those around us and our community inherit from us? A very meta play, within a book, within a play within a book-he writing is gorgeous, timely and deeply moving. An epic story reminiscent of Forster (playing a role in the play), and Kushner that is deeply profound, wholly universal and yet at the same time incredibly personal. An astounding achievement!

Company Man By: Joseph Finder

t's a good thing I take medication to lower my blood pressure, because Joseph Finder is doing his damnedest to raise it! I found myself holding my breathe a lot while reading this tense corporate thriller/police procedural. My heart was always pounding, and my jaw was constantly on the floor. The amount of twists that can be added to one story is a precarious balancing act, and yet Finder manages to just throw them in, and they all work! That is a master of plotting!

Anxious People By: Fredrik Backman

As I was getting toward the end of this tale, I was trying to find the words to describe this book, and then I hit the last chapter, and it sums up EXACTLY what I was thinking while reading. I Love Backman's ability to write, what appears to be, a chaotic mess of a story, and yet smoothly and seamlessly pulls all the random pieces together, resulting in a cohesive tale of human beings. His ability to get inside the minds of multiple characters and make you feel for each an every one of them, without being manipulative, or sappy, is lovely. I always leave a Backman book with a bit of hope and feeling a little better about myself and my place int he world.

Linda Vista By: Tracy Letts

A curmudgeonly man in his 50s with a fucked up life, fucks it up even more in this charming and funny new play by Tracy Letts. There is a glimmer of hope that Wheeler will get his act together as we look in on his new life as he gets a divorce and navigates life on his own as he ages. At times out right hysterical, it's also a deeply moving piece and brilliantly put together by Letts!

Absence of Alice By Sherry Harris To Be Published: January 2021

 

When this one comes out in January, everyone is in for a real treat!  This installment of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series put Sarah's friendships/relationships on the line, tests trust, and offers a twist at the end taht will give you whiplash!!!  This is a must for your "to get when it comes out" list!

The Rose Tattoo By: Tennessee Williams

I've always adored Tennessee Williams' work, but in all the years I've been reading his plays (and seeing them), and his poetry I never got around to The Rose Tattoo. I'm so glad this edition includes some extras! I'm so used to the high drama of Williams' more well know works, so it was a joy to read Rose Tattoo with it's melodrama, it's comedy and it's borderline slapstick. An over the top romantic comedy complete with a witch and a renegade goat. This edition also includes the short play that would eventually become the full length Rose Tattoo, an insightful intro by John Patrick Shanley, a critical essay showing the genesis of the short play to the full length play, Tennessee' explanation of the meaning of The Rose Tattoo as well as a chronology of Williams' life and publications.

Slave Play By: Jeremy O. Harris

This play has so much going on that I can't even begin to describe it's brilliance. It is deeply disturbing, deeply moving, at times oddly funny, and exceedingly thought provoking. It's the type of play that you NEED other people to read/see so that you can discuss it and "process" it (read the play and you'll know why I used the quotation marks)! I can only imagine the impact of seeing this presented on stage! Jaw droppingly amazing!!!!

Betrayal By: Harold Pinter

Read this one again, because it was revived on Broadway again.  I still enjoy this one!  An ingenious look at an affair(s) and the many ways in which we betray each other and ourselves!

 

 

The Sound Inside By: Adam Rapp

A stunning two-hander!  Words escape me as to how to describe this piece...it didn't go where I thought it was going, which adds to the mystery of it.  It's haunting and powerful, and will stay with me as I try to figure out why I was so moved by it!  This is a must read!

Booked for Death By: Victoria Gilbert

A gorgeously envisioned B&B with a literary theme the perfect setting for a cozy. A vivid cast of characters, plenty of suspects, a big twist and a satisfying conclusion. A lovely little read!