Amor Towles
Born and raised in the Boston area, Amor Towles graduated from Yale College and received an MA in English from Stanford University. Having worked as an investment professional for over twenty years, he now devotes himself full time to writing in Manhattan, where he lives with his wife and two children. His novels Rules of Civility, A Gentleman in Moscow, and The Lincoln Highway have collectively sold more than five million copies and been translated into more than thirty languages.
A Gentleman in Moscow is the 30-year saga of the Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov, who is placed under house arrest inside the Metropol Hotel in Moscow in 1922 when the Bolsheviks spare him from death or Siberia because of his 1913 revolutionary poem written in university.
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On the Bookshelf – Recent Reads
On the Bookshelf – Recent Reads
Authors, many without websites or first-time published, from and about locations around the world.
Praised as a “bold new writer” and with ten books to his credit, he goes on this page after reading just one – Charlie Donlea – Long Time Gone
As we expect to read many others, and will build him his own post once we add a few more to our book list, this thriller grabbed us from page one. The story and main character explore the emerging field of forensic genealogy and the link that her own DNA reveals.
You hear about “Walking the Camino.” You may know people who have done it. Read this – Suzanne Redfearn – Call of the Camino
We don’t often place an author with their own Roaming the Arts post on this list, but we are making an exception. This is an inspiring story about so many things, one of which is the level of effort that most people don’t imagine they are capable of. The author was able to walk the walk and has written a terrific character-driven novel.
Story of a great film director making a late career movie – Jonathan Coe – Mr. Wilder and Me
Billy Wilder made some of the most iconic movies of his time, Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, Irma la Douce, Front Page, The Fortune Cookie, to name just a few. This historical fiction piece is told through the eyes of a young Greek woman who meets Wilder and his team and winds up working on the 1977 production of the film Fedora.
Irish family saga over decades up to 2008 recession – Paul Murray – The Bee Sting
Paul Murray’s The Bee Sting is an irresistibly funny, wise, and thought-provoking tour de force about family, fortune, and the struggle to be a good person when the world is falling apart. Told by four family members, father, mother, daughter, son, each a voice in conflict with the moment. Over 500 pages. Stay the course.
Another first book makes lasting impression – Amanda Peters – The Berry Pickers
An amazingly perfect use of the device where the reader is shown where the story will go, but is often brought near tears on the way. The story of two families, two cultures, and both love and heartbreak throughout a lifetime. An especially good read.
What happened when Dorothy returned to Kansas? – Gordon McAlpine – After Oz
With the release of “Wicked” on film, Dorothy is once again topical and Oz again a fantasy destination. This novel, the author’s last before his untimely passing, suggests what may have happened in the days and months after the tornado that whisked the young girl away and back again.
Fantasy author delivers a terrific crime thriller – Dave Dobson – What Grows From the Dead
North Carolina college professor, improv comic, and writer provides an ensemble cast supporting an unlikely hero who has hit bottom in life and career, only to find he had inherited little from his mom except trouble.
New book about an old city – Ruth Reichl – The Paris Novel
Novelist and food writer takes us to Paris in the 1980’s with a young woman needing to find herself (not a cliche, but a charming rendition and tour guide). Book Club book, gourmet treat, and travel instigator, and already looking at flights.
American Literary Icon who passed away in 2023 – Russell Banks – American Spirits
An American treasure whose stories focus on the locales and people in the Adirondacks of upstate New York. Check out this recent PBS video tribute and a 1995 feature on CBS Sunday Morning which gives an interesting perspective on what young people cared about…30 years ago.
From the 1990’s – Henning Mankell – Faceless Killers
Terrific series taking place in Southern Sweden and featuring Wallender, a main character played deftly on the PBS series by Kenneth Branagh.
New book from old favorite – Tim O’Brien — America Fantastica
An American Master returns: the author of The Things They Carried and In the Lake of the Woods delivers his first new novel in two decades.
First-time author – Nilima Roa — A Disappearance in Fiji
What is told as a mystery is really an amazing history lesson of British colonialism, and Indian and native culture in the Fiji Islands off the coast of Australia in 1914.
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Suzanne Berne
Suzanne Berne
Suzanne Berne is an American novelist known for her foreboding character studies involving unexpected domestic and psychological drama in bucolic suburban settings. Wikipedia
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Suzanne Redfearn
Suzanne Redfearn
Suzanne Redfearn is an award-winning and bestselling American author known for her emotionally resonant and character-driven novels. Before becoming a successful full-time writer, she had a diverse career path that included working as a commercial and residential architect, graphic designer, and copywriter. Her journey to becoming a novelist, which she began in her 30s, was self-taught and motivated by a desire to explore moral themes through fiction. This approach often involves exploring ethical dilemmas with no easy answers, leading to deeply moving and thought-provoking stories.
Redfearn’s writing style is noted for its ability to create heartfelt and emotional narratives, often featuring protagonists facing immense challenges. Readers frequently praise her ability to craft complex characters and build intense plots that keep them engaged. She draws inspiration from real people and relationships, often observing conversations while writing in cafes to capture authentic human experiences. This method helps create stories that feel both realistic and impactful, prompting readers to consider what they might do in similar difficult situations.
Suzanne Redfearn’s novel Call of the Camino is inspired by Redfearn’s own experience walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in Spain. The book explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. The novel was released on October 1, 2025.
2024 – Where Butterflies Wander — The moving story of a family grappling with grief and a woman with the power to help them through it–or stand in their way. (Goodreads) Told uniquely by six characters, each have a voice worth hearing. – Ed.
A 2020 favorite – Hadley & Grace — Two women. Three kids. One unforgettable journey.
One of the characters in the story is based on a special resident of Laguna Beach, Ca. — see article about Skipper Carrillo
Suzanne Redfearn, in addition to being an author, is also an architect specializing in residential and commercial design. She lives in Laguna Beach, California, where she and her husband own two restaurants: Lumberyard and Slice Pizza and Beer.
