Synopsis:
While working on a novel in Tunisia, a writer encounters his own heart of darkness.
Review:
I had written a truly brilliant review of Patricia Highsmith’s The Tremor of Forgery, but it got eaten. Fie! The salient points were:

Patricia Highsmith plays cat and mouse with the reader just like her most famous creation Tom Ripley [...]

Popularity: 42% [?]

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

[Read more →]

Pick up the nearest book. (I’m sure you must have one nearby.)
Turn to page 123.
What is the first sentence on the page?
The last sentence on the page?

$$(’div.d458′).each( function(e) { e.visualEffect(’slide_up’,{duration:0.5}) });

Popularity: 23% [?]

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

[Read more →]

Found this via It’s All About Books, and since movies are written by writers I think it works for a blog about reading. How many can you guess?
Here are the rules:
1. Pick 10 of your favorite movies.
2. Go to IMDb (Internet Movie Database) and find a quote from each movie.
3. Post them here for [...]

Popularity: 22% [?]

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

[Read more →]

Because I appreciate good writing in all media:

Popularity: 21% [?]

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

$$(’div.d443′).each( function(e) { e.visualEffect(’slide_up’,{duration:0.5}) });

Popularity: 21% [?]

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

[Read more →]

Merry Christmas, everyone! The Superfast Three are snuggled up in our apartment with my parents and my younger brother watching Fargo and waiting to get hungry for round 2 of the Irish ham we enjoyed last night.
I got a few books for Christmas this year, fewer than usual because I asked for clothes to [...]

Popularity: 17% [?]

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

[Read more →]

Synopsis:
Short stories, essays, and an unfinished novel by Shirley Jackson, queen of American Gothic and author of “The Lottery.”
Review:
My love for Shirley Jackson has been well documented in this blog, so I was delighted when my husband got me Come Along With Me for my birthday.
The collection opens with “Come Along With Me,” the novel [...]

Popularity: 48% [?]

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

[Read more →]

I was mighty impressed by Jeffrey Overstreet’s debut novel, Auralia’s Colors, and am so pleased that he had the time to answer some questions for Reading is my Superpower. Check back for the winner of the Auralia’s Colors giveaway!
When did you first begin Auralia’s Colors, and what was your inspiration?
Popularity: 21% [?]

Bookmark It

Hide [...]

Popularity: 21% [?]

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

[Read more →]

As you may be aware, I currently have a part-time job analyzing books and screenplays for a production company. I read the material, provide a detailed synopsis, and then offer my opinion as to whether the material has promise as a feature film. Last night’s work read was an especially challenging one, offering [...]

Popularity: 29% [?]

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

[Read more →]

I’m attempting to write a novel. Well, I’ve attempted to write several novels, at least five that I can think of. This time, I’m attempting to finish a novel. At least a first draft.
In the past, I’ve tried free writing on the computer and in a notebook, but I always get bogged [...]

Popularity: 13% [?]

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

[Read more →]

Synopsis:
A memoir about a writer’s descent into Ritalin and cocaine addiction while working on the not-supposed-to-be-about-her follow up to her best-selling first memoir.
Review:
If I could dare to face my obsession with Elizabeth Wurtzel, author of Prozac Nation, I would still not go into therapy because any cure for Wurtzelmania would ruin my taste for things [...]

Popularity: 35% [?]

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

[Read more →]