Monthly Archives: October 2007

Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles

American Literature 2 Comments

Synopsis: Leah Greene is dead, and her ex-best friend Laine thinks it’s her fault because she hated Leah so much for what they did in the closet. Review: Lessons from a Dead Girl is definitely the kind of YA that I gravitated to when I was a teen: suggestive premise and hints of illicit activity, all masked in an object lesson about something or other. This is a fair-to-middling entrant in the subgenre. The writing is good with strong characters, but it never really soars…

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A Basket of Books for Baby!

On Reading 12 Comments

I had baby showers last weekend and this weekend, and since everybody knows I’m a reader, I got a ton of books for Superfast Baby. In fact, the theme of the shower my mom & my high school friend threw was “books” and everybody brought a book to put in this really cute basket. Plus, my best friend from college, who is also a huge reader plus has an MA in Children’s Literature, made me a list of books that she and her kids really…

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Librarything’s Top 106 Unread Books

On Reading 6 Comments

This afternoon’s work read was too boring for words. I picked this meme up from BookGal. These are the top 106 books tagged “unread” in Librarything. Why 106? Nobody knows… The rules: Bold what you have read, italicize books you’ve started but couldn’t finish, and strike through books you hated. Add an asterisk* to those you’ve read more than once. Underline those on your tbr list.

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Three Crafting Books

American Literature, British Literature 1 Comment

Reading is only one of my many loves. I also enjoy knitting, cooking, and running. I am not superfast at any of those. In fact, when it comes to running, I’m superslow. I received review copies of three DIY books from the publisher Watson-Guptill, and I’m going to my best to let you know whether or not they will bring crafting goodness into your life. Super Stitches Knitting The first is Super Stitches Knitting by Karen Hemingway. It opens with the requisite “Knitting Basics,” covering…

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Sunless by Gerard Donovan

American Literature

Synopsis: Bereft and aimless, an ex-meth head signs up to test a new drug promising to cure anxiety of all kinds. Review: I picked up Sunless because it promised a Chuck Pahlaniuk-esque satirical romp through all the woes of our modern age, dressed up in off-kilter post-apocalyptic trappings and with an addictive prose style. Instead, I suffered through a lazily written, incoherently plotted, almost aggressively aimless stylistic exercise that I had to force myself to finish reading. Thankfully it’s not very long, so I could…

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Last Chance to Win a Free Book!

On Reading

The Auralia’s Colors contest closes tonight at midnight EST–and I have good news to report. I have not one, but TWO copies to give away. And both are signed by author Jeffrey Overstreet–here’s a link to the interview if you missed it. Send an email with the subject line AURALIA to superfastreader -at- gmail -dot- com or use the contact form below. The winners will be announced right here tomorrow morning.

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The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

American Literature 18 Comments

Synopsis: An Indian-American immigrant named after a Russian writer struggles to find his place in the world. Review: I know the month is only 2 days young, but The Namesake might be my favorite read of October. Sprawling and intimate, Gogol Ganguli’s story riveted me in a way that I wish Zadie Smith’s White Teeth had. Though perhaps that’s just that I’m an American and not British. I found Gogol’s world and struggles to be accessible, and I connected with him even though he’s very…

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