Mickey Haller is a criminal defense attorney living in LA. His bail bondsman calls him up one day with a “franchise” case. A young man with money to burn has been charged with a whole list of crimes, ranging from something like attempted rape to assault with a deadly weapon. Don’t quote me on that. […]
Southern Plate by Christy Jordan: Book Review
I am not a cook. I mean, I can cook if I have to, but I’d much rather be reading. Some of you have to relate to that. Luckily for me, I married a man who loves to cook. So I’ll sit around and read or talk to him (i.e., distract him) while he’s whipping […]
The Known World by Edward P. Jones: Book Review
Henry Townsend is a former slave. His old owner took a liking to Henry and so has helped him out in his shoe-making business. Henry eventually makes enough money to build his own small plantation house and to start buying his own slaves. The book begins with Henry’s death and skips around in time to […]
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell: Book Review
Margaret Hale is the daughter of a slightly-impoverished parson. She’s been living as a companion to her wealthy cousin, but when that cousin gets married, she goes back to live with her parents. Shortly after the transition, her father announces that his beliefs have changed and he can no longer be a parson. He moves […]
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss: Book Review
Kvothe is an innkeeper in a little out-of-the-way village. Or is he? One day a story-gatherer finds him and guesses that there is more to the innkeeper than meets the eye. He asks Kvothe to share his story. Kvothe agrees, but tells Chronicler that it will take three days to tell the story. This book […]
Austenland by Shannon Hale: Book Review
Jane Hayes has a secret. Hidden behind one of her dying houseplants is her very own copy of Colin Firth’s Pride and Prejudice. She drags it out and watches it as she eats her ice cream alone in her apartment. When she’s in a relationship, she tends to compare the poor guy to Mr. Darcy. […]
A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle: Book Review
Peter Mayle and his wife finally decide to say goodbye to dreary British weather and move to sunny Provence in France. This book tells about their experiences living in Provence, from the colorful locals to the excellent food to the workmen who come and go like forces of nature. This book had me ready to […]
A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore: Book Review
Charlie Asher is your average Beta Male. He owns a second-hand shop in San Francisco and rents out the apartments in the rest of the building to some kooky tenants. He has somehow managed to win the heart of beautiful Rachel and she has just given birth to their daughter Sophie when the book begins. […]
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney: Book Review
Laurent Jammett is a French trapper living in a little Canadian community in 1867. He mostly keeps to himself, so everyone is surprised when his neighbor, Mrs. Ross, finds him murdered. Since he worked for them occasionally, the Hudson Bay Company is called in to investigate. When the Hudson Bay officials find out that Mrs. […]
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss: Book Review
Elderly Leo Gursky lost his great love when he was young and he has spent the rest of his life living with what-might-have-beens and watching her and her family from afar. Not in any kind of icky way but in a caring way. Fourteen-year-old Alma Singer is named after all the women in a book […]
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen: Book Review
3 Stars. I liked that Jane Austen was a little more barbed and pointed in this book. I can’t remember any specific examples, but there were a few times when I mentally thought, “Ouch! I can’t believe she wrote that!” It made the book a little more fun. On the other hand, the book was too long and dragged in places. Also, I […]