Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts by Annie Duke

May 17, 2020 ~ Matt Boutte ~ 3 Comments

Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke Among the things about which I am most interested, improving the quality of my thinking and of my decision making rank high on the list, so after listening to a Tim Ferriss Show interview with Annie Duke, I was excited to read her book, Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter … Continue reading Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts by Annie Duke

Convictions of Faith by R. S. Basi

May 12, 2020 ~ Matt Boutte ~ Leave a comment

Convictions of Faith by R. S. Basi Convictions of Faith is an historical novel by R. S. Basi, set in the Kongo Empire in the late 1600s and early 1700s. The novel tells the story of Dona Beatriz, or Kimpa Vita, a young girl born into a relatively well-to-do family who after a transcendent, near … Continue reading Convictions of Faith by R. S. Basi

The Ship’s Carpenter by D. E. Stockman

March 21, 2020March 27, 2020 ~ Matt Boutte ~ Leave a comment

The Ship's Carpenter by D. E. Stockman The Ship’s Carpenter by D. E. Stockman is an historical novel set in France and England, primarily in the 1740s, as those two countries wage war at sea. The title refers to the character Abraham Robinson, an English shipwright who leaves for France in search of work during … Continue reading The Ship’s Carpenter by D. E. Stockman

For You to See the Stars: A Collection of Stories by Radney Foster

January 11, 2020 ~ Matt Boutte ~ 4 Comments

For You to See the Stars by Radney Foster I love well written songs. Not songs that are just fun to sing in the car, but those that tell a story. I’m talking about songs that transport you somewhere else for a moment and have character, depth, and a plot. Songs where you look up … Continue reading For You to See the Stars: A Collection of Stories by Radney Foster

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

December 28, 2019 ~ Matt Boutte ~ Leave a comment

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, published by Windmill Books, tells the story of Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov in the years following the Bolshevik Revolution. The Count becomes a "former person", losing his land and most of his wealth, but never his class or his charm. Rostov, … Continue reading A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

December 15, 2019December 15, 2019 ~ Matt Boutte ~ 6 Comments

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese A friend recently recommended Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. I struggled with this book. I struggled to read it, I struggled to put it down, and I struggled with the content. At one point I even cast it aside deciding not to read it, only to soon pick … Continue reading Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

October 22, 2019 ~ Matt Boutte ~ 2 Comments

A little mid-week snack or, perhaps, a mid-week pick me up... I absolutely adore picture books. I love well told stories, but pairing them with beautiful illustrations seals the deal for me. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy is high among my favorites. The relatively short book isn't quite … Continue reading The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

Author Interview: Robin Sloan

September 15, 2019October 19, 2019 ~ Matt Boutte ~ Leave a comment

Robin Sloan from robinsloan.com One of my aspirations for The Deckle Edge has been to feature interviews of the authors who's books I've enjoyed and reviewed. I couldn't be more excited to publish this first interview with Robin Sloan, author of Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore and Sourdough. Many thanks to Robin for his willingness … Continue reading Author Interview: Robin Sloan

Sourdough: A Novel by Robin Sloan

September 7, 2019October 19, 2019 ~ Matt Boutte ~ 2 Comments

Sourdough: A Novel by Robin Sloan is a deeply entertaining story of hope, curiosity, food, and community. Set in San Francisco, Sourdough is reminiscent of Sloan’s first novel, “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore”, and tells the tale of Lois Clary, a mid-western transplant to the Bay Area working as a programmer for General Dexterity, a cutting-edge … Continue reading Sourdough: A Novel by Robin Sloan

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

June 23, 2019October 19, 2019 ~ Matt Boutte ~ 2 Comments

Books, bookstores, secret societies, and fun characters...what's not to like? Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan is a fun read that is initially set in a 24-hour bookstore in San Francisco, that seems to do very little actual book selling, but that is quickly revealed to be beside the point. That said, through the … Continue reading Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan