Category Archives: American Literature

Crocodaddy Giveaway!

American Literature 6 Comments

I’ve been having a great time on the Crocodaddy book tour. And I’m so pleased that author Kim Norman is hosting a giveaway for readers of this blog! Leave a comment by midnight tonight EST, and I will choose a winner at random to receive a signed copy. (US only, please!) The other participants are here: A Christian Worldview of Fiction, A Mom Speaks, A Pathcwork of Books, All About Children’s Books, Becky’s Book Reviews, Booking Mama,Cafe of Dreams, Dolce Bellezza, Fireside Musings, KidzBookBuzz.com, Looking…

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Kim Norman Interview (Crocodaddy Blog Tour Day 2)

American Literature 3 Comments

Kim Norman, author of Crocodaddy, answered some questions for me. Thanks, Kim! The book is partly inspired by your own young sons. How does being a mom affect your writing? When my boys were little, I loved reading to them. I find reading children’s books to be very inspirational. My creativity is particularly sparked by wordplay, so I really miss those whimsical conversations you can have with a 4-year-old. Because they lack a long vocabulary history, they take words very literally, which can lead to…

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Crocodaddy by Kim Norman (Blog Tour Day 1)

American Literature 2 Comments

Synopsis: An illustrated children’s book about a boy who takes a fantastic ride on the back of a friendly crocodile. Review: Crocodaddy follows a young boy as he faces his fears and wrestles with a crocodile. Playfully illustrated by David Norman, the book uses surfing and snowboarding imagery to represent our hero’s imaginative ride. Older preschoolers will love how the rhymes evoke action, movement, and play, and it seems natural that they will want to play Crocodaddy themselves. I will have an interview with Kim…

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So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore by Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman

American Literature 1 Comment

Synopsis: A pastor facing a spiritual crisis receives counsel from a man who may be St. John. Review: So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore has a lot of great insights into the crippling effect that the legalism of religious obligation can have on anyone’s faith. I was with the book for the first two-thirds, nodding my head in agreement as John enlightens Pastor Jake about seeking life and salvation from God, not from rituals like Sunday morning worship or weekly Bible study.…

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The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King

American Literature

Synopsis: Falsely imprisoned for regicide, Prince Peter plots his escape, determined to defeat the wizard who framed him. Review: As far as I can recall, The Eyes of the Dragon marks Stephen King’s sole foray into fantasy, apart from his Dark Tower series (which I adore). It’s a shame, because he writes masterfully in the genre. I’ve read The Eyes of the Dragon six or seven times now, and never fail to be sucked in by its simplicity and moral depth. King’s excellent characterizations imbue…

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B As In Beauty by Alberto Ferraras

American Literature 2 Comments

Synopsis: Overweight B hates her life, but when she’s adopted by a fairy godmother running a most unorthodox service, she gets in touch with her outer beauty but runs the risk of losing the inner beauty she’s had all along. Review: I really enjoyed B as in Beauty, despite the rather tawdry story elements. Alberto Ferraras has created a winning heroine and set her against some well-imagined set pieces that are titillating but never sleazy–or, at least, B never comes off as sleazy. I really…

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This is Water by David Foster Wallace

American Literature 2 Comments

Synopsis: Subtitled “Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life.” Review: This is Water is the text of a speech that David Foster Wallace gave to Kenyon’s class of 2005 at their graduation. It’s a meditation on importance of finding meaning in life. I was prepared to be angered by this work, given Wallace’s ultimate suicide. I have a hard time believing that someone who ended his own life could teach me how to live mine to the fullest. Surprisingly, Wallace’s…

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Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz

American Literature 4 Comments

Synopsis: A Princeton admissions officer faces a long-buried secret in the height of application season. Review: The college application process, shrouded in secrecy and constructed with fuzzy logic, proved quite fascinating in Admission. Watching Portia speak to prospective students, looking over her shoulder as she read through applications, and hearing her defend a process most believe inherently unfair and corrupt perked up a book with an otherwise unimpressive plot. Portia and her long-time boyfriend Mark have reached a crisis in their relationship, just as Portia…

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Laura Rider’s Masterpiece by Jane Hamilton

American Literature 1 Comment

Synopsis: A married couple starts sending love emails to a popular public radio personality, leading to tragicomic results. Review: In Laura Rider’s Masterpiece, Oprah-blessed Jane Hamilton’s latest protagonist is a woman who dreams of being Jane Hamilton. Laura Rider is the owner of a midwestern garden center who’s been nurturing the fantasy of becoming a writer for ages. A chance meeting with new neighbor Jenna Faroli, the host of a “Fresh Air”-type show on public radio, gives Laura the impetus to take her dreams more…

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Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford

American Literature 4 Comments

Synopsis: Carter just can’t believe he’s still a virgin, but hopefully starting high school will change all that! Review: Carter Finally Gets It was really not for me. I am very sensitive now that I’m a mom and it was really hard to read about 13- and 14-year-old girls dressing like prostitutes. I just don’t want to read about children being sexually active as a comedy.

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