Can I confess something? In a revelation sure to surprise no one, I was in the band. I played the clarinet and later the oboe. Just in case you thought you had seen the peak of my nerdiness, I thought I would add this bit to it. Like Alice in Kate Racculia’s Bellweather Rhapsody, IContinue reading “Bellweather Rhapsody by Kate Racculia”
Author Archives: Rory
Mini-Reviews: Above, Heaven’s Queen, Steal the North, and The Plover
Recently, I’ve read more books than I can possibly review. Or that I want to review. So I’m doing another round of mini-reviews. Hopefully this will allow me to catch up without disappointing anyone (mostly myself). Above by Isla Morley One line synopsis: Sixteen year old Blythe is kidnapped by and held captive by aContinue reading “Mini-Reviews: Above, Heaven’s Queen, Steal the North, and The Plover”
Six Degrees of Separation: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
The Bell Jar defined my high school years. I’ve shared this before, but I used to make any guy who was interested in dating me read this book first. It was surprisingly effective in weeding out guys who had no genuine (as in appreciate my intellect) interest. Looking back, I’m impressed that any guy everContinue reading “Six Degrees of Separation: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath”
Ruby by Cynthia Bond
Graphic, bold, riveting, unflinching, dark, difficult and lovely can all be used to describe Cynthia Bond’s debut novel Ruby. At its heart, it’s a love story – Ephram Jennings loves Ruby Bell and that’s all you really need to know. It’s a one-sided love, one which Ephram suffers for, but he’s not willing to compromise.Continue reading “Ruby by Cynthia Bond”
Like This? Read That. A Top Ten List.
If you like this, read that… 10. If you like Wrong Turn (and I went on a rather remarkable first date to that lovely film), read Deliverance by James Dickey. Bloodthirsty hillbillies living in secluded Appalachia. Run (or paddle) faster. 09. If you like Deadwood, read The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt. Aside from theContinue reading “Like This? Read That. A Top Ten List.”
Summer Reading: 2014 Book Roundup
The summer reading season is almost here – for reference I’m defining summer as June through September – and I’m looking forward what precious little beach reading time I’ll have come July. Here are a few of the highlights from the upcoming season. For more recommendations – and because she gave me the idea –Continue reading “Summer Reading: 2014 Book Roundup”
Literary Mixtape | The Bonfire of the Vanities
Do you ever want a modern soundtrack to literary fiction? Yes? Me too. That’s the point of this feature. Whereas some people imagine cinematic montages in their head, I create a soundtrack. Okay, so I actually do both, but I prefer to share my soundtrack. I read The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe forContinue reading “Literary Mixtape | The Bonfire of the Vanities”
Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts
10. Please enjoy the day jobs of poets (above). 09. I bought a car. It was as awful as I thought it would be. 08. Nirvana was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame. It’s amazing to me that it’s been twenty years since the death of Kurt Cobain. Nirvana defined the early ‘90s (forContinue reading “Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts”
The Land of Steady Habits by Ted Thompson
I was trying to find a suitable way to review a book that made me want to find the bottom of the nearest bottle of wine while simultaneously quoting Bob Dylan (as I’m wont to do when feeling maudlin), I came up with two approaches. I’ll let you be the judge. Approach one, short andContinue reading “The Land of Steady Habits by Ted Thompson”
Wanted: A Top Ten List
My birthday is in July. In case you needed to know… (This week’s list: bookish things I want – aside from books. Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.) 10. The Perversions of Quiet Girls. This book is fake, but I want it to be real. 09. Fox Pillow Cover. For my library. I’m not sureContinue reading “Wanted: A Top Ten List”
flannel and folklore 