For Readers: Zach

Quentin Tarantino's enthusiasm and excitement about movies practically jumps out of the page in this insightful and revelatory look at the movies that influenced him growing up. His enthusiasm and joy come through loud and clear as he dissects the genre movies he loves, with backstories and directorial analysis that will have you wanting to re-watch a lot of Steve McQueen's movies.

Humorous and poignant, this provincial story features a marvelous cast of characters whose lives intertwine against the backdrop of a decaying northern town. While I appreciated the book’s sweeping scope, the smaller moments in diners and on street corners will have me reading this one again.

You spend the entire of this book in the head of what I call a reluctant sociopath. As Tom Ripley seizes every opportunity to elevate his social standing through grift and even violence, we get scattered bits of a backstory. Is it enough to explain Tom and his actions? Can we even trust his memories? That uneasy tension underlies this excellent thriller.

Stevens is the paragon of a proper and devoted English butler. As he navigates turbulent events in the house of his employer and attempts to fathom his own heart, his hesitation to see what is right in front of him keeps the reader on a hopeful edge. I grew to appreciate his devotion to service and his unshakeable (or is it?) belief in a job well done.

What might a writer do when he perceives that appealing to the lowest common denominator might be the only path to mainstream success? If artistic expression is the result of affectation, is the resulting art diminished in some way? This book asks sharp questions about readership and perceived racial authenticity. It has laugh-out-loud humor and teeth-grinding outrage.