A review of the essay collection Note To Self: 30 Women on Hardship, Humiliation, Heartbreak and Overcoming It All.
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Short reviews of Jellicoe Road, The Sense of An Ending, The Future of Us, Lost At Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries, One Last Thing Before I Go, People Who Eat Darkness and Moranthology.
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A collection of short book reviews, including: When Will There Be Good News; Started Early, Took My Dog; The Man Who Mistook His Wife for A Hat; Girl In Translation; Curtains; and Game Change.
Read more →A review of Harry Harrison's 1966 book, Make Room! Make Room!
Read more →Short reviews of three audiobooks: Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer, The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach and The Odds by Stewart O'Nan.
Read more →Five super mini book reviews of I Am The Messenger, The Call, Lamb, The Lifeboat and The Sugar Queen
Read more →Mini reviews of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, The Chosen by Chandra Hoffman and Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami.
Read more →Reviews of Wicked by Gregory Maguire, Skipping A Beat by Sarah Pekkanan and Cruising Attitude by Heather Poole.
Read more →Mini reviews of Attachment by Rainbow Rowell, The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore, and V Is For Vengeance by Sue Grafton.
Read more →A review of Why We Broke Up, which is written by Daniel Handler and illustrated by Maira Kalman.
Read more →A review of the audiobook version of Jen Lancaster's memoir, My Fair Lazy.
Read more →A review of Laura Lippman's most recent novel, The Most Dangerous Thing. I think she stumbles with this one.
Read more →A review of the fourth book I read for the RIP Challenge, The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff.
Read more →A book review of John Verdon's second mystery/thriller featuring Dave Gurney, "Shut Your Eyes Tight."
Read more →Mini book reviews of The Fox Inheritance, Faking Smart! and When You Reach Me.
Read more →Mini book reviews of three different books: The Bucolic Plague by Josh Kilmer-Purcell, Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson and Ten Degrees of Reckoning by Hester Rumberg.
Read more →Three book reviews of The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall, Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl, and The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell.
Read more →Three mini book reviews of The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray (Walter Mosley), Strange But True (John Searles) and The Virgin of Small Plains (Nancy Pickard).
Read more →My review of Lisa Gardner's latest mystery/thriller, "Love You More," which I found lacking.
Read more →Book reviews of two ghost-themed books: Laura Kasischke's "The Raising" and Laura Brodie's "The Widow's Season." I liked one a lot more than the other ... find out why!
Read more →A review of Rob Sheffield's book "Love Is A Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song At A Time."
Read more →Book reviews of "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett, "Fool" by Christopher Moore and "The Lost Diaries of Adrian Mole, 1999-2001 by Sue Townsend
Read more →A review of The Inner Circle by Brad Metlzer. Although I like this author, I wasn't a fan of this book.
Read more →A book review of Scott Sigler's sci-fi thriller "Infected," which I found to be fast-paced but very gross and light on characterization.
Read more →Some brief thoughts on Suzanne Collin's book "Mockingjay" ... plus a giveaway. Click on title to read full article.
Read more →A review of Lee Kravitz's memoir, ...unfinished business.
Read more →A review of J.M. Coetzee's novel, Disgrace.
Read more →Four mini book reviews of An American Family by Pam Spaulding, About Alice by Calvin Trillin, Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris, Dave Barry's Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Need by Dave Barry, and Being Perfect by Anna Quindlen.
Read more →A review of The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson.
Read more →Hosted by That’s A Novel Idea 1 book you read: Dogrun by Arthur Nersesian 2 words that describe the book: East Village life 3 settings where it took place or characters you met: Setting: the East Village in modern-day NYC Mary Bellanova is a wannabe writer who works at a series of unrewarding temp...
Read more →The Circle of Friends, Book V: HeatherL. Diane WolfeDancing Lemur Press, 2010ISBN: 978-0-9816210-5-0282 pagesGenre: Fiction, Young Adult Today, I’m thrilled to welcome L. Diane Wolfe, author of the Circle of Friends books. Diane’s fifth book in her Circle of Friends series, Heather, was released on March 16. The book focuses on Heather Jennings, a...
Read more →A meme concept by That’s A Novel Idea 1 Book you read: “Crazy for the Storm” by Norman Ollestad 2 Words that describe the book: Survival memoir 3 Settings where it took place or characters you met: Setting: late 1970s California and Mexico Norman Ollestad Jr.—The author had a unique upbringing in the uninhibited...
Read more →A review of Liz Allison and Cecil Murphey's beautifully illustrated book on grieving, Words of Comfort For Times of Loss.
Read more →Raven Stole the Moon Garth SteinHarper, 2010ISBN: 978-0-06-180638-4Genre: FictionMy rating: 3 stars Story Overview On the surface, Jenna Rosen has it all: a husband who loves her, a comfortable life in Seattle, and good looks. But Jenna is troubled; it shows in her excessive drinking, Valium addiction, depression and the increasing discord in her...
Read more →A meme concept by That’s A Novel Idea 1 Book you read: “Dark Places” by Gillian Flynn 2 Words that describe the book: “Who Is The Killer” thriller (more than 2 words, I know. So sue me!) 3 Settings where it took place or characters you met: Setting: Kansas, present day and 1985 Libby...
Read more →A meme concept by That’s A Novel Idea 1 Book you read: “Saving CeeCee Honeycutt” by Beth Hoffman 2 Words that describe the book: Southern healing 3 Settings where it took place or characters you met: Setting: 1967, Savannah, Georgia CeeCee Honeycutt—a lonely 12-year-old girl who has had a difficult childhood coping with her...
Read more →A meme concept by That’s A Novel Idea 1 Book you read: Black Out by Lisa Unger 2 Words that describe the book: Amnesia thriller3 Settings where it took place or characters you met: Setting: Florida in the far past, the recent past and the present Annie Powers—a devoted but isolated mother whose past...
Read more →Reviews of two books by Tom Perrotta: Election and Little Children.
Read more →A meme concept by That’s A Novel Idea 1 Book you read and/or reviewed: HeartSick by Chelsea Cain 2 Words that describe the book: Serial killer thriller3 Settings where it took place or characters you met: Setting: Portland, OR, present day Archie Sheridan—a damaged, painkiller-addicted ex-cop who returns to the force to catch a...
Read more →A meme concept by That’s A Novel Idea 1 Book you read and/or reviewed: U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton 2 Words that describe the book: Millhone mystery3 Settings where it took place or characters you met: Setting: In and around Santa Teresa, California, 1988 Kinsey Millhone—my favorite Quarter Pounder loving private eye...
Read more →Hosted by That’s A Novel Idea 1 Book you read and/or reviewed: The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner 2 Words that describe the book: Mystery, thriller 3 Settings where it took place or characters you met: Setting: Boston, MA, modern times Detective D.D. Warren—tough woman detective assigned to find out what happened to Sandra Jones,...
Read more →A Blogger’s HouseA Play In One Act Act 1.A stunningly attractive book blogger, 40ish, sits typing at a cheap wooden Ikea desk on a laptop. A plate with almost-finished chocolate chip cookies is beside her. The blogger is typing furiously—trying to finish up reading challenge posts before the end of the year. She is...
Read more →Hosted by That’s A Novel Idea 1 Book you read and/or reviewed this week: Marley & Me by John Grogan 2 Words that describe the book: Dog love 3 Settings where it took place or characters you met: 1. Setting: Early 1990s-2000s, Florida and Pennsylvania 2. Marley—a male Labrador retriever affectionately called “the world’s...
Read more →Title: I’m Down Author: Mishna WolffISBN: 978-0312378554Publishing Info: St. Martin’s Press, May 2009Number of Pages: 288Book Category: Memoir Why I Read This Book This book was my pick for the Judge A Book By Its Cover part of the Take A Chance Challenge. This part of the challenge asks participants to: Pick out a...
Read more →Title: The Handy Answer Book for Kids (And Parents): Second Edition Author: Gina MisirogluISBN: 978-1-57859-219-7Publishing Info: Visible Ink Press, October 2009Number of Pages: 292Book Category: Non-Fiction, Parenting Book Overview Kids ask a lot of questions, and sometimes adults don’t know all the answers. (Shocking, I know!) So this book provides answers to 800 questions...
Read more →Last week, I came across a neat meme over at Pudgy Penguin Perusals called Show Me 5 Saturday. The meme is hosted by That’s A Novel Idea (and is where you can hook up your post if you decide to do the meme). The meme is pretty simple, and I thought it would be...
Read more →Title: Silverstein & Me Author: Marv GoldISBN: 978-1-59709-151-0Publishing Info: Red Hen Press, 2009Number of Pages: 190Book Category: Memoir Book Overview Shel Silverstein was many things—a children’s author, a Playboy cartoonist, a songwriter, and a playwright. (He is the author of one of my all-time favorite books, The Giving Tree.) One thing he was not:...
Read more →Title: A Lifetime Burning Author: Linda GillardISBN: 1-905175-25-6Publishing Info: Transita, 2006Number of Pages: 407Book Category: Fiction Story Overview The book opens at the funeral of Flora Dunbar—our narrator and the one who has spent her lifetime burning. (And, perhaps, her afterlife burning, depending on what you believe.) Although Flora has struggled to be good...
Read more →A review of John Green's YA book, Looking for Alaska.
Read more →A review of The Embers by Hyatt Bass.
Read more →I’ve seen that several people have already done the Poetic Review part of the Take A Chance Challenge, and the results have been so fun to read so I thought I would tackle this challenge now. So here is my review of Anita Shreve’s Testimony written as a haiku, limerick and in free verse. ...
Read more →Title: Cutting LooseAuthor: Nadine DajaniISBN: 978-0-7653-1943-2Publisher Info: Forge, September 2008Book Specs: 384 pages Book Category: Fiction Story Overview Set primarily in glitzy Miami, this book tells the stories of three different women at a crossroads in life. Ranya is a stunningly beautiful but sheltered daughter of wealthy Lebanese parents. She has lived a pampered...
Read more →Title: Best IntentionsAuthor: Emily ListfieldISBN: 978-1-4165-7671-6 Publishing Info: Atria Books, May 2009Book Specs: 304 pagesBook Category: Fiction, Mystery Story Overview On the surface, Lisa Barkley seems to have it all — a husband who was her college sweetheart, two lovely daughters, a high-powered PR job, a residence in Manhattan, and a best friend she’s...
Read more →A collection of short reviews for Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris, Wallflower At the Orgy by Nora Ephron, The Sister by Poppy Adams, Obedience by Will Lavender, and Memoirs of A Beautiful Boy by Robert Leleux.
Read more →A review of the Christian fiction book The Moment Between by Nicole Baart.
Read more →Some rather free-form and disrespectul thoughts about Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.
Read more →A review of That Went Well by Terrell Harris Dougan.
Read more →A review of The Disappearance by Efrem Sigel.
Read more →A review of Lottery by Patricia Wood.
Read more →A review of a collection of funny stories about getting fired called (oddly enough) FIred!
Read more →A review of LIonel Shriver's book Double Fault.
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