Chicago Book Review + an unhappy conservative

Chicago Book Review

This is a masterful effort. The Confessions of Frances Godwin should be at the top of the to-read list for fans of Hellenga’s work. For those who are new to his work, it still should be at the top of that to-read list. (Read the whole review at the Chicago Book Review — 19 August 2014.)


And from an unhappy conservative:

Just read The Confessions of Frances Godwin.  Enjoyed most of the book.  Tiresome proving of leftist credibility in the brief scene when Frances is choosing a mortuary for her husband.  Concerned about a REPUBLICAN ?  Be serious! In an area of Polish, Italians etc?  Reality is this is chosen by ethnicity and convenience.   

Sometime I think that leftists don't think.  More new writing is spoiled by the gas they breathe and don't even see.  

Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere (below): an important location in Confessions.

Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere

Fountain in Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere

Author's Corner, garlic, typos

I recorded an 80 second passage for The Author’s Cornor on Public Radio on (I think) 2 August, when we were in New York. The person from Author’s Corner didn’t like any of the passages I proposed, but we managed anyway. You can listen at http://bit.ly/1uoBYzm

If anyone is reading The Confessions of Frances Godwin, would you keep track of any typos you find and let me know so we can correct them for the paperback. 1000 thanks.

Harvested our garlic this morning. Looks pretty good.

Washington Post review of CONFESSIONS

Ginny and me with my editor, Nancy Miller,  at Bloomsbury

The Shelby Cobra next door.

   As in Hellenga’s earlier work, secondary characters have professions and interests that allow the author to leaven the story with short, lucid passages about astronomy, physics, piano tuning, the wholesale produce business, opera and long-haul trucking. Meals are lovingly prepared and described so clearly that you can use a Hellenga novel as a cookbook.
   In many ways, “The Confessions of Frances Godwin” sums up and surpasses Hellenga’s previous body of work. This is a story of maturity by maturity for maturity, written with subtlety, deep learning and wisdom. 
   Read the full review at The Washington Post, 8/1/14.