Book cover of No Great Mischief

Book description

Alistair MacLeod musters all of the skill and grace that have won him an international following to give us No Great Mischief, the story of a fiercely loyal family and the tradition that drives it.

Generations after their forebears went into exile, the MacDonalds still face seemingly unmitigated hardships and…

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Why read it?

1 author picked No Great Mischief as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Another book-loving friend gave me a copy of Alistair MacLeod’s No Great Mischief and never having heard of this Canadian writer before, I was intrigued. Then I saw that my friend had written a note–I think to herself–on the inside cover that read, “A great novel.” 

In addition, the book jacket featured praise from Michael Ondaatje, Alice Munro, and Margaret Atwood. So of course I delved right in. And yes!—what a novel. So rich in characters and tales and life and the Gaelic history of a family settling in Cape Breton, Canada. 

This is a generous novel in every respect,…

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Book cover of December on 5C4

December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

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