Monthly Archives: February 2010

Say Goodnight, Gracie by Julie Reece Deaver

American Literature

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 their friendship and aching over Morgan’s grief. I wanted a best friend like Jimmy, though it wasn’t until reading it now that I realized that author Julie Reece Deaver had…

Read More »

Red Prophet by Orson Scott Card (Tales of Alvin Maker)

American Literature

Synopsis: As Alvin Maker heads out for his apprenticeship, the French conspire to rouse the Reds against the Whites for a war that will win all of an alternate America for Napoleon. Review: I am a big fan of how Orson Scott Card has created an American history that encompasses just enough of our reality to feel authentic, but then skewed to include magic and mysticism. In Red Prophet, Card turns Tecumseh into Ta-Kumsaw, and gives him a brother named Lolla-Wossiky whose transformation will affect…

Read More »

My Father’s Moon by Elizabeth Jolley

Australian Literature 2 Comments

Synopsis: An unwed mother tries working in an impoverished boarding school and finds herself yearning for the nurse she fell in love with back when both were working in a military hospital in England during WWII. Review: My Father’s Moon is the first of three books in The Vera Wright Trilogy, an autobiographical series that has long been out-of-print. Highly praised in its time, Elizabeth Jolley‘s work wasn’t widely known outside of her native Australia until now. Based on My Father’s Moon, I daresay Ms.…

Read More »

The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon

American Literature

Synopsis: In the near future, a high-functioning autistic man is presented with the opportunity to be “fixed,” causing him to wonder if he was ever really broken. Review: I first read Speed of Dark a few years ago, on the recommendation of a friend. I really enjoyed revisiting it, especially now that I’m a mom and have friends who have kids on the autism spectrum. I really loved how Elizabeth Moon made Leo a real, relatable character, to the point where I really wanted him…

Read More »

Giveaway–Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten

American Literature 5 Comments

I’m so grateful to the kind folks at Point who have given my site 3 copies of Wherever Nina Liesby Lynn Weingarten! To enter, leave a comment on this post by 11:59pm EST on Monday, March 1st. You can earn extra entries by blogging about this contest or posting it on Twitter, and leaving a trackback. About Wherever Nina Lies: Nina was beautiful, wild, and adored by her younger sister, Ellie. But, one day, Nina disappeared. Two years later, everyone has given up home that…

Read More »

Giveaway–Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb

On Reading 3 Comments

The kind folks at Eos want to give 2 readers of my blog a copy of Robin Hobb’s newest book, Dragon Keeper! I loved it loved it loved it and am excited to share the love with you all. To enter, leave a comment below by 11:59 EST on Thursday, February 26th. Earn additional entries by blogging or tweeting this contest, or posting to Facebook. Just leave a link or a trackback. I’ll choose 2 winners via random.org. Open to US residents only, sorry. Good…

Read More »

Best Bet by Laura Pederson

American Literature

Synopsis: Faced with a marriage proposal on the one side and the chance to travel around the world on the other, Hallie Palmer chooses the unfamiliar, hoping to find herself in the process. Review: While I admired Laura Pederson’s strong prose skills, I was not drawn in by the story at the center of Best Bet. I lost interest after about 100 pages. Many thanks to iUniverse for the review copy.

Read More »