The Vanishing by Wendy Webb

Synopsis: Desperate to escape the notoriety inflicted on her thanks to her Bernie Madoff-esque ex-husband, a writer takes a job as companion to an elderly reclusive writer, only to find herself seeing ghosts around every corner. Review: The Vanishing started out with such promise, and while it did have some predictable elements, I felt that Wendy Webb did a great job parceling out the mystery to keep me engaged and interested. I was a bit disappointed in the ending, which felt like it came too…

Read More »

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Synopsis: Offered the chance to infiltrate the training academy for the elite ruling class in a future where Mars has been colonized, a young miner who once believed in love transforms himself completely into a ruthless killer. Review: All comparisons between Red Rising and Ender’s Game and The Hunger Games are entirely and awesomely appropriate. I’m almost sad I got a review copy because I’ll just have to wait that much longer for the next installment in the story. The storytelling, worldbuilding, character development, and…

Read More »

Evolving in Monkeytown by Rachel Held Evans

Synopsis: Subtitled: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions. Review: If you grew up evangelical, you pretty much have to read Evolving in Monkeytown. Rachel Held Evans nails it perfectly. I have never felt such a kinship with a book in my life. I felt like the ending sort of wandered off, but that didn’t take away from its powerful message–that questions are more important to faith than answers.

Read More »

A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire)

Synopsis: When honorable Ned Stark goes to court to serve as the Hand of the King, he places his family into danger at the hands of the Lannisters, who will stop at nothing to stay on top, even as zombie-like White Walkers are killing people in the north, and across the Narrow Sea a deposed princess is amassing an army for an invasion. Review: What struck me most on this reread of Game of Thrones (I think this is #4 or #5, I can’t be…

Read More »

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Synopsis: A young boy steals an invaluable painting in the wake of a bombing, and it comes to dominate his life. Review: If anybody actually follows this blog, they probably think I am dead. I have never gone this long without posting a review! It’s been 3 weeks! What a way to start the new year. Basically, what happened was that I started a reread of Game of Thrones. Then my friend loaned me a copy of The Goldfinch, so I started reading that at…

Read More »