In the Wilderness by Sigrid Undset (The Master of Hestviken)

June 11th, 2010 · No Comments

Synopsis: Medieval feudal lord now widower Olav Audunsson grapples with the sins of old that make each day a torment. Review: In the Wilderness had a strong transitional quality to it. I am hoping that the next book completes his spiritual journey because I was really unsatisfied with where he ended up at the end [...]

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Tags: Norwegian Literature

Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman

March 22nd, 2010 · No Comments

Synopsis: Hired to teach at a secluded, artsy boarding school, a young widow discovers that mystery and murder roil below the bucolic surface. Review: I wanted to adore Arcadia Falls, but I only got about 80% there. I loved the atmosphere that Carol Goodman created for Arcadia, the creepy boarding school in the middle of [...]

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Tags: American Literature

Say Goodnight, Gracie by Julie Reece Deaver

February 26th, 2010 · No Comments

Synopsis: Morgan and Jimmy were best friends, perhaps on the verge of something more, when tragedy strikes. Review: Back when I was in high school, Say Goodnight, Gracie was one of my favorite books, and I was curious to see if it held up so many years later. I can remember being drawn powerfully to [...]

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Tags: American Literature

Talking to the Dead by Bonnie Grove

August 27th, 2009 · 1 Comment

Synopsis: After the sudden death of her husband, a young widow begins to hear his voice at the same time she experiences a sort of amnesia about their last months. Review: Boy, I was really not expecting Talking to the Dead to be such a page-turner! I thought it was going to be an Anne [...]

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Tags: American Literature

The Straits by Jeremy Craig

July 10th, 2009 · 1 Comment

Synopsis: After losing his mother and his sister in a devastating hurricane, high school student Jim now faces losing the FEMA trailer he shares with his aunt, so he turns to gambling to win the money to save them. Review: I just had to review The Straits, because author Jeremy Craig lives in my neighborhood! [...]

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Tags: American Literature

The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand

June 18th, 2009 · 2 Comments

Synopsis: A tight-knit group of 4 couples must deal with the sudden and suspicious deaths of two of their own. Review: The Castaways put me off at first because it reminded me of The Big Chill, a movie I’ve never liked. I’ve never really been able to put my finger on why, except I know [...]

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Tags: American Literature

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

April 16th, 2009 · 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 [...]

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Tags: On Reading

Everything You Know by Zoe Heller

February 10th, 2009 · No Comments

Synopsis: After the suicide of his troubled daughter, a British journalist heads out to recuperate in Mexico and flee the ghosts that still linger even after he was acquitted of the murder of his wife. Review: Everything You Know is a much better book than its title would indicate. Author Zoe Heller is well-known for [...]

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Tags: British Literature

The Tree of Hands by Ruth Rendell

February 2nd, 2009 · No Comments

Synopsis: A bereft woman’s mother’s desperate act triggers a violent spiral affecting a whole community. Review: The Tree of Hands was lesser Ruth Rendell. It dates back to 1986 and she’s really grown as a writer since then. It definitely has her trademark nuanced characterizations but the story wasn’t as gripping as later works like [...]

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Tags: British Literature

Lisa Roe Remembers Dewey–Part 3

December 8th, 2008 · 10 Comments

Many of you know Lisa Roe, Online Publicist. This is part three of a guest post remembering Dewey. Parts one & two can be found at two other blogs. Part One Part Two And this is the persona I’ve adopted. I am strong and do not break. I glance at death, then quickly look away. [...]

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Tags: On Reading