This week, our First Impressions readers share their thoughts on two works of fiction that pack vivid characters and complex history into less than 300 pages. This Other Eden by Paul Harding follows the tragic story of a Maine island community in 1912, and Margot by Wendell Steavenson shows a young woman with scientific ambitions coming of age in the 1960s.

Did you know that anyone (not just members) can leave reader reviews on BookBrowse? See how you can start writing reviews for books you've read and check out what others are saying.

We also bring you a brief look at the 100-year history of the publisher W.W. Norton, plus current and upcoming discussions.

With best wishes,

Davina Morgan-Witts

BookBrowse Publisher

Each month we give away books to BookBrowse members who live in the U.S. to read and review. Here are their opinions on two recently released titles.

"This Other Eden shines a bright light on a racial controversy in history that has eluded most Americans. Set along the Canada-Maine border, it recounts events from 1912 and before affecting a small island of mixed-race residents that are marked for removal. It is historical fiction written from a lyrical and poetic viewpoint, at times heartbreaking in scope and dimension. It touches on many contemporary topics of prejudice, cruelty, interdependence, and family." - Susan S. (Salida, CO)

"When I finished this book, I immediately wanted to start it over again. Just as the characters, I too wanted to stay on Apple Island. Paul Harding's novel tells a tragic tale with such beauty that I re-read sections to savor. The interaction of an older man and young boy cutting down a white pine to build a home was my favorite passage. What happens to this very home and the people of Apple Island is based on Malaga Island in Maine of 1912. I knew nothing of this shameful and ignored history. Therefore, this book was a catalyst for me to research the setting. I highly recommend this book. It's small in number of pages but large in imparting emotions of grief, empathy, and love." - Catherine H. (Asbury Park, NJ)

"Harding transforms historical events into a fable about a unique community that is destroyed in a heartbreaking way. This Other Eden is an empathic tale that explores what constitutes a family and what makes a life worth living. This remarkable, understated, luminous novel is well worth reading. Given the issues Harding explores, it would make an outstanding book club selection." - Eileen C. (New York, NY)

"I loved this book! I wish I had Margot's strength. The only child of a 'raving perfectionist' mother and a 'father-shaped man,' she is shuttled between a Park Avenue apartment and a country estate with an ancient resident grandmother. Born with the proverbial silver spoon in her mouth, she is expected to be a social butterfly and marry well. Unfortunately, her propensity toward all things scientific coupled with her 'unfortunate' towering height means she is never good enough in her mother's eyes. Steavenson takes us on a historic tour of the '50s and early '60s as Margot matures during the time of sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll." - Susan S. (Springdale, AR)

"I really enjoyed Margot by Wendell Steavenson. It was a quick and absorbing read, with a combination of well-developed characters and fast-moving plot. I admired Margot's ambition and desire to go to college and study science, in spite of her family's social pressures... The book recalls historical events of the late 1960s and the struggles of women competing with and working with men in the academic world. I think this book would be a great choice for book clubs." - Sarah M. (Lancaster, PA)

"The book reminded me of Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, where a young girl does not fit the mold of enjoying dance lessons, flirting and finding a husband, but instead forges ahead in the field of science. Although both books are set in approximately the same time frame, with similar approaches to showing the under-appreciation of the intellectual prowess of women, Margot is written in a more commanding style... Steavenson writes in fluid prose with pointed dialogue. Her characters are well-drawn and varied enough to make each one stand out." - Barbara C. (Fountain Hills, AZ)

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the publisher W.W. Norton & Company. W.W. Norton was started by the married couple William Warder Norton ("Warder") and Mary Dows Herter Norton ("Polly") in 1923, as the People’s Institute Publishing Company. The Nortons believed in the importance of education and thought that leaders of their fields should "bring to the public the knowledge of our time."

Early on, W.W. Norton acquired work by Bertrand Russell, Rainer Maria Rilke and Sigmund Freud, among others. It would continue to be known for publishing influential and groundbreaking material, and would eventually become famous for The Norton Anthology of English Literature, along with subsequent anthologies. After Warder's death, Polly entrusted the company to its employees, asking in exchange for a commitment to keep W.W. Norton independent, and it remains independent and employee-owned to this day.

BookBrowse has featured many Norton titles, including This Other Eden and Margot.

As you may know, through our First Impressions program, BookBrowse members can receive free copies of some titles in exchange for their honest review. But did you know that any visitor can write a review for any of the more than 17,000 books we've covered -- just by clicking on the "Write a Review" link.

To see what BookBrowse visitors have been saying recently, visit our Best Recent Reader Reviews page where you'll find a constantly updated selection of opinions for a wide variety of books. Below are just a few examples:

frank: sonnets by Diane Seuss has incredibly free-range, stream-of-consciousness poetry. Imagine pages of quick, rambling paragraphs where the author casually mentions death and suicidal ideation, only to move on to something else almost immediately. Once we hit the halfway point, the tragedies of Diane’s life lessons make things a lot more interesting. "I remember begging to die when I gave birth and begging to be born when I was dying." That is profound. More

My Boy Will Die of Sorrow reflects on the immigrant experience then and now, on the impact of separation on families, and how the act of separation itself adds another layer to immigration status. The author discusses the law and immigration policy in easy-to-understand language, and makes the case that this is nothing new. This is the daily cruelty that most migrants and their families face. Olivares combines his and others' immigration stories with the realities of law and policy. More

The first half of The Kind Worth Killing is told through narratives alternating between Ted and Lily. Thereafter, the first of several excellent twists (pre-book a chiro appointment?) precludes revealing further details without spoilers. Other characters take up the tale, one of those being Boston PD Detective Henry Kimball. Henry amuses himself (and the reader) writing dirty little limericks about those involved in the cases he’s investigating, something that turns out to be his undoing. And the ending? Well, who knows quite what is going to happen there. More

Discussions are open to all, so please join us! By clicking below, you can see our opening dates for future discussions, and past discussions. If you would like to receive a message when a particular discussion opens, you can sign up for a one-time notification.

At the moment, we're discussing The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict. Starting this weekend, we'll begin discussing The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh, followed by Laura L. Engel's You'll Forget This Ever Happened in February and The Nurse's Secret by Amanda Skenandore in March.