essays – Looking For a Good Book

May 5, 2025

SLOPPY – Rax King

I’ve never heard of Rax King or read anything by her prior to this, but I do enjoy essays and yes, the quote from The Washington Post on the cover of the book “Bettie Page meets Carrie Bradshaw” helped to sell me on this. I was incredibly impressed very early on with the first few essays. I connected with Continue reading

NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

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

June 28, 2024

PAINTING AS A PASTIME – Winston S. Churchill

I fully admit that I don’t know nearly as much as I should about Winston Churchill. I’ve seen clips of him in video footage of the war, and I’ve seen him as a character in historical dramas, but I’m not big on history, so he’s generally passed me by. But then I saw that Churchill Continue reading

NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

4 stars, Art, Book Reviews, Books, essays, non-fiction, Reviews

September 29, 2023

ADULT DRAMA – Natalie Beach

I had never heard of Natalie Beach when I requested an ARC of this book and I most certainly was not aware of the conflict/drama between Beach and Instagram influencer Caroline Calloway. Heck, I only first heard the term ‘influencer’ a year or so ago and if I glance at my Instagram feed once a Continue reading

NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

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

October 21, 2022

BURNING QUESTIONS – Margaret Atwood

Burning Questions is a collection of essays, speeches, book reviews, book forewords, and other non-fiction miscellany from the pen and wit of the incredible Margaret Atwood. Collected works starting from 2004 and on up through 2021, the range of material here is so vast it practically defies description. It is most fascinating to see the different Continue reading

MEMOIR, NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

5 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, essays, Memoir, non-fiction, Reviews

August 18, 2022

WRITERS & THINKERS – Daniel Fuchs

Well … this was … interesting. When I was in college (some 40 years ago!) I really enjoyed reading literary criticism. Researching an author and/or a book and writing papers was one of my favorite parts of getting an English degree (minor). When I saw this book, Writers & Thinkers by Daniel Fuchs, those happy memories came Continue reading

NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

2 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, essays, non-fiction, Reviews

October 6, 2021

THE DOVER ANTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE, VOLUME I – Bob Blaisdell, editor

I never thought I’d read a book like this once I graduated from college, but here I am, delving into the past and reading an assortment of classic, American works. For a bibliophile such as myself, I find that there are more classic works of literature that I want to read, but because of all Continue reading

NON-FICTION, OTHER, SHORT FICTION, Uncategorized

4 stars, anthology, Book Reviews, Books, essays, non-fiction, Reviews, Short Fiction

August 20, 2021

THE DELIGHTFUL HORROR OF FAMILY BIRDING – Eli. J. Knapp

I was immediately attracted to this book because the title pretty much defines me. I was raised by an avid birder and my older brother might rival author Eli J. Knapp for obsessive birder behavior and my own children might think of me as too obsessive for their tastes (if they only knew…). I am Continue reading

NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, essays, Nature, non-fiction, Reviews

March 3, 2021

THE GLASS TEAT – Harlan Ellison

As a teenager I was completely and utterly enthralled with Harlan Ellison and his writing. I’ve read everything he wrote that i could get my hands on. I met him at book signings and conventions and easily rated him as my favorite author. Ellison’s anger and angst and pomposity was fun, or at least identifiable Continue reading

ENTERTAINMENT, MEMOIR, NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

4 stars, Entertainment, essays, non-fiction, Television

January 14, 2019

THE HIDDEN MACHINERY – Margot Livesey

I was not at all familiar with Margot Livesey before reading this. When I requested this book I was on a bit of a kick to read books about writing (if you’ve been following my blog you can probably recall a few titles that have been reviewed here). I was also attracted to the very Continue reading

NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

5 Stars, essays, non-fiction, writing

December 20, 2018

THE ESSENTIAL ELLEN WILLIS

I knew nothing about Ellen Willis before venturing into this book but I enjoy reading essays (yes, I’m that guy) and I was drawn to Willis’ profile and record. I’m not sure how to describe Willis, based on her writing. Any label I give her would only box her in to a confine too small Continue reading

MEMOIR, NON-FICTION

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

October 30, 2018

WALKING HOME GROUND – Robert Root

I was drawn to this book on a couple of different levels. First was the three authors listed … John Muir is a name I know from my interest in our National Parks and my time spent in Muir Woods and Yosemite National Park; Aldo Leopold, whose Sand County Almanac is still an environmentalists bible; Continue reading

NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, essays, Literature, Nature, non-fiction, Reviews

February 2, 2018

AMERICAN MYTHS IN POST-9/11 MUSIC – Daniele Cuffaro

This is a highly unusual book and it is put together and reads much more like an English class final paper at any liberal arts college in the U.S. more than it does a critical book, examining the role of myths in music, post the 9/11 tragedy. In fact, author Daniele Cuffaro tells the reader Continue reading

NON-FICTION

2 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, essays, Mythology/Legend, non-fiction, Reviews