The War Magician

I was well into David Fisher’s The War Magician: How an Illusionist Changed the Course of World War II before I realized that it was a novel based on a true story rather than a work of historical non-fiction. The confusion was mine. The cover clearly states that the story is “based on an extraordinary…

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In which I review Abbott Kahler’s Eden Undone

Abbott Kahler, who previously published under the name Karen Abbot, consistently writes works of narrative non-fiction that combine impeccable research, the story-telling devices of fiction, memorable characters, and impeccable prose. As a reader, I find it hard to put them down. As a writer, I marvel at her writing chops. As a reviewer, I struggle…

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From the Archives: Last Hope Island

Often when we’re traveling, something we see makes me think about posts from the past, books I’ve read, or posts from the past about books I’ve read. While we were in Norway, that book/post was Lynne Olsen’s Last Hope Island.  As soon as we got home, I pulled it off the shelf and have been…

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