Confession: I am somewhat behind on my reviews. I read this one so long ago that I couldn’t exactly remember what it was about. I had to begin re-reading. Within a few minutes I remembered it all. I tend to think more favorably of books a while after I’ve read them, so my review might be tainted by that. Read More »
I Read a Lot of Books
I read a lot of books. Sometimes I review them.
As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley
If you recall my last review of this series, I expressed concern as to where the series was going. I worried that it all might be coming off the rails. You will be happy to note that I was being unnecessarily pessimistic. Read More »
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
I don’t exactly recall how this book came into my orbit… and how I randomly ended up with a large print edition? Very interesting. Or maybe it was a gift because I started taking sewing classes last year? Either way, it had nothing to do with sewing and was a nice little read. Read More »
Ordinary People by Judith Guest
I will admit, this is one of my favorite as a movie. I love a good miserable tragedy that ends with an unsatisfying whimper. I assure you, I’m not being sarcastic, I also really enjoyed it as a book. I picked this book up from the “FREE” bin at a second hand book store because, why not? Though–I rarely say this–I liked the movie better. Read More »
Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson
I have never hidden my love of Erik Larson’s books. I enjoy learning more about the subjects he chooses, and usually find his style very readable and relatable. Larson is a master at recreating a time while giving the reader the ability to belong to that era. Dead Wake was no exception.
Run or Die Killian Jornet
Yes, I am reading one running book a month to keep the dream alive (and the enthusiasm) until I can begin my running program. Read More »
To Be a Runner: How Racing Up Mountains, Running with the Bulls, or Just Taking On a 5k Makes You a Better Person (and the World a Better Place) by Martin Dugard
Another running book. Get ready. Read More »
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
I try to limit my fantasy to the YA variety. Fantasy isn’t my favorite genre and all the adult fantasy writers seem to think that series containing 12 books are where it’s at. They also take several years between books. I am looking at you George RR Martin. Read More »
The Perfect Mile: Three Athletes, One Goal, and Less Than Four Minutes to Achieve It by Neal Bascomb
Spoiler alert* Roger Bannister got to the four minute mile first, and I’m assuming you know that if you’ve been alive the last 60 yrs or so. I assume Bascomb also knew that you’d know the outcome before he even started this book and that was his challenge. How to make common knowledge into a bit of a nail biter? How to mimic the feelings of watching an actual race? Bascomb manages to do just that, and to recreate an era of sports before ‘doping’ and big money endorsements. Read More »
Empire of Sin: A Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder, and the Battle for Modern New Orleans by Gary Krist
Jazz, scandal, murder? Sounds like a book for me… sadly, it was only okay. Read More »
A Heritage of Shadows by Madeleine Brent
Oh man. I wish I liked this book because I’ve been vocal about my enjoyment in these guilty pleasure reads. Read More »
Tregaron’s Daughter by Madeleine Brent
We all have guilty pleasures, right? Things that we love, but KNOW they are ridiculous. Enter Madeleine Brent, Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, etc. I LOVED these books in Jr. High. They really informed my early ideas of love and romance. Apparently, it isn’t REALLY love unless you think that the man you like is trying to kill you. I’m being serious here. All the books have variations of those plot points. That being said, when I saw this gem on Amazon.com my nostalgia was peaked and I wondered if I would like them as much as an adult… Read More »
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
This book was a pleasant surprise. Normally, I don’t get into Zombie post apocalyptic books (I’m looking at you, Cormack McCarthy), but this was written in such an interesting way that I couldn’t resist. Read More »
The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan
Ah… literary fiction, my old nemesis. Also, winner of the Man Booker Prize. I’ve been burned by that prize in the past. As I type this review, I am still uncertain whether I actually enjoyed the book or not. Read More »
The Children’s Blizzard by David Laskin
Oh, the tears that I cried while reading this one. So, spoiler alert, people die. Children, specifically. If you are squeamish about kids dying, this is probably not the book for you.
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Blood and Thunder: The Epic Story of Kit Carson and the Conquest of the American West by Hampton Sides
This book solidifies it for me. I need to read more Hampton Sides. Read More »
Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney
I find this sort of book a bit difficult to review. It wasn’t meant for an adult, and not meant for this century so as I read I am wondering what a modern day kid might think about this book. I can assure you, as a modern day adult, I found this book more than a little sappy and more than a little lame. Read More »
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
I’d never heard of this book, but my well read friend sent it for Christmas and I was intrigued. I went into the book with no background information and was pleasantly surprised. Gilead is the name of a town in Iowa where Congregationalist minister, John Ames, is preparing to die. Read More »
The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices by Xinran
Spoiler alert. This book is depressing. SUPER depressing. I purposely saved this gem for a time when I am not pregnant because I knew I would not be able to handle it in a highly charged emotional state. That being said, I still cried. Read More »
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
What makes a good fiction book? That is a difficult question. Does it entertain? Does it educate? Does it evoke a strong emotional reaction? The Light Between Oceans is not a book that I would typically choose for myself but as I discussed my reaction to the non fiction book An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken with a good friend, she brought over the Stedman book and wanted to see what I thought. They both deal with women who have lost children and there the comparison ends. Read More »
The Saga of Hugh Glass: Pirate, Pawnee, and Mountain Man by John Meyers Meyers
How can a book be both fiction and non fiction you ask? Well, clearly, it doesn’t work, but I will get into that later. Let me just say… this was one of the worst books I have read in my life. Period. There were times when I debated finishing it at all. Ugh, it was awful. Do yourself a favor and never read it. Read More »
Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich
I am swiftly coming to the end of the books I own in the Stephanie Plum series. My husband found some at a yard sale and bought them on the cheap. I only have one more and I don’t know if I will be buying the rest any time soon as there are so many great bubble gum reads out there. Read More »
Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich
I have three kids aged 3 months, 2 years, and 4 years. Even at University I managed to do my school work and still read for pleasure. Whenever I feel like I am slipping behind and not reading, I crack out of few of these books. I enjoy Plum series because they are easy to read, don’t require 100% attention, and the bright colors are a favorite of the 2 year old. She likes to stack and unstack and pull them off the shelves. Read More »
To the Nines by Janet Evanovich
I am back to the Stephanie Plum books, and while the ninth installment was entertaining, it wasn’t wonderful.
Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich
So, I am clearly reading my way through the Stephanie Plum series. Though, after this book, I decided to take a little break. I have read too many too soon to really appreciate the books as they should be read. Read More »
Seven Up by Janet Evanovich
This wasn’t my favorite Evanovich book. I find that each plot isn’t necessarily what makes me like a book or not. I enjoy the side characters and how well I feel that they fit or how well I feel that they interact. I find that Stephanie’s old high school “friends” Mooner and Dougie don’t really do it for me. Read More »
Hot Six by Janet Evanovich
Another Stephanie Plum book and things are as crazy as ever in Trenton, New Jersey. Read More »
The Ghost Map: The Story of London’t Most Terrifying Epidemic-and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Steven Johnson
So much about this book was truly wonderful, but the organization left a lot to be desired. Perhaps the scope of the entire project was just too large and the book would have been better served if Johnson had narrowed the scope, but more on that later. Read More »
Running Ransom Road: Confronting the Past, One Marathon at a Time by Caleb Daniloff
I used to be a runner. This is true. Since I had my son almost four years ago my running has been sporadic and at times a bit disappointing. During this, my third, pregnancy I vowed to read at least one running book a month in order keep my excitement level up to fulfill my goal of eventually running a marathon. I’d had this book on my radar for quite some time, and was very happy with the book overall. Read More »
The Only Girl in the Car by Kathy Dobie
*Sigh. Where to begin? Sometimes I read a book and I just shake my head over it. This is one of those. Read More »