All posts by Superfast Reader

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

American Literature 3 Comments

Synopsis: The true story of a young man who gave up everything to live off the land in Alaska, only to die a painful death by starvation. Review: Into the Wild was a quick, fast-paced read that left me both satisfied and wanting to know more. Christopher McCandless’s decision to go his own iconoclastic way towards a wanton death seems crazy to most of us, yet author Jon Krakauer paints such a full picture of his personality that there doesn’t seem to be anything more…

Read More »

Homework by Margot Livesey

Australian Literature 1 Comment

Synopsis: Celia’s relationship would be perfect, if it weren’t for her boyfriend’s troublesome young daughter, and when she moves in with them, Celia finds herself caught in the middle. Review: Sort of a chick lit version of The Bad Seed, Homework combines splendid prose with a lackluster plot. I could see where it was headed a million miles out, and it didn’t surprise me at all. I was hoping for more, with such strong characterizations and enjoyable writing.

Read More »

The Surrogate by Kathryn Mackel

American Literature 2 Comments

Synopsis: A childless couple contracts with a lonely drifter to carry their sole remaining embryo, but little do they know that the baggage she brings includes criminal connections and demonic possession. Review: The Surrogate was simply terrible. Cardboard characters, overstuffed plotting, and an implausible storyline just really got on my nerves.

Read More »

Cute New Chick Lit Imprint

British Literature

I don’t ordinarily do promotion-only books–I pretty much only post book reviews. But recently I got an unsolicited package in the mail from the publishers of Little Black Dress Books, and the books just looked so cute that I wanted to let people know about them in case I don’t have time to read every single one of them. If you like British chick lit, then I think you would like these–they’re contemporary and just a bit sassy. I will post reviews when I get…

Read More »

College Girl by Patricia Weitz

American Literature 3 Comments

Synopsis: UConn transfer student Natalie finds that her lack of worldly experience can’t stand up to the pressures of a hot frat brother. Review: College Girl is really just a poor woman’s I Am Charlotte Simmons. I didn’t get sucked into Natalie’s story the way I had hoped to, because I usually love these kinds of tales, and I found myself frustrated with her relentless passivity (which she shares with Charlotte, but Wolfe made this almost an heroic quality in his heroine). Believe it or…

Read More »

No Night Is Too Long by Barbara Vine

British Literature

Synopsis: A love affair turns murderous during a voyage among desolate Arctic islands. Review: No Night Is Too Long was not my favorite Barbara Vine. While I found the central murder to be wonderfully original, I didn’t care for the characters and felt like some of the plot was a bit too contrived. The book appears to be out of print, so someone will get a lucky treat at my local thrift store this week!

Read More »

Just After Sunset by Stephen King

American Literature 2 Comments

Synopsis: A collection of short stories. Review: Just After Sunset offers a lackluster selection of short stories, hardly any of which really grabbed me by the collar. Many of them had a fancy twist ending that could be spotted a mile away (“The Mute”), while others were just deadly dull (“The Things They Left Behind”). I did enjoy “N,” which evoked the same creepy unease that I so loved in Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves. However, once it reached the final section it had…

Read More »

Going Under by Kathe Koja

American Literature

Synopsis: A psychologically entwined brother and sister are manipulated by a therapist claiming to want to help them. Review: At least, I think that’s what Going Under is about. It’s a slim little volume with very short chapters, more of a poetic novella than anything else, and I was completely unsatisfied by the read. I wanted so much more of these intriguing characters than just a taste.

Read More »

The Gospel-Driven Life by Michael Horton

American Literature

Synopsis: An in-depth explanation of the Christian gospel, intended to teach believers what they believe and why the believe it. Review: The Gospel-Driven Life is a companion piece to Michael Horton’s paradigm-shifting Christless Christianity. Where the latter offers a critique of the sorry state of nominally Christian churches, The Gospel-Driven Life gives believers the meat and potatoes of real, saving faith in Christ. I deeply heart Michael Horton. I am an obsessive listener of his podcast, The White Horse Inn, and just subscribed to his…

Read More »