Category Archives: American Literature

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

American Literature November 28, 2008 Superfast Reader 4 Comments

Synopsis: After spending time incarcerated in a secret prison after a terrorist attack, a computer-savvy teen decides to fight back in the name of the Constitution. Review: I am so not cool enough for Little Brother. I’ve never hacked, coded, partitioned or flashmobbed. I don’t understand crypto and I’ve never touched an Xbox. I did learn BASIC programming when I was in elementary school, and one time I spent half a day typing in commands that I got from Mad Magazine, promising to render a…

The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe

American Literature November 24, 2008 Superfast Reader 10 Comments

Synopsis: In which a journeyman in the guild of torturers becomes ruler of the world. Review: I should have reviewed this book in two parts, because it’s published that way, as Shadow and Claw and Sword and Citadel. Perhaps I would be less intimidated by the prospect of discussing what ended up being an immense, sprawling, daunting work if I took smaller bites. Too late now. The Book of the New Sun is an epic fantasy with science fiction elements, or perhaps it is the…

This is the Feast – Day 3

American Literature November 19, 2008 Superfast Reader 6 Comments

On the last day of the blog tour for This is the Feast, I want to encourage you to check out author Diana Z. Shore’s official website. She is a very busy author who does lots of book signings, conferences, and other speaking engagements. Her Author-on-the-Go program looks innovative and fun. This is the Feast is a retelling of the Thanksgiving story. I can’t help but reflect on last year’s Thanksgiving, when Superfast Toddler was only 7 days old! Superfast Husband cooked a complete meal…

This is the Feast – Day 2

American Literature November 18, 2008 Superfast Reader 1 Comment

It’s Day Two of the Blog Tour for This is the Feast, and I thought I’d post author Diana Z. Shore’s bio, which has links to some of her other books: After 9Â½ years, 385 rejections, and a forest of sloppy copies, teacher-turned-author Diane Z. Shore published her first picture book, BUS-A-SAURUS BOP, a rollicking, rhyming read-aloud, and winner of the 2004 Childrenâ€™s Choice Award. Now a full time author and read-aloud advocate, Diane writes in a variety of genres and her books have been…

This is the Feast by Diana Z. Shore

American Literature November 17, 2008 Superfast Reader 3 Comments

Synopsis: A telling of the Thanksgiving story in rhyming couplets, with illustrations by Megan Lloyd. Review: It’s day one of the blog tour for This is the Feast, so I’ll be blogging about the book for the next three days. This is the Feast is an illustrated book with a beautiful poem about the Pilgrims’ voyage and the first Thanksgiving. What I like about it is that it’s structured as a giving thanks itself–for everything that the Pilgrims experience, they find something to be thankful…

Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz (Blue Bloods 3)

American Literature October 31, 2008 Superfast Reader 17 Comments

Synopsis: Half-vampire Schuyler learns more about her lineage and has a secret love affair with the twin of her nemesis, as the war between the vampire Blue Bloods and Lucifer’s army of Silver Bloods escalates. Review: When I signed up to review Revelations, I didn’t realize it was book 3 in a series, and I really had a hard time catching up with all of the vampire lore and the history between the characters. From what I gathered, vampires were fallen angels who mutinied against…

In the Woods by Tana French

American Literature October 30, 2008 Superfast Reader 3 Comments

Synopsis: A murder investigation cuts too close to the bone for a detective who was once part of a missing persons case himself. Review: The other Sunday, Superfast Husband had to go to Home Depot after church, and since Superfast Toddler would certainly fall asleep in the car, I needed a book to read while listening to her dulcet snores. We stopped into the murder mystery bookshop nearby, where I asked if they could request anyone who loves Barbara Vine, and likes Ruth Rendell but…

Guardian by Julian Lester

American Literature October 28, 2008 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: A white boy in in 1946 witnesses a lynching. Review: While the subject matter of Guardian is powerful, the approach is heavy-handed, and I don’t think it has anything new to say about racial violence. It’s certainly no To Kill A Mockingbird, and honestly I would be disappointed if a teen picked up this book instead of that one, just because it’s new. The characters are thin to the point of caricature, and there is such a sharp distinction between the good guys and…

Something Wicked by Alan Gratz

American Literature October 27, 2008 Superfast Reader 6 Comments

Synopsis: When his best friend Mac starts acting like a jerk after a fortune teller prophesies that he’ll be king of the Scottish games, budding investigator Horatio Wilkes thinks it’s just a bad mood, until Mac’s grandfather Duncan ends up dead. Review: Something Wicked is a clever, edgy young adult retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, which happens to be my absolute favorite Shakespeare play. Author Alan Gratz doesn’t hew too closely to the plot of the Scottish play, taking what works, riffing on what’s memorable, and…

Testimony by Anita Shreve

American Literature October 21, 2008 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: A sex scandal rocks a prep school. Review: I did not care for Testimony. I felt like the writing was on the nose and even lazy. I’m sure Anita Shreve can do better.

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