In the New York Times today, a review of “The Lost Night” by William Grimes:

“As a detective, Ms. Howard fails. She never learns the identity of her father’s killer. But as a memoirist, she succeeds brilliantly. “The Lost Night” is enthralling, a skillfully narrated story that begins as a tale of detection but quickly becomes something more. Sifting through her past, Ms. Howard, who writes on dance and books for The San Francisco Chronicle, opens a window onto the miseries that divorce visits upon children, and the extent to which drugs have woven their way into ordinary working-class lives.

She evokes, unsentimentally, the pleasures and funny rituals of middle-American life. Simply and movingly, she chronicles the passage from her childhood to adulthood, from uncomprehending fears, resentments and hatreds to understanding and forgiveness.”

Click here to read the full review.

Perhaps I should play this cool, but I’ll fess up: When I finished reading, I blasted M.I.A. on the stereo and boogied around the house in my pajamas.

Also a great review from Terry Teachout in the Wall Street Journal yesterday. It’s not available online, alas. But you can read a thumbnail of it if you scroll down the sidebar of his blog, About Last Night, until you reach the “Top Five.”

I’m reading at San Francisco’s A Clean Well Lighted Place for Books tonight. Come out and say hello. I won’t wear my pajamas and I won’t boogie, but I may be in a good mood.

2 Comments

  • Alan Posted August 3, 2005 9:57 am

    I’m really happy for you, Rachel. I admire what
    you’re doing.

    With warm regards,
    Alan

  • lauren Posted August 4, 2005 7:49 am

    ‘I blasted M.I.A. on the stereo and boogied around the house in my pajamas.’

    i would do the same thing…for about a month:) congratulations. my parents will be at one of the central valley readings.

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