A pleasant surprise to learn that Lines was one of only eight novels that one of my favorite reviewers, Julia Kastner, reviewed last year that received a rating of 9 out of 10. Woohoo!!
Of course, there were three books she reviewed that got 10 out of 10, but let’s not go there. Obviously those books are perfect and they can revel in their perfection. I’m quite happy to bask in the almost-perfectness of my fifth novel.
Check out her whole list — lots of good books there, including big-time bestseller Braiding Sweetgrass. She also names a handful of honorable mentions.
I’ve been a fan of Julia Kastner’s writing, which I first read through her reviews in Shelf Awareness. On a lark I sent her an ARC, and to her great kindness, she read it and liked it enough to review it. It’s such a lovely piece of writing — I think her review may actually be better than my book! Yeah, it’s that good. Please read it! And yeah, read my book, too, if you want. 😉
Posting this from rainy and beautiful downtown Portland — and getting ready for the reading tomorrow:
I’ll also be at Unsolicited Press’s Exhibiter Table #69 at Portland Art Museum between 10-11am.
Now, on with the review!
This book came to me in an unusual way, and I just happened (entirely by accident, as far as I’m aware with my conscious brain!) to pick it up a few days before its publication date, and finished reading it on the very eve. So, happy birthday to this book just published on Tuesday (October 29, 2024). And a brilliant book it is: deeply beautiful, full of tragedy and pain but also awe and even bliss and the exaltation of quiet, daily acts of love and creation.
