Ian McEwan wrote in Atonement that “in a story, you only had to wish, you only had to write it down and could have the world.” The quote has never been truer than in the case of E.P. Tuazon’s story collection. Tuazon turns even the most ordinary scenario into something surreal, if not magical.

It’s December—time for year-end roundups. In this article, I’m highlighting the five most popular book reviews posted on this blog. I review only books I like. I don’t always choose new books. I’ve reviewed some books written by authors I know, although they didn’t ask me to do it. Most of my choices were recommended by friends. The rest caught my attention after reading about them.

At first glance, Rachel is just like the thousands of people who ride the train to and from London daily. Anyone who commutes, as I have done for almost a decade traveling from New Jersey to Manhattan and back every day, will appreciate her experience. But, unlike most commuters, Rachel has an enormous emotional and psychological baggage that slowly unravels in this excellent thriller.

A mother-daughter relationship is at the heart of “The Fiction Class,” but thankfully, this book is nothing like “Mommie Dearest.”

James Salter's "A Sport and a Pastime" reminds me of a five-star resort. It’s luxurious, oftentimes impractical, but always pleasurable. Don't go looking for the basics. Everything is extra.