Monte Becket is a postman in Minnesota in 1915. In his spare time, he wrote a swash-buckling adventure that somehow becomes something of a bestseller. No one is more surprised than Monte. As these things do, the success goes to Monte’s head and he quits his day job to become a fulltime author. And he Continue Reading…
When I Found You by Catherine Ryan Hyde: Book Review
Nathan is in the woods early one October morning, heading out with his faithful dog to go duck hunting. Sadie bounds away from him and starts scratching at the leaves on the forest floor. Sadie is a good dog and this is totally unlike her, so Nathan goes to check out what she’s found. It’s Continue Reading…
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: Book Review
In this classic tale of growing up in the Jim Crow South, Scout Finch captures readers’ hearts as she plays her games and begins to lose her innocence as she watches the adults in her town. A trial that has been defined by race is making everyone show his or her true colors and it’s Continue Reading…
Duma Key by Stephen King: Book Review
Edgar Freemantle is a building contractor in the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Then he is involved in a terrible workplace accident that leaves him with a brain injury and an amputated right arm. His therapist suggests that Edgar should get away from everything and get a fresh start. He tells Edgar to do something that Continue Reading…
Sacre Bleu by Christopher Moore: Book Review
I have mostly been able to follow Christopher Moore into his craziness with success. He makes a joke and I laugh. It might be the weirdest thing ever (Humpback whales with “Bite Me” on their tails?), but I get it. But then there was Fool. And now there is Sacre Bleu. I got so tired Continue Reading…
Fool by Christopher Moore: Book Review
A re-telling of King Lear as only Christopher Moore could write it, as told by the fool, Pocket. I don’t know if I actually needed to know something about King Lear to really get this, but somehow it fell flat. Maybe it’s due to my ignorance of the original. I don’t know. But I never Continue Reading…
The Sleeping Doll by Jeffery Deaver: Book Review
Kathryn Dance is an investigator working for the California Bureau of Investigation. Her specialty is kinesics, a fancy word for body language. She’s one of the top in her field, so when new evidence emerges in a cold case suggesting that imprisoned cult leader and murderer Daniel Pell may have one more homicide to his Continue Reading…
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese: Book Review
Twins Marion and Shiva Stone are orphaned when their mother, a nun, dies in childbirth and their father denies them. They are blessed to be taken in and raised by an Indian woman who loves them with every fiber of her being. Cutting for Stone primarily follows Marion as he grows up in Ethiopia and Continue Reading…
I’ll Be Watching You by Charles de Lint: Book Review
Rachel Sorenson has just escaped an abusive marriage, but she’s still not free of her ex-husband. Frank comes along every few nights, talks his way past the security guard at her apartment building, and goes upstairs to beat on her door and demand that she take him back. Police say they just don’t have the Continue Reading…
On Writing by Stephen King: Book Review
Stephen King sits down to share his thoughts on the writing process. No matter what you think of his books personally, you have to admit that he’s a master at drawing in legions of fans. He prefaces his work with an explanation of what prompted him to write it. He was talking with author Amy Continue Reading…
Watchers by Dean Koontz: Book Review
Travis Cornell is a man for whom life has lost all meaning. But on a hike one day, he runs into a golden retriever, somewhat battered, obviously friendly, but determined to protect him from something. Travis, a former member of the elite Delta Force, finds himself running in a blind panic with the dog. He Continue Reading…