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”
Tag Archives: Debut novel
Stoker’s Manuscript by Royce Prouty
‘Tis the season for weddings, graduations, and…True Blood. Yes, possibly the campiest, most over the top show on television has returned. Mixing the joyous tears of lifelong commitment and sentimentality* with celebrations marking the easiest years of your life, there is a dash of vampire re-resurrection and rapidly aging human-fae babies thrown in for goodContinue reading “Stoker’s Manuscript by Royce Prouty”
In the House upon the Dirt between the Lake and the Woods by Matt Bell
A young couple gets married and moves to a distant, isolated lakeshore to begin their new life together. He hunts, she sings, and their world goes round. He begins to build their home – a house upon the dirt between the lake and the woods – and they dream of starting a family. Only lifeContinue reading “In the House upon the Dirt between the Lake and the Woods by Matt Bell”
No One Could Have Guessed the Weather by Anne-Marie Casey
I can think of no better way to start a chick-lit (a term I despise) review than by quoting William S. Burroughs, ‘The American upper middle-class citizen is a composite of negatives. He is largely delineated by what he is not.’ And I am not a chick-lit reader. I think personal libraries are incredibly insightfulContinue reading “No One Could Have Guessed the Weather by Anne-Marie Casey”
The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton DiSclafani
Not once did I ever have the privilege or pleasure of going to sleepaway camp. This simple fact, of course, means that I’ve romanticized this quintessential summer experience beyond all reason. Do I picture lazy days in the sun, lounging in the middle of the lake on a float, campfires, a little summer romance, andContinue reading “The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton DiSclafani”
When Hitchcock Met F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell
Why yes that is a not so subtle play on When Harry Met Sally, which has nothing to do with this novel whatsoever (except the New York setting). However, Suzanne Rindell’s debut is a pleasant blend of Hitchcockian noir and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Gatsby decadence. Set in New York during the 1920’s, complete with speakeasies,Continue reading “When Hitchcock Met F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell”
Scientia Potentia Est: Amity & Sorrow by Peggy Riley
With a name like O’Connor, you have to be Catholic®. True statement and meant to be said like the silly jam commercial, though it’s certainly not a registered trademark. However is there any O’Connor out there willing to admit they were not raised at least nominally Catholic? Growing up Catholic taught me quite a bit – lest youContinue reading “Scientia Potentia Est: Amity & Sorrow by Peggy Riley”
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Public Speaking (pəblik spēking), noun: The process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listener. Something Rory should not do. Four weeks ago I talked about THE day. The day where I spoke in public to people who paid for the privilege. IfContinue reading “The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi”
The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh
We are all possessors of secrets. They may vary in nature and value, but we keep them all the same. A secret shared between two people, despite their best intentions, rarely stays so. Secret liaisons, secret murders, secret selves – they’re all revealed eventually – in literature and in life. I’m not hiding any ofContinue reading “The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh”
Double Feature by Owen King
According to Wesley Latsch, famous internet blogger in Owen King’s Double Feature, there are 74 75 things that cause unnecessary fatigue. Number one is rushing, number 75 is hugging a mummy, and number 27 is the library. Well said Wesley Latsch, I theoretically agree – hugging a mummy is fatiguing, though I’ve not had theContinue reading “Double Feature by Owen King”
flannel and folklore 