Our First Impressions readers were charmed by Lydia Millet's novel Dinosaurs, with 20 out of 25 reviewers awarding the book four or five stars.

What the book is about:

In this gentle novel, Lydia Millet uses deceptively simple prose to explore the psychological intricacies of a wealthy, 45-year-old white man, uncomfortable with his privilege, who is trying to do good in the world (Eileen C). The main character, Gil, is looking for a new start and for purpose in his life, having no need to "make a living." Along the way he exemplifies his humanity in his daily life with his neighbors and others. He cares for the desert birds, the surviving dinosaurs, and we're asked to wonder if they can survive the changing world. Gil doesn't see violence as the answer to conflict, but rather, it's relationships that give us life and freedom (Lynn D).

Reviewers appreciated the novel's well-...