New Yorker Briefly Noted Reviews Four New Novels: Johnson, Orringer, Pedersen, Kolbe
In the Newer's Briefly Noted column, four novels are highlighted. T. Geronimo Johnson's The Occidental Book of the Dead (HarperCollins) centers on George Washington Jonson, a Black police officer in a fictional Atlanta, as he confronts a police shooting and subsequent coverup. Julie Orringer's Luna, Phoenix, Queen (Knopf) follows Barr, a writer who uncovers a manuscript about his wife Dava and her friend Svetlana, delving into themes of truth and justice. Kailee Pedersen's The Minimalist (St. Martin's) tells the story of Mia, a young composer facing grief and ambition after the loss of her mentor. Lastly, Laura Kolbe's The Decadent Movement (Pittsburgh) presents a 'diary in poems' that reflects on pregnancy and motherhood through a scientific lens, influenced by her medical background.
Key facts
- The New Yorker's Briefly Noted column reviews four new novels.
- T. Geronimo Johnson's The Occidental Book of the Dead is published by HarperCollins.
- The novel is set in a version of Atlanta called Atlantis and follows Black cop George Washington Jonson.
- Its pivotal event is the police shooting of a white teen-ager, followed by a coverup Jonson initially joins.
- Julie Orringer's Luna, Phoenix, Queen is published by Knopf and spans four decades.
- Kailee Pedersen's The Minimalist is published by St. Martin's and centers on composer Mia.
- Laura Kolbe's The Decadent Movement is published by Pittsburgh and is a 'diary in poems.'
- Kolbe is also a physician, and her collection treats maternity with a cerebral, almost scientific attitude.
Entities
Artists
- T. Geronimo Johnson
- George Washington Jonson
- Julie Orringer
- Barr
- Dava
- Svetlana
- Kailee Pedersen
- Mia
- Laura Kolbe
Institutions
- The New Yorker
- HarperCollins
- Knopf
- St. Martin's
- Pittsburgh
Locations
- Atlanta
- United States
- Atlantis
- China