Crossed Wires by Rosy Thornton

British Literature April 28, 2009 Superfast Reader 1 Comment

Synopsis: It started out as just another car insurance problem, but for call center worker Mina, the conversation with Peter just might turn wonderfully personal. Review: Crossed Wires is a sweet, gentle, tender book. The sole bit of edge is provided by Mina’s wayward teenage sister, but she spends most of her time offscreen (so to speak) where she can’t wreak too much havoc. The romance between Mina and Peter unfolds quietly and organically. Author Rosy Thornton doesn’t try to make things too cutesy, which…

The Magicians and Mrs. Quent by Galen Beckett

On Reading April 27, 2009 Superfast Reader 2 Comments

Synopsis: Jane Austen manners + Bronte sisters gothica + magic = too much pastiche and not enough depth. Review: I loved the concept of The Magicians and Mrs. Quent, but I just could not remain interested in this book. The writing was lazy, oscillating between high-minded prose awkwardly imitating Austen or George Eliot, and sloppy grammar and anachronisms that brought the whole thing crashing down. Story-wise, I couldn’t focus on tracking the development of the mythology and presentation of the core story elements for the…

The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King

American Literature April 23, 2009 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Falsely imprisoned for regicide, Prince Peter plots his escape, determined to defeat the wizard who framed him. Review: As far as I can recall, The Eyes of the Dragon marks Stephen King’s sole foray into fantasy, apart from his Dark Tower series (which I adore). It’s a shame, because he writes masterfully in the genre. I’ve read The Eyes of the Dragon six or seven times now, and never fail to be sucked in by its simplicity and moral depth. King’s excellent characterizations imbue…

B As In Beauty by Alberto Ferraras

American Literature April 23, 2009 Superfast Reader 2 Comments

Synopsis: Overweight B hates her life, but when she’s adopted by a fairy godmother running a most unorthodox service, she gets in touch with her outer beauty but runs the risk of losing the inner beauty she’s had all along. Review: I really enjoyed B as in Beauty, despite the rather tawdry story elements. Alberto Ferraras has created a winning heroine and set her against some well-imagined set pieces that are titillating but never sleazy–or, at least, B never comes off as sleazy. I really…

Miracle Girls Contest

On Reading April 21, 2009 Superfast Reader 2 Comments

I’ve got 3–count ’em, 3– sets of the first 2 books in Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt’s Miracle Girls series to give away. These books are Christian YA with charm and emotional depth, written by two sweet women I’m pleased to call my friends. To enter, just leave a comment in the box below. You get an extra entry if you blog about the contest with a link back here. Many thanks to Hachette Books for sponsoring this contest. US and Canada only, I’m afraid.…

The Glass of Time by Michael Cox

British Literature April 19, 2009 Superfast Reader 2 Comments

Synopsis: Upon arriving at Evenwood as a lady’s maid, young Esperanza Gorst discovers that she is in the center of a plot to topple her mistress. Review: The Glass of Time is Michael Cox’s follow up to The Meaning of Night, continuing his Wilkie Collins-esque tale of intrigue and revenge with a Bronte-inspired suspense melodrama. I devoured it like a madwoman in an attic. Raised a lady in France, Miss Gorst is an unlikely choice for a lady’s maid. Her breeding and manners make it…

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt

On Reading April 16, 2009 Superfast Reader 2 Comments

Synopsis: As her father’s wedding approaches, Christine needs help more than ever to process her grief over her mother’s death, but her friends are all fighting with each other. Review: The second book in the Miracle Girls series, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do has a darker tone than Miracle Girls, and as a result goes a lot deeper. Angsty Christine is angrier and sadder than any of Anne & May’s protagonists to date, and in her pain she’s eminently relatable. They also do a…

This is Water by David Foster Wallace

American Literature April 14, 2009 Superfast Reader 2 Comments

Synopsis: Subtitled “Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life.” Review: This is Water is the text of a speech that David Foster Wallace gave to Kenyon’s class of 2005 at their graduation. It’s a meditation on importance of finding meaning in life. I was prepared to be angered by this work, given Wallace’s ultimate suicide. I have a hard time believing that someone who ended his own life could teach me how to live mine to the fullest. Surprisingly, Wallace’s…

Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz

American Literature April 13, 2009 Superfast Reader 4 Comments

Synopsis: A Princeton admissions officer faces a long-buried secret in the height of application season. Review: The college application process, shrouded in secrecy and constructed with fuzzy logic, proved quite fascinating in Admission. Watching Portia speak to prospective students, looking over her shoulder as she read through applications, and hearing her defend a process most believe inherently unfair and corrupt perked up a book with an otherwise unimpressive plot. Portia and her long-time boyfriend Mark have reached a crisis in their relationship, just as Portia…

Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake

British Literature April 11, 2009 Superfast Reader 2 Comments

Synopsis: Titus Groan, the 77th Earl of Gormenghast, heir to a decidedly odd fortune, is born amidst violence and intrigue of a most peculiar time. Review: I was captivated by the prose in Titus Groan, the first book in Mervyn Peake’s decidedly unique Gormenghast trilogy. Peake was also an illustrator, and his writing is exceptionally visual in the way that he describes his characters. He comes up with the most idiosyncratic quirks I’ve ever encountered, for characters named things like Prunesquallor and Sourdust and Steerpike.…

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Monthly Archives: April 2009