I wouldn’t say that I have a lot of special skills in life, but one of the things I am really good at is procrastinating. Give me a deadline and I will find you ten reasons I cannot possibly do said thing by set time, including, but not limited to, things like rewatching seasons 1-4Continue reading “The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero”
Tag Archives: Fiction
The Republic of Love by Carol Shields
“But Fay’s noticed something she’s never noticed before. That love is not, anywhere, taken seriously. It’s not respected. It’s the one thing in the world everyone wants — she’s convinced of that — but for some reason people are obliged to pretend that love is trifling and foolish.” I’ve noticed that too. And I’m guiltyContinue reading “The Republic of Love by Carol Shields”
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
Some families are big. Some families are small. Some families are normal and some families are dysfunctional. My own very small family puts the fun in dysfunctional. Would you have expected anything less? Growing up, I always wanted sisters. Naturally, when I was ten, I got a brother. We tortured each other. He stabbed me*.Continue reading “The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon”
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”
Blaze by Richard Bachman
Confession? I have never read Of Mice and Men. I am well aware of how literarily shameful this is. No need to point it out. However, I have read The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, and The Log from the Sea of Cortez (the latter of which is best consumed as a sleep aid).Continue reading “Blaze by Richard Bachman”
Crimes in Southern Indiana by Frank Bill
When you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose. (To quote Bob Dylan, as I’m wont to do more often than not. This time with good reason. Bob Dylan makes an appearance – albeit briefly – in the pages of Frank Bill’s masterful short story collection.) This sentiment applies to nearly all of Frank Bill’sContinue reading “Crimes in Southern Indiana by Frank Bill”
Quirky: A Top Ten List
Quirk·y (kwərkē) adjective 1. characterized by peculiar or unexpected traits. As in “her sense of humor was decidedly quirky”. Synonyms: eccentric, idiosyncratic, unconventional, unorthodox, unusual, strange, bizarre, peculiar, odd, outlandish, zany, offbeat. This week’s list (as hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) is books that I would recommend to “x” people. In this case,Continue reading “Quirky: A Top Ten List”
The Small Assassin by Ray Bradbury
I’ll let you in on a secret. Despite my library loving, independent book store supporting rhetoric, I still shop on Amazon (a lot). I have the best of intentions, but I am constrained by both reason and finance. Reason being why would I pay $34 for a hardcover when I could pay $14? And finance…isContinue reading “The Small Assassin by Ray Bradbury”
Bookish (And Not So Bookish) Thoughts
10. Studies say people who read literary fiction perform better on tests measuring emotional intelligence and empathy. This does not surprise me. The New York Times has a “Can you read people’s emotions?” quiz, where based on eyes alone you guess the emotion. I scored 34/36. It’s fun. 9. Everything Jonathan Franzen hates. We allContinue reading “Bookish (And Not So Bookish) Thoughts”
Dirty Love by Andre Dubus III
To quote John Irving*: “Human beings are remarkable – at what we can learn to live with. If we couldn’t get strong from what we lose, and what we miss, and what we want and can’t have, then we couldn’t ever get strong enough, could we?” The crux of Andre Dubus III’s Dirty Love** isContinue reading “Dirty Love by Andre Dubus III”
flannel and folklore 