Rocker Judas Coyne thought it was a joke when he bought a ghost off the internet. Still, he’s a collector of the arcane, so what could it hurt? An old man is haunting his daughter and granddaughter, so Judas might be helping them, but even if it’s a joke, Judas can easily afford it. But Continue Reading…
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer: Book Review
Nine-year-old Oskar Schell adores his father, Thomas. Oskar is something of a genius, so he never fits in at school, but his dad sort of becomes everything to Oskar. And then Thomas Schell dies in one of the towers on 9/11. Two years later, Oskar still isn’t handling this well. Snooping around his dad’s closet Continue Reading…
In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant
Bucino is a dwarf employed by one of the most favored courtesans of Rome, Fiammetta Bianchini. When Rome is sacked by Spaniards and Lutherans in 1527, Bucino and Fiammetta barely escape with their lives and a few jewels they managed to swallow. They are forced to start over again in Fiammetta’s native city of Venice. Continue Reading…
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
A man leaves his wife and daughter behind to go establish a new life for them in another place. He must learn the ways his of strange new home. I’m so glad Aths recommended this book. I would never have found it on my own. Without writing one word, Shaun Tan tells a detailed story Continue Reading…
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy: Book Review
This is primarily the story of Anna Karenina’s troubled affair with Alexey Vronsky. It’s also the story of Konstantin Levin’s search for love and truth in society. While reading this book, I kept wishing that I could just read a “good parts version” as William Goldman called The Princess Bride. I kept getting bogged down Continue Reading…
Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon Hale
Take Rapunzel and plunk her down smack-dab in the middle of a Louis L’Amour book and you have the gist of this fun graphic novel. The framework of Rapunzel is here. Hungry mom, eager-to-please dad, evil witch, girl with crazy-long hair in a tower. But that’s about where the similarities end. See, Rapunzel doesn’t want Continue Reading…
Just After Sunset by Stephen King: Book Review
Warning! This review will be incredibly long because I find it impossible to review a collection of short stories without reviewing each story. Feel free to move along. Overall, this was not a typical Stephen King short story collection. His short stories generally give me nightmares. There were a few horror stories in here, but Continue Reading…
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater: Book Review
**POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR SHIVER** You have got to be kidding me. This is where it ends? Beck has made some new wolves to care for the pack now that the older members are not shifting into humans anymore. One of the new wolves is Cole St. Clair, a gorgeous rock star. It’s not exactly easy Continue Reading…
The Woods by Harlan Coben: Book Review
Paul Copeland’s sister disappeared into the woods of their summer camp one night twenty years ago. The bodies of two of her friends were found. She wasn’t. Now, the past is surfacing and the mystery is begging to be solved. Eh. Had this been my first Coben book, I would’ve loved it. As it is, Continue Reading…
How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff: Book Review
Daisy has been sent from NYC to live with her aunt and cousins in the English countryside. Shortly after her arrival, her Aunt Penn has to travel out of the country for work, leaving the teens alone for a few days. Terrorists strike and nothing is ever the same. This just wasn’t really my kind Continue Reading…
The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff: Book Review
Wilhelmina “Willie” Upton has just returned to her hometown, having made something of a mess of her life while away at grad school in Stanford. Then her mom drops a bomb on her that has her scrambling through family history to solve a mystery. Maybe I’ve read too many books lately where the storyline goes Continue Reading…