What are you currently reading?

[RonClinton]

CITY OF SECRETS was a rare O'Nan story in which I couldn't connect with the characters, I simply did not care about anyone in the story. If you haven't yet read his non-fiction book THE CIRCUS FIRE I highly recommend it. Well woven story about a little-known American tragedy. 

THE CIRCUS FIRE was actually my first book by him… after that, I went back and read his backlist and have stayed with him ever since.. Agreed, a fascinating story well told.

[Martin]

Martin , CITY OF SECRETS is the one of his I haven’t read (now that I have OCEAN STATE behind me).  sholloman81 , hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

CITY OF SECRETS was a rare O'Nan story in which I couldn't connect with the characters, I simply did not care about anyone in the story. If you haven't yet read his non-fiction book THE CIRCUS FIRE I highly recommend it. Well woven story about a little-known American tragedy. 

[RonClinton]

Martin , CITY OF SECRETS is the one of his I haven’t read (now that I have OCEAN STATE behind me).  sholloman81 , hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

[sholloman81]

Same — both are stunningly good, though I’d probably give the nod to THE SPEED QUEEN, especially for a deluxe edition from a small press, just seems more suitable with its more overt crime/noir construct.

Martin , well said. Funny, I almost gave OCEAN STATE a permanent pass because its advertised examination of the lives of four women, which made it sound like a feminist pop-fiction novel…nothing wrong with that, just not typically my thing. I could not been more wrong and should have known better, trusted more in O’Nan’s skill to present a story that’s relevant to anyone. The echoes of this book, finished two days ago, and those four women’s lives still linger in my mind. Just a stunning work.

I've been passing on Ocean State for exactly the reason you mention. After reading your review, I think I'm going to tap out and order it this weekend. May also order All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker as that review on the CD Free Reads page sounds fantastic!

[Martin]

Same — both are stunningly good, though I’d probably give the nod to THE SPEED QUEEN, especially for a deluxe edition from a small press, just seems more suitable with its more overt crime/noir construct.

Martin , well said. Funny, I almost gave OCEAN STATE a permanent pass because its advertised examination of the lives of four women, which made it sound like a feminist pop-fiction novel…nothing wrong with that, just not typically my thing. I could not been more wrong and should have known better, trusted more in O’Nan’s skill to present a story that’s relevant to anyone. The echoes of this book, finished two days ago, and those four women’s lives still linger in my mind. Just a stunning work.

O'Nan is one author that I do not read about the book I just buy it and give it a read. Does not always pay off. I did not care for CITY OF SECRETS but it usually pays off.