Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is the story of two girls from very different backgrounds in 1800s China and the deep friendship they share. I picked this up after reading three Holocaust novels in a row. I needed some “fluff” and, not really knowing what it was about, I thought this might work. Instead Continue Reading…
Moses Froben. A world-famous opera singer. No one would ever guess the story of his life. I just loved Moses when I read his story in The Bells by Richard Harvell. He began life as the only son of a deaf woman whom everyone believed to be the village idiot. Their life was not easy, Continue Reading…
Writer and bibliophile Helene Hanff strikes up a friendship through correspondence with the staff of a used bookshop in London. I think my expectations were too high. I remember other readers telling me, “Oh, if you liked The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, you will absolutely love 84, Charing Cross Road.” Well, I Continue Reading…
In this autobiographical graphic novel, Craig Thompson describes his first love, his childhood relationship with his brother, and his loss of faith. I think there’s something in this graphic novel that everyone can relate to. Whether it’s the rush of falling in love for the first time, the bullies at school, or the tangled relationship Continue Reading…
Author Ben Mears has returned to the town of Jerusalem’s Lot, Maine, where he spent the best years of his childhood. He had a traumatic, horrifying experience there, and he wants to write it out of his system at last. Around the same time, two other men move into town, R. T. Straker and Kurt Continue Reading…
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. Posted: Character Connection featuring The Lilim from Stardust by Neil Gaiman Review: The Ruins by Scott Smith–Irritating, cardboard characters but nevertheless a page turner Read: The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey–I think I liked The Monstrumologist a little more, but Continue Reading…
Two American couples, fresh out of college, decide to go to Cancún for a little R&R before starting grad school in the fall. They end up venturing into the jungle, looking for some Mayan ruins and a fellow traveler’s brother. They’re completely unprepared for what they find there. I really, really want to give this Continue Reading…
It’s no secret that I love Stardust by Neil Gaiman. I came to it late, but I especially love the version illustrated by Charles Vess. But then, I love Gaiman and I love Vess, so that should be a no-brainer, right? There are lots of not-very-nice people running throughout Faerie in Gaiman’s version of the Continue Reading…
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. Posted: Review: The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff–Creepier than I expected. That’s a good thing. Review: Horns by Joe Hill–Loving this guy Character Connection: The Morrigan Review: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley–I really, really dislike Victor Frankenstein. Read: The Everafter by Amy Huntley–The main Continue Reading…
Forget the big, green, shuffling, moaning monster with bolts in his neck that we’ve all come to associate with Frankenstein. He does not appear in these pages. I wonder what book those old horror movie writers read? It wasn’t this one. Frankenstein’s monster is big, but the only other physical descriptions I really remember are Continue Reading…
I have something a little different this week. I’ve come across references to The Morrigan in three very different books, so I wanted to take a look at the “traditional” Morrigan and the way that these three authors chose to portray her (or them, as the case may be). So, let’s start with the Morrigan Continue Reading…