Monthly Archives: May 2010

Winged Wonders: A Celebration of Birds in Human History

British Literature 1 Comment

Synopsis: A compendium of trivia, history, biology, and references to art, mythology, poetry, and literature for 19 different birds. Review: Winged Wonders is a real rara avis of a book. Basically, it’s a collection of all sorts of information related to a bunch of different birds, like the raven, the heron, the cuckoo, the falcon, and many more. There are poems, myths, historical references, and basic biological facts, all of them really compelling and quirky and fun. What I really love about this book is…

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Holes by Louis Sachar

American Literature

Synopsis: Sent to a camp for juvenile delinquents, Stanley Yelnats is forced to dig holes for the duration of his sentence, but when he figures out that the Warden is looking for something, he decides to take action. Review: The reputation of Holes is well-deserved. It’s a fast-paced read with plenty of original plot elements that would appeal to both girls and boys. I’m glad I finally picked this one up and will be saving it for the permanent library for Superfast Toddler & Superfast…

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Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

American Literature

Synopsis: Incarceron is a living prison from which no one can escape, but when the warden’s daughter makes a shocking discovery, she works to break Incarceron’s protections with the aid of a boy who believes he was born on the outside. Review: I attempted to listen to the audio book of Incarceron, but the late stages of pregnancy has made it impossible for me to concentrate on anything more complicated than nursery rhymes. But the concept really grabbed me, so I snagged a copy through…

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Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things by Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee

American Literature 7 Comments

Synopsis: The psychology of hoarding in its different manifestations. Review: Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things is eminently readable, a prime example of the best of what popular psychology has to offer. Great case studies, analysis that goes deep but never wonky, and well-chosen anecdotes bring the multi-faceted issue of hoarding to life. What struck me the most was the insight that hoarders are people who see more beauty and complexity in the world than most people, sort of like aesthetic savants. They…

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The Year of the Warrior by Lars Walker

American Literature

Synopsis: Captured by Vikings, Aillil escapes slavery by claiming to be a priest, and despite his practical atheism finds himself doing God’s work as the brave, noble hersir Erling Skjalgsson tries to bring order to the violent world of 10th Century Norway. Review: The Year of the Warrior is a prequel to Lars Walker‘s more recent West Oversea, and actually comprises two novels. I think it would be best to read them in order, but all three books are so excellent and stand so well…

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On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision by William Lane Craig

American Literature

Synopsis: A primer on classic Christian apologetics. Review: All spring, I’ve been immersed in a series on Renewing Your Mind, RC Sproul’s podcast, that has gone in-depth into the classic philosophical, reason-based arguments for the existence of God. It’s heady stuff, and so I leapt at the chance to review On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision, in the hopes that the information would complement that provided by the learned Dr. Sproul. I was quite pleased to find that William Lane Craig covers…

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The Whole World by Emily Winslow

British Literature

Synopsis: Three Cambridge students working with the blind daughter of a famous novelist have their lives disrupted when one of them disappears. Review: In her other life, Emily Winslow is a well-respected crafter of puzzles, and that expertise shines through in the intricate plotting of The Whole World. Through the use of multiple points-of-view, Winslow creates a layered mystery where it’s nearly impossible to figure out what really happened–but when you learn the truth, it all makes perfect sense. I loved the Cambridge setting and…

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Prospect Park West by Amy Sohn

American Literature

Synopsis: MILFs in Brooklyn! Review: Amy Sohn is a writer who’s been on my radar since I first moved to New York City in 1995, and it’s like she’s lived the public, more successful version of my life. Her single girl escapades got published in the New York Press; I was an escapading single girl who read the Press every week. She wrote a novel loosely based on her own life that got turned into a movie; I do movie adaptations of books whose writers…

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The Axe by Sigrid Undset (The Master of Hestviken)

Norwegian Literature 1 Comment

Synopsis: Betrothed as children, Olav and Ingunn grew up together, but when Ingunn’s parents die, they take an irrevocable step that jeopardizes their futures and the social system that surrounds them. Review: The Axe begins a 4-book series by Sigrid Undset, the Nobel Prize-winning author of the acclaimed and beloved Kristin Lavransdatter books. Like that series, The Axe concerns itself heavily with matters of sexual morality and the toxic nature of secret sin, only this time we get the man’s perspective as well. Olav isn’t…

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