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Archive for July 2014

Starred Review on Shelf Awareness

“As readers move through the suspenseful, amusing and slightly crazy story–written in reverse chronology–they’ll understand the many intricate moves each character has made, until the full story is unveiled in the prologue at the end. Similar to the way an M.C. Escher drawing seems simultaneously nonsensical and rational, Makkai’s novel will keep readers on edge until the last piece of the puzzle drops into place and the whole brilliant picture can be seen at once, sharp and clear.” Read the full review here.

Posted in Uncategorized on July 19 2014

“My Book, the Movie” for THYH

The actual film world is brutal and unpredictable. But the imaginary film world is a marvelous place where I get to bring Grace Kelly back to life. You can read about my vision for THYH as a movie here — and, in a related project, you can judge for yourself whether the book passes the Page 69 Test.

Posted in Essays on July 19 2014

Cleveland Plain Dealer: “Ingenious… the work of a master builder”

“Both clever and heartfelt, this is a book with something for pretty much everyone. Makkai has furnished it like a sturdy yet finely detailed old house, with comfortable nooks, doors with keyholes, mirrors in every hallway, and, oh yes, that restless ghost in the attic.” Read the full review here.

Posted in News, Reviews on July 19 2014· Tagged: , ,

Toronto Star calls THYH “a smart comedy with a satisfyingly fierce pace”

“Here, we find a writer with an innately intelligent and assured comedic voice, someone who obviously has a deep literary pedigree but appears more interested in having fun on the page and puzzling out the complexities of a tightly woven plot. The pleasures of Makkai’s novel are contagious, all of which makes The Hundred-Year House an ideal novel for this hot summer.” Read the full review here.

Posted in News, Reviews on July 19 2014· Tagged: , ,

The LA Times calls The Hundred-Year House “a juicy, gothic tale of art and love”

The Hundred Year House is a big-hearted gothic novel, an intergenerational mystery, a story of heartbreak and a romance, all crammed into one grand Midwestern estate… In this literary but unpretentious book, Makkai has created a juicy and moving story of art and love and the luck it takes for either to last.” Read the full review here.

Posted in News, Reviews on July 13 2014· Tagged: ,

The Kansas City Star praises THYH

“Running through all the sections are themes of identity and history, love and its follies, the lives of artists and the up-and-down flow of the work. What starts and ends as a ghost story is, at its heart, a tale of trials and failures and of reinvention — both of the self and the worlds we create around us.” Read the full review here.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/books/article703681.html#storylink=cpy

Posted in News, Reviews on July 13 2014· Tagged: ,

The Hundred-Year House Tops Oprah’s Summer Reading List

Oprah (okay, not actually Oprah, but a lovely person named Elisabeth Witchel) writes, “Makkai’s humorous, expertly orchestrated storytelling will surprise you. Just when you think you know what’s what and who’s who at Laurelfield, hidden identities are revealed and history must be recalibrated. Perfect for a rainy day on the sun porch—with an old-fashioned glass of lemonade and a musty summerhouse throw around your shoulders.” See the rest of the write-up and the entire list of Oprah’s summer reads here.

Posted in News, Reviews on July 10 2014· Tagged: , ,

The Boston Globe says lovely things

Writing for the Boston Globe, S. Kirk Walsh says: “Makkai’s lyrical prose quietly lifts off the page while her carefully crafted plot charges forward… [The] author strikes a perfect equilibrium of dark humor and tragedy.” Read the whole review here.

Posted in News, Reviews on July 10 2014· Tagged: ,

NPR Books reviews THYH

A rave review from NPR is even better than a tote bag or a travel mug. Colin Dwyer writes, “It takes a special trick to remake the world without a reader noticing; it takes a tremendous talent to do it again and again.” Read the whole review here.

Posted in News, Reviews on July 10 2014· Tagged: ,

Rave from the Chicago Tribune

Sometimes there are really great reviews that are basically impossible to quote. This is one of them. But you can read it here.

Posted in News, Reviews on July 10 2014· Tagged: ,

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