The Death of Bunny Munro By Nick Cave

reviewed by Mark Mordue

Originally published on October 30, 2009

“The Death of Bunny Munro should carry an EXPLICIT warning too, but the provocative cover art may similarly protect readers from being too surprised. Ironically, it’s the depth – not the in-your-face shallowness – of the book that is the real jack in the box.”

The Kill

by Karen Carissimo

Originally published on October 30, 2009

Bodega Head A calm wind lilting silver lupine and dill weed through fields of dune grass, cloud light veiling a copse of firs in the distance, green brine a dense tea in the sea below. Thin snakes crossed open paths into thickets of thorn and shade. Silence settled into trees. The hawk rose from the [...]

The Other

reviewed by Richard Holinger

Originally published on October 20, 2009

“The present volume celebrates Dana’s age — in all its meanings — with simple reminiscences delivered with gravity and grace, the poems’ speakers conversationally guiding us through recollections when on the beach, in the mountains, abroad in Europe and, his favorite setting, around his Iowa home….”

Talking Houses

by James Miranda

Originally published on October 19, 2009

“When I’m in a conspiracy theory mood I argue ducts. I deconstruct the entire house. I blame landlords, realtors, architects, HVAC people, town planners, and mice. There is no telling how high up this thing goes. These are long days.”

Honeymooners Marathon

by Steve Heller

Originally published on October 19, 2009

“Can you hear me, Mom?”

She stares straight back into my eyes, but I can tell her gaze has turned inward now. She might be dreaming once again, as her chest rises with the effort of another shallow breath.

As I wait for her head to nod or simply tilt forward beneath the blue bandana, enclosed in the merciful respite of sleep, words well up inside me…

Benito Mussolini

by Tony Barnstone

Originally published on October 6, 2009

They didn’t put us in the camps like Japs but called us names like greasy guinea. See, we were poor, my parents couldn’t read, and perhaps we should have been in camp since Mussolini was a big deal to us, okay? At last our Italy had someone who was not a wimp. But how we [...]

Jayne Anne Phillips Rocks: A Reader’s Retrospective

by Debra Monroe

Originally published on October 6, 2009

The daughters Jayne Anne Phillips described were raised by unhappy housewives, but the mass media, and legions of women a few years older who’d marched in the streets, told these daughters they didn’t have to be unhappy housewives. This was my generation. Yet finding our own way, postponing marriage and children as we set our sights on personal goals, was a new plan;…