The Books of World Book Night 2012 (page 3)

FICTION

Released: March 30, 1989

A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY

by John Irving

"The result is a novel that seems sincere but turns too bombastic and insistent in its opinions about literature, religion, and politics."

Irving's novels, which often begin in autobiographical commonplace, get transformed along the way: sometimes into fairy tale (The Hotel New Hampshire), sometimes into modern-day ironic fable (The World According to Garp). Read full book review >

FICTION

Released: May 5, 1990

THE STAND: EXPANDED EDITION: FOR THE FIRST TIME COMPLETE AND UNCUT (SIGNET)

by Stephen King

"Tiresome, man."

King's fifth novel returns, 12 years after its first publication, with 230 of its original pages restored. Read full book review >

FICTION

Released: Nov. 1, 1998

THE POISONWOOD BIBLE

by Barbara Kingsolver

"A triumph."

The first novel in five years from the ever-popular Kingsolver (Pigs in Heaven, 1993, etc.) is a large-scale saga of an American family's enlightening and disillusioning African adventure. Read full book review >

FICTION

Released: May 2, 2005

THE HISTORY OF LOVE

by Nicole Krauss

"A most unusual and original piece of fiction--and not to be missed. "

The histories of several unresolved, inchoate and remembered loves. Read full book review >

FICTION

Released: Sept. 16, 2003

THE NAMESAKE

by Jhumpa Lahiri

"A disappointingly bland follow-up to a stellar story collection."

A first novel from Pulitzer-winner Lahiri (stories: Interpreter of Maladies, 1999) focuses on the divide between Indian immigrants and their Americanized children. Read full book review >

FICTION

Released: March 28, 1990

THE THINGS THEY CARRIED

by Tim O’Brien

"A disappointment."

It's being called a novel, but it is more a hybrid: short-stories/essays/confessions about the Vietnam War—the subject that O'Brien reasonably comes back to with every book. Read full book review >

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The Books of World Book Night 2012 (page 3)