Mason Radkoff

Fellow Pittsburgh author Stewart O'Nan's called Mason Radkoff's novel, THE HEART OF JUNE, "a deeply-felt love-letter to Pittsburgh, past and present." That pretty much nails it, and Radkoff's characters, Walt Farnham and Miss June Creighton, do, in certain respects, bring to mind O'Nan's own recent characters of Henry and Emily. This perfect Pittsburgh tale also brought back echoes of Annie Dillard's memoir of growing up in that old city, as well as Anne Tyler's loving stories of her native Baltimore. The characters here resonate, like living, breathing people, like friends and neighbors, fallible, flawed and lovable. There is humor, pathos, hilarity and sadness, and, well, humanity here on every page. And Pittsburgh too, of course. I loved this story, these people. I didn't want it to end. But it does, and even the ending is damn near perfect. Bravo, Mason Radkoff. My highest recommendation.

- Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER… (plus d'informations)