This year I’ve read both of Anthony Marra’s books, The Tsar of Love and Techno and A Constellation of Vital Phenomena. Both works were on so many ‘Best of’ lists the years they were published that I was wary, but I needn’t have worried. They both live up to the hype, especially The Tsar of … Continue reading Reader’s Journal: Why you should read Anthony Marra (if you haven’t already)
Category: Novels
Let’s Talk about Manhattan Beach
I finished Jennifer Egan's Manhattan Beach yesterday, and I wish I had someone to talk to about it, spoilers and all. I’ve seen lots of lower-than-expected ratings for this book, but I generally thought they were due to most people only having read her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel A Visit from the Goon Squad. As a … Continue reading Let’s Talk about Manhattan Beach
Reader’s Journal: Norwegian by Night
At the age of 82, Sheldon Horowitz has been transplanted from Manhattan to Oslo, Norway. Sheldon's granddaughter Rhea brings Sheldon to Oslo to live with her and her husband Lars after the death of her grandmother, Mabel. Rhea believes, as did the late Mabel, that Sheldon is suffering from dementia that started when his son … Continue reading Reader’s Journal: Norwegian by Night
A Few Favorite Books of 2017 (So Far)
I have long been meaning to get back to this blog. Every book I read, I think, "This is a good one...so much to say!" And then I say nothing at all, just move on to the next book. I think part of my lack of drive has to do that I've almost dropped social … Continue reading A Few Favorite Books of 2017 (So Far)
Reader’s Journal: The Seas
Sometimes I feel like a mystery even to myself. When I went to the library a few weeks ago to pick up a bunch of holds, I thought for sure that the one book I had waited for the longest would knock my socks off (turns out I was wrong). If anything, I was probably … Continue reading Reader’s Journal: The Seas
January Reading Wrap-Up
Over the last few years, January has been one of my better months for blogging. This year, even though I’ve been reading steadily, the idea of sitting down and writing about books has seemed kind of pointless. Many other book bloggers have expressed this same anxiety and heart-heaviness and wonder about the use of it … Continue reading January Reading Wrap-Up
Ten Books on My Fall TBR (Or, Getting My Diversity On)
Today's Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) asks us about books on our Fall TBR. I've had a particularly good reading experience so far this year. I haven't been following any kind of plan. Typically a book pops into my head when I'm getting closer to the end of my current … Continue reading Ten Books on My Fall TBR (Or, Getting My Diversity On)
Ten Books I Picked up on a Whim (Or Every Book I Ever Picked Up, Ever)
The thing about being a reader who has a (mostly neglected) book blog and a Twitter account where I follow all sorts of bookish accounts (book bloggers, critics, authors, publishers) is that it’s very, very difficult to avoid being influenced in some way when it comes to what I read. Everything on my TBR is … Continue reading Ten Books I Picked up on a Whim (Or Every Book I Ever Picked Up, Ever)
Top Ten Books on My TBR This Spring
This week's Top Ten (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) asks us about the top ten books on our TBR. While many people might list new books being published this spring, I have an eye on my backlog of books. Of course, the slightest shift of the wind will change my reading mood, so … Continue reading Top Ten Books on My TBR This Spring
Jumping on That #Weirdathon Bandwagon
I think everyone is probably well aware of this by now, but Julianne from Outlandish Lit is hosting a month-long Weirdathon. After seeing all the chatter in my Twitter feed (and seeing all the fun books people are choosing), I decided to hop on the bandwagon and get my weird on. o what, you may ask, … Continue reading Jumping on That #Weirdathon Bandwagon
The Evening Reader 