OTHER – Page 12 – Looking For a Good Book

September 16, 2016

THE JOLLY CORONER – Quentin Canterel

This was certainly one of the most interesting books I’ve read in quite some time. I’m not sure how one would define this. Quirky romance? Bizarre-o horror? Oddball thriller? I also don’t think I’ve ever gone through as much of a pendulum swing in liking/disliking a book, while reading it, as I did with this.… Continue reading

HUMOR, OTHER, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Literature, Reviews

June 22, 2016

BEATLEBONE – Kevin Barry

It is the late 1970’s and John Lennon has left New York to seek refuge and solace in an island that he purchased off the coast of Ireland. But getting to the island is an adventure when he relies on the local shape-changing guide to get there. This is not a light, easy-to-read book. It… Continue reading

ENTERTAINMENT, OTHER, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Entertainment, Historical Fiction, Literature, Music, Reviews

May 18, 2016

BRITT-MARIE WAS HERE – Fredrik Backman

I loved author Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove, so when I had the opportunity to read the latest translated book (Backman is Swedish and writes in his native tongue), I jumped at the chance. So often, when a writer strikes gold early on, subsequent books don’t live up to the expectation. I’m delighted to… Continue reading

OTHER, Uncategorized

5 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Literature, Reviews

April 28, 2016

NINETY-NINE STORIES OF GOD – Joy Williams

THROWBACK THURSDAY: REVIEWING A REISSUE Tin House Books has elected to reissue this book, Ninety-Nine Stories of God, by Pulitzer and National Book Award finalist, Joy Williams. This is a collection of what might be considered ‘flash’ fiction. Very short (many not even a page in length) works each with a theme of how God… Continue reading

HUMOR, OTHER, SHORT FICTION, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Humor, Literature, Reviews, Short Stories

April 7, 2016

Guest Post “Damned Internet” – and a Giveaway!

I don’t do guest posts very often, but once in awhile an author and book will really stand out to me. In this case, I hadn’t yet read the book when I agreed to let E. Van Lowe have a little bit of space on this blog. But I was attracted by his writing history… Continue reading

OTHER, Thoughts, Uncategorized

essays, Guest Post, Memoir, random thoughts

March 23, 2016

THE STORY OF PUCK: WHAT FOOLS THESE MORTALS BE – Michael Alexander Kahn and Richard Samuel West

The more things change, the more they stay the same. As I write this, the news has been full of reports on the Democratic and Republican stumping for the party nod in ten months and it has been an absolute zoo of presidential wannabees. Political satire today has a broader range as we have not… Continue reading

HUMOR, NON-FICTION, OTHER, Uncategorized

5 Stars, Art, Book Reviews, Books, History, Humor, Reviews

February 22, 2016

THE FLYING CIRCUS – Susan Crandall

Ever since I saw the movie The Great Waldo Pepper, I’ve been fascinated by the idea of barnstorming and the transient, circus-like life those people led, and so I was very interested in reading Susan Crandall’s The Flying Circus. WWI pilot Charles “Gil” Gilchrist is flying around the country, barnstorming (selling airplane rides and performing… Continue reading

HISTORICAL FICTION, OTHER, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Historical Fiction, Reviews

February 6, 2016

AGAINST FOOTBALL: ONE FAN’S RELUCTANT MANIFESTO – Steve Almond

I have been a fan of Steve Almond’s writing for about a decade, since I read My Life in Heavy Metal, his collection of short stories. Since then, I’ve purchased every one of his books (though I think I haven’t read a couple of them yet), so of course I was eager to pick up… Continue reading

NON-FICTION, OTHER

5 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, non-fiction, Reviews, Sports

January 27, 2016

WHEN MYSTICAL CREATURES ATTACK! – Kathleen Founds

I should start by stating that I am often very wary of books that have won awards that I have never heard of. No, I am not the world’s authority on literary awards, and no, I don’t mean to imply that the award was created specifically for that book (though I have run across that).… Continue reading

OTHER, SHORT FICTION, Uncategorized

2 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Literature, Reviews, Short Stories

January 15, 2016

MY NAME IS LUCY BARTON – Elizabeth Strout

This is my first book by Pulitzer Prize Winning author Elizabeth Strout, but I hope it’s not my last because this writing is beautiful. Everything about this book is simple, except for the emotional impact it can have on the reader. Writer Lucy Barton is in the hospital for a simple surgery, but her recovery… Continue reading

OTHER, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Literature, Reviews

December 17, 2015

ALL MY FRIENDS ARE SUPERHEROES – Andrew Kaufman

THROWBACK THURSDAY: REVIEWING A REISSUE This was a surprising little book, and I quite enjoyed it, though I was confused for a time, as to whom it was intended. I understand, now, that this is a reissue, though I was not aware of that when I read the book (no, I don’t typically research or… Continue reading

OTHER, SHORT FICTION, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Humor, Literature, Reviews

October 23, 2015

ALICE – Christina Henry

Christina Henry’s Alice is a darkly original look at Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland stories. In a dark, run-down (some might call it a ‘hole’) town called Old City, a ragged woman named Alice is imprisoned in a hospital (“Her body had grown older but her mind was still trapped at sixteen, still unsure of… Continue reading

Dark Fantasy/Horror, OTHER, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Horror/Dark Fantasy, Literature, Reviews