The photo above is more an interpretation of my brain these days than a statement about June in Seattle. Apologies to everyone in the path of this staggering heatwave, but it’s been a lovely month here weatherwise. My reading was similar. The stormy part comes into play in that in an effort to mute the surrounding noise (which gets louder every day) I’ve become a bit of a book ... Read More...
Victorian Psycho
Apparently, this is Victorian era week at the blog. On Monday it was a novel about Oscar Wilde’s family. Today I’m going with a female serial killer. I’m not sure which is more disturbing, the novel, Victorian Psycho, or the fact that I read it in an afternoon and delighted in its gruesome darkness. Written in the style and format of Victorian times, much like Jane Eyre by ... Read More...
The Five Wounds: A Novel
Embarrassing confession time. I read a book several weeks ago that I loved, but I read it for pleasure, not review, which is a different style of reading for me. I didn’t highlight passages or make notes on plot points I wanted to share, sentences I loved. Meaning, now that I’ve decided I do want to share it, it’s not so clear in my mind. Simply put, The Five Wounds is an ... Read More...
The Beauty of Your Face
All of her career Afaf has been a teacher. Now, she is the principal of a Muslim school for girls in a Chicago suburb. She’s also face-to-face with the man who has gone through her school shooting her students. As the minutes between life and possible death tick by in The Beauty of Your Face, her mind travels to her past and the event that tore her family apart—the ... Read More...
8 Beautiful Backlist Books to Read Now
After a little digression on Friday, it’s back to books! Reading may be your escape during quarantine, but for many the economic issues caused by the pandemic means buying the newest releases isn’t a great idea. So, today I’ve got eight beautiful backlist books I read and loved years ago. Several I’ve never talked about because I read them before I started this blog. Even ... Read More...
Midwinter Doldrums: Mini-Reviews
On Wednesday we officially hit the midwinter mark. Hurray! I’m halfway through my first Midwestern winter and it’s not so bad. Of course, by saying that I’m just asking for trouble. Unfortunately, while the weather has been cooperating, my reading has not. I’ve finished a number of books I discussed on my episode of Sarah’s podcast and in my own Winter Preview post and the ... Read More...
