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Northern Lights by Raymond Strom

February 20, 2019

northern lights

Shane’s father has died, his uncle has kicked him out of the house, and he’s decided it’s time to find the mother who left him when he was ten. In the fall he’ll be going to college in Minneapolis, but armed with a postcard, one hundred dollars, and all his belongings in a backpack he heads to the Holm, Minnesota, the only address he has for his mother. In this rugged, rural ... Read More...

2 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: coming-of-age, debut, literary, Simon & Schuster

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

January 4, 2019

library

  It’s embarrassing enough to be ignorant about American history, but, as a librarian, to not know about the largest library fire in the country? I’m pretty sure my librarian membership can be revoked for that. Thankfully, Susan Orlean’s new book The Library Book not only remedies my ignorance, but is a reminder of why libraries are one of the greatest government ... Read More...

7 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Non-fiction Tagged: books, history, library, Simon & Schuster, true crime

December Reading Wrap-Up

December 26, 2018

december

This post should be subtitled: Library Reading, because 90% of what I read this month was library books. December is slow month for new releases and for someone who reads ‘professionally’ it is like school vacation. Suddenly, instead of having to refer to a spreadsheet to see what I’m supposed to read next I just go to the library and look around for whatever catches my eye. ... Read More...

11 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Feature Tagged: library, lists, mini-reviews

Books: Bits & Pieces

October 31, 2018

bits

Unless you are the most blessed of readers you have run into slumps, books you could not finish, and those you couldn’t even start. If you’re also a book blogger there is another demoralizing category: books you’ve read that didn’t make enough of an impression to be reviewed. I can’t speak for anyone else, but for me books I loved or hated are easier to write about. A book ... Read More...

12 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Feature Tagged: historical fiction, mini-reviews

September Reading Wrap-Up

October 1, 2018

september

What a month! I read much less, but found some great, less publicized books that were exactly what I needed. Sadly, the end of the month has found me floundering as American politics have taken over. Despite knowing it would be difficult I felt I owed Dr. Ford the respect of listening to her testimony. It broke my heart and brought back a lot of very painful memories—as I’m ... Read More...

2 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Feature Tagged: family, lists, mini-reviews

Ohio by Stephen Markley

August 24, 2018

ohio

I don’t focus on writing negative reviews, but at the same time, when a new novel is getting a lot of hype, my reading friends want to know what I think about it. In this case the novel is Stephen Markley’s debut, Ohio. If all you need is a one sentence opinion then here you go: The novel is a grim mash-up of the plot from 13 Reasons Why and the setting of Hillbilly Elegy and ... Read More...

18 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: contemporary life, Simon & Schuster, social issues, teen years

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