As I write this, of course I am assailed with the soothing sounds of Lin Manuel Miranda singing, “Alexander Hamilton, my name is Alexander Hamilton.” I read this book previous to the musical being the hit that it turned out to be, and was skeptical about it because a reader friend of mine had read it and not loved it, but what can one do? It looked big and bulky, and hey, I like history as much as the next gal, so I knew I’d give it a try. Read More »
I Read a Lot of Books
I read a lot of books. Sometimes I review them.
The Wicked Boy: The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murderer by Kate Summerscale
Another book that I wanted to love, but just didn’t. The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher , written by Summerscale, is one of my favorite true crime books, and a book by which I judge other books a lot of the time. This one was a disappointment. Read More »
The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story by Douglas Preston
Full disclosure, I struggled to read this one. I kept picking it up and putting it down, though the subject matter is something I typically enjoy. Searching for lost civilisations in the jungle? Yes, please? A potential curse involved? Even better! But no, Preston managed to make it more boring than it needed to be, or perhaps I was expecting something other than the book that I read. Read More »
Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones
I was not, like so many of my peers, brought up on the muppets. Sure, I remember Kermit singing, Rainbow Connection, and quite liked it, but I never watched the movies or the tv show. I also didn’t enjoy Sesame Street. I didn’t like Fraggle Rock. My biggest exposure to Jim Henson was through the puppets on Star Wars or The Dark Crystal, which I genuinely thought was one of the most amazing things ever. My seven year old self spent a long time playing the Dark Crystal, and I’ve been tempted to re-watch it as an adult, but I fear that I’ll dislike it and have no desire to destroy the nostalgia. Read More »
The Blooding: The Dramatic True Story of the First Murder Case Solved by Genetic “Fingerprinting” by Joseph Wambaugh
If you know me, or read this website, you know I like true crime. Maybe that is wrong. No one should like crime. Let us just say that I am always interested to read about true crime, or watch a documentary, listen to a podcast, etc. Read More »
The Zodiac Legacy: The Dragon’s Return by Stan Lee and Stuart Moore
In my quest to find engaging books for my own kids to read as they get older… I keep reading middle grade or YA books, even though they aren’t my favorite genres. I just want to let you know up front that if you like the aforementioned genres, you’d probably give this book a higher grade than I did. Read More »
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Warning, I listened to this one via audiobook, and it may have tainted my perception of the book in its entirety. I typically enjoy Neil Gaiman, so I went into this book prepared to really enjoy it, which also might color my view. Do not misunderstand, I didn’t hate this book, I just found it disappointing. Read More »
David Spade is Almost Interesting by David Spade
Let us take a moment to talk audiobooks. This is not the first audiobook I listened to… no that honor goes to a horrible Star Wars audiobook which I will be reviewing shortly (and when I say shortly, I actually have no idea when I will get to it… I used to do these things in order, but I’ve given that up). Read More »
The Devil’s Diary: Alfred Rosenberg and the Stolen Secrets of the Third Reich by Robert K Wittman and David Kinney
Back to reading WWII books, I see. Yes, I am. I genuinely can’t help myself no matter how hard I try. I feel as though I am not entirely to blame because of each book published every year, I’d wager a high percentage are about WWII. Like how I kept it vague without any real statistics? Read More »
Running with the Buffaloes: A Season Inside with Mark Wetmore, Adam Goucher, and The University of Colorado Men’s Cross Country Team by Chris Lear
If you read this website regularly (and there is no guarantee that you do… I’ve seen my web page analytics), you know that I like to read running books as I consider myself a runner on sabbatical just waiting for that magical day when I am no longer birthing or breastfeeding humans and can devote time back to running. Read More »
The Dressmaker by Rosalie Ham
I saw a trailer for the movie version of this book a few years after the movie was in theaters. As usual, I thought, hmmm… looks like an okay movie, but I bet the book is better. Having never seen the film, I can’t promise I am correct, but the book was fine. It wasn’t wonderful, but entertaining enough. Read More »
Merlin’s Keep by Madeleine Brent
Take a trip with me to nostalgia town. Really, I first read Madeleine Brent the summer before I turned 13 and I thought they were the BEST books ever. Back in that time my idea of romance came from Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott. Then I discovered Madeleine Brent, Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, and Georgette Heyer. They were my Jr. High staples, and for a LONG while (longer than I’d like to admit) I would re-read my favorites each year.
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Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson
So, apparently Jenny Lawson writes a beloved blog. I did not know that when I put this on my Christmas wishlist. I thought the description was intriguing enough and at this point in my life various people I know have suddenly become depressed, are seeking help for depression, or are recovering from depression. I was hoping to get a humorous insight into the disordered or depressed mind… that isn’t exactly what I got. Read More »
The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two by Catherynne M. Valente
I’ve been vocal about my support for Valente and her work but I can not lie to you, this last book took me way too long to get into. I just didn’t find the story as compelling no matter how prettily it was written. Read More »
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Fun back story, because I know you come for the back story. My husband bought me this book (it has been on my to-read list… a VERY long list) from a used book store for Christmas two years ago. Inside there is an inscription “To my sweet Love Jo, I hope you’ll enjoy this book… and many more that I plan to give you :) Always yours, Oren Liberman” Then there was some Hebrew (?) and it was dated Feb 9th 2015. So… the detective in me goes to work. Jo could either be I guy or a gal, I am assuming Oren is a man, a man who plans to give many more books and likes to write smiley faces. What happened to Oren and Jo? A mere few months later this book was in a used bookstore being purchased by my guy who likes to give me books. Did one of them die? Was there a falling out? Was Jo using Oren for the books? Cold, Jo, so cold. Read More »
The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley
If I had to pick one word to describe The Haunted Bookshop it would be “charming”. As I was reading it, I felt struck that the old fashioned whimsey could be captured in a play, or in old movie musicals the kind that star Gene Kelly and have a fair amount of tap dancing. Anything that evokes Gene Kelly tap dancing is okay for me. Read More »
Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
Janet Evanovich keeps cracking these books out, and I keep reading them. Read More »
Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
Stephanie Plum, our hapless heroine is back to her old tricks. I think I mentioned that I am getting tired of this series in general. But when one gets books for free one reads them. Especially when I am in the midst of trying wean #3 and perhaps Evanovich’s light fare are all I can handle mentally right now.
The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra by Helen Rappaport
Does the world need another book about the Romanovs? That is the question. I’m not exactly sure that it does, but then again I’m not sure that it doesn’t. Helpful, no? There are a slew of nonfiction books about Czarist Russia, Rasputin, the October Revolution, etc and a book has to be unique to add something new to a discourse that has been hashed over to the point of animated musical fodder. Read More »
House of Wits: An Intimate Portrait of the James Family by Paul Fisher
I’ve been wanting to read this book since it came out. I’ve kept my eye on it and put it on my amazon wish list in hopes my husband would get it for me for Christmas of my birthday. I am VERY easy to shop for. Books, chocolate, and running shoes, in that order. Easy.
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Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev translated by Richard Freeborn
The back of this book reads “This new translation… makes Trugenev’s masterpiece about the conflict between generations seem as fresh, outspoken, and exciting…” blah blah blah. I can tell right now, fresh, outspoken, and exciting are not words I would use to describe this book. Read More »
The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up: the Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
Disclaimer: I am NOT a hoarder, but I do have bit of a reputation for saving every. single. paper. that comes into contact with my life. Read More »
Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
Plodding along through this series with limited interest. In this installment Stephanie Plum is bumbling along as per usual. AAAANNNNDDDD as per usual her life is in danger. Read More »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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.