Wait a minute—is May over? I’m pretty sure I was cheated out of a week. Or maybe it’s just that the bad news is coming at a faster pace, whether it’s the increasing attack on women’s rights or the unrelenting uptick in gun violence. I veer between apathy and a rage that wants to know: why doesn’t the government apply the same attention and rigor to young men buying guns as they ... Read More...
We Are the Brennans: A Novel
Sunday Brennan lives in L.A. pursuing her dream of being a writer, right up until she gets in a drunk driving accident and her emergency contact is her older brother, Denny. Despite living on the opposite side of the country he arrives, forcing her to acknowledge her dream is not happening and it’s time to come home. This is We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange, a contemporary ... Read More...
Summer Thrillers: Mini-Reviews
Summer is a great time for thrillers. Hot weather, vacation, and short attention spans are all made for engaging reading that moves fast. Of course, my expectations are higher, because humidity makes me cranky and we have plenty of it in Michigan. For that reason, I’m a picky reader right now so take these reviews with a grain of salt (what does that even mean?). On Monday I’ll ... Read More...
Fast Fiction: Mini-Reviews
Fast fiction may sound like a pejorative, but I don’t mean it that way. Sometimes, particularly after deeper literary fiction I’m happy to jettison character development and lyrical prose for books that go down like any of my favorite sugary snacks—easily, mindlessly, and with no nutritional value. Empty calories, but yummy, and just how much kale should any one person ... Read More...
April Reading Recap
What to say about April? That I had very little clue the month was ending because I’m lucky if I can remember what day of the week it is? That, despite having nowhere to go I read fewer books this month than any other month this year? I have no answers, except that we’re not in Kansas anymore. Normal is another world and anyone who thinks they can click their heels when these ... Read More...
Creepy December: Part Two
Oh boy, my month of mood-reading thriller-mania continues! Earlier in the month I shared my creepy December reading. Today's version is going to be super specific: women who leave behind diaries. Somehow, two of the suspense novels I read this month have a main character who narrates through their writing. And yes, that does mean they’re no longer active in the plot except for ... Read More...
