One of the cool things about doing the book reviews for WKAR’s Current State and this website is when I discover a book or author that might have slipped through the literary cracks if it wasn’t for that review copy in my hand. A little bit of an unexpected treasure. And some publisher just sent it to me? For free? Sweet…

While I don’t love writing a bad review (even though I can have an eerie Dorothy Parker-esque talent for it from time to time), writing a good book review is a lot of fun. Many times, it is difficult for me to edit the review down to the necessary length. I’m gushing about the book, and I want to gush more. It’s a gush-tornado!

Here are seven books I’ve done over the years that I recommend you check out (and the links to my reviews):

• Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper
• The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman
• Bird Box by Josh Malerman
• Saint Mazie by Jami Attenberg
• The Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore
• My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
• A Cure for Suicide by Jesse Bell