Between the holidays and being sick and traveling, I’ve read more books than I can possibly review. Or that I want to review. So I’m introducing a new format that will appear occasionally: mini reviews (stolen, with credit, from River City Reading). Hopefully this will allow me to catch up without disappointing anyone (including myself).Continue reading “Mini-Reviews: The Scent of Pine, Fiddlehead, and What Nora Knew”
Category Archives: Reviews
The Anticipation Is Killing Me: A Top Ten List
I’m too tired this week to come up with anything remotely amusing for this week’s list introduction. So I’ll leave it at this: I hate anticipation. Whoever said anticipation is the purest form of pleasure lied. Who likes to wait? Or be surprised? Or not know something? I can assure you it’s not me. PatienceContinue reading “The Anticipation Is Killing Me: A Top Ten List”
Fire in the Hole by Elmore Leonard
Tonight Hollywood Foreign Press honored the best of television and film in 2013*. In honor of the Golden Globes, let’s discuss the worst movies ever made – starting with Gigli, moving on to Maid in Manhattan, Anaconda, and What To Expect When You’re Expecting, and ending with Angel Eyes and Enough. What do all ofContinue reading “Fire in the Hole by Elmore Leonard”
Literary Mixtape | The Sisters Brothers
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. Today’s mixtape features my favorite pair of psychopathic hitmen: CharlieContinue reading “Literary Mixtape | The Sisters Brothers”
2014: A Top Ten List
2013 was a bit of a mixed bag for me. There were parts that were very good and there were several that were…less so. I’ve spent the year trying to remember that I can’t control everything. I’ve also had to accept that some things just were not meant to happen (and to ignore all ofContinue reading “2014: A Top Ten List”
Why Are You So Sad? by Jason Porter
Raymond Champs, a furniture manual illustrator for an international furniture company (akin to Ikea), has the world figured out (please see how I feel about Ikea here). As a species, we’re all suffering from severe clinical depression. We just don’t know it. He sets out to prove it – statistically and methodically. He starts withContinue reading “Why Are You So Sad? by Jason Porter”
Best Books of 2013
This week’s top ten list: Best (fiction) Books of 2013 (as hosted by The Broke and The Bookish). I decided to change things up a little bit and do a video/vlog (that word is ridiculous) to accompany my post. I couldn’t come up with a tenth book, but let’s pretend I did. As always, beContinue reading “Best Books of 2013”
The Troop by Nick Cutter
To begin this review, let’s look at the versatile word visceral. vis·cer·al [víssərəl] adjective 1. felt in or as if in the internal organs of the body : deep <a visceral conviction> 2. not intellectual : instinctive, unreasoning <visceral drives> 3. dealing with crude or elemental emotions : earthy <a visceral novel> I sincerely doubtContinue reading “The Troop by Nick Cutter”
Dear Santa, Define Naughty…: A Top Ten List
This week’s top ten list happens to coincide with Christmas Eve, so what better topic to explore than the books I wish to see under the tree tomorrow morning. And I will see them there, right Santa*? I haven’t been this angelic all year just for fun. 10. East of Denver by Gregory Hill 9.Continue reading “Dear Santa, Define Naughty…: A Top Ten List”
It’s Never Too Late by Dallas Clayton
I wanted to hate Dallas Clayton’s new children’s book for adults. I really did. His success (almost) smacks of elitism because yes, this is the same Dallas Clayton that dated Shannyn Sossamon. And yes, he’s been touted by everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Justin Timberlake to Joaquin Phoenix* for his self-published debut An Awesome Book!.Continue reading “It’s Never Too Late by Dallas Clayton”
flannel and folklore 