The Paladin Prophecy by Mark Frost (Book 1)

American Literature September 25, 2012 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: A boy enters an elite prep school to hide from the mysterious black capped men who are stalking him and who have taken over his family, only to discover a conspiracy coming from another dimension. Review: The Paladin Prophecy is extremely well-written, and despite the presence of many expected genre elements, it showed a lot of imagination. Not surprising, considering that Mark Frost was the co-creator of Twin Peaks, one of the best TV shows of all time. I found so much I liked…

The Politics of Breastfeeding by Gabrielle Palmer

British Literature September 18, 2012 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Subtitled: When Breasts are Bad for Business. Review: The Politics of Breastfeeding is a history of the ways in which breastfeeding is challenged by societal constructs and business entities. For example, a large portion of the book outlines the ways in which formula manufacturers have spend (and continue to spend) billions of dollars to win customers. That’s not so different than any corporation–except these companies are coming up with ways to prevent mothers and babies from being able to breastfeed. In the case of…

The End of Men and The Rise of Women by Hanna Rosin

American Literature September 11, 2012 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: A sociological look at the transformation of gender roles in 21st century America and beyond. Review: While there was a lot of fascinating research in The End of Men, I couldn’t help but wonder what she was leaving out. I think her claims make for a media-ready argument, but she’s hardly described the totality of the world. People are way more complicated than she’s giving them credit for–particularly the working class types she patronizes by larding their dialogue with colloquialisms. I really don’t like…

Fleeing Fundamentalism by Carlene Cross

American Literature September 9, 2012 Superfast Reader 4 Comments

Synopsis: The wife of a fundamentalist pastor details her years of abuse at the hands of her hypocritical husband. Review: A friend of mine recommended Fleeing Fundamentalism after hearing that I’d been digging into books on polygamy. Honestly, these kinds of stories are the only kinds of memoirs I want to read–stories about women dealing with extreme personal situations. I definitely appreciated Carlene Cross’s insight into her particular situation, but as is generally the case I was disappointed in the theology-lite. Sadly, Cross came to…

Breed by Chase Novak

American Literature September 9, 2012 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: After seeking fertility treatments from a Slovenian doctor, a wealthy Manhattan couple gets in touch with their animal side, and their kids might be the ones to pay the ultimate price. Review:

The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle

American Literature September 7, 2012 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Pepper’s not mentally ill, but he’s in a mental hospital nonetheless, and he wants to get out before his automatic bill payments drain his checking account–and before he’s stalked and destroyed by the devil who lives behind the silver door at the end of the hall. Review: I rarely cry when I read books. Like, I’m talking under ten times in my whole reading life. So when I tell you that the end of The Devil in Silver moved me to tears, you get…

The Sound and the Echoes by Dew Pellucid

American Literature September 4, 2012 Superfast Reader 1 Comment

Synopsis: All humans are “Sounds” with “Echoes” in the echo world, and when a Sound dies, the Echo must be killed, so when a boy discovers that his Echo is a prince, he quickly realizes that there is a target on his back. Review: The Sound and the Echoes is a middle-grade fantasy with an intriguing concept. For me, I felt like there were too many rules, but I think that’s because I’m a grown up not a kid. I’m curious to see what Amanda…

The Playdate by Louise Millar

British Literature September 4, 2012 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: A single mom decides to return to work, inciting a chain of events that puts her daughter in jeopardy. Review: The Playdate felt like a great follow up to Gone Girl. It’s not that they are so similar in terms of plot or genre. But they both built great suspense from intimate relationships, and had plenty of twists and turns. I also really loved the way the book dealt with the stresses faced by working moms in the creative sector. It’s so competitive and…

The Serpent’s Bite by Warren Adler

American Literature September 4, 2012 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: When troubled siblings head into the wilderness with their aging father, their hopes to secure their inheritance lead them to make unfathomable choices, even as their guide succumbs to alcoholism. Review: I really try to avoid posting negative reviews–when I don’t like a book, I just won’t finish reading it. But for some reason I kept reading The Serpent’s Bite even though I wasn’t really enjoying it, and since author Warren Adler has written a ton of books I think he can probably weather…

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Monthly Archives: September 2012