The Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji: Book Review

Pasha Shahed and his best friend Ahmed are 17 years old. Life might not be perfect, but they’re happy. Ahmed is in love with Faheemeh, a beautiful girl from another neighborhood. Pasha is secretly in love with Zari, who has been engaged to Pasha’s mentor/friend, Doctor, since birth. It’s 1973 and Iran is ripe for […]

Continue Reading

The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly: Book Review

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. […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull: Book Review

Jason Walker is going about his job at the local zoo when he hears music. Following the music, he is led to the hippo tank. It sounds like the music is coming from inside the hippo–but that’s not possible, is it? Leaning over to figure out what he’s hearing, Jason falls straight into the hippo’s […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

Zora and Me by Victoria Bond: Book Review

Zora Neale Hurston grew up in Eatonville, FL, “the first incorporated all-black township in the United States.” In this fictional account of an incident in her childhood, Eatonville at first seems to be idyllic. Sure, the residents aren’t very well off, but they’re safe and free to be whoever they’d like. After a headless corpse […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

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. […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading