Tag Archives: 21st Century

Accidentally on Purpose by Mary F. Pols

American Literature July 15, 2009 Superfast Reader 1 Comment

Synopsis: The true story of 39-year-old film critic who has a one-night stand that leaves her Knocked Up. Review: Accidentally on Purpose is heartwarming, honest, and achingly real. Mary F. Pols is a fantastic writer and she managed to avoid many of the pitfalls of the autobiography by just letting the story tell itself. I was most interested in her relationship with Matt, her 29-year-old unemployed, directionless baby daddy. In many ways she tried to parent him, too, only to have to let go and…

The Straits by Jeremy Craig

American Literature July 10, 2009 Superfast Reader 1 Comment

Synopsis: After losing his mother and his sister in a devastating hurricane, high school student Jim now faces losing the FEMA trailer he shares with his aunt, so he turns to gambling to win the money to save them. Review: I just had to review The Straits, because author Jeremy Craig lives in my neighborhood! A mutual friend told me about the book and it sounded right up my alley. I really enjoyed it. The Straits refers to the trailer park where Jim and his…

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

American Literature July 7, 2009 Superfast Reader 5 Comments

This is a guest post by Superfast Toddlers awesome babysitter Namiko, a teenage girl who loves loves loves to read. She reminds me a lot of myself at her age, and we swap books back and forth. Synopsis: When Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is told to leave the only home she has known, the ThÃ©Ã¢tre Illuminata, she is given one chance to prove that she is a valuable member of the company. Review: I re-read a lot. Itâ€™s just the way I am, but I donâ€™t…

West Oversea by Lars Walker

American Literature July 2, 2009 Superfast Reader 16 Comments

Synopsis: In 1001 AD, an Irish priest travels with a famed Norse hero to Iceland, Greenland, and parts unknown, in the company of a wicked talisman that gives him the second sight. Review: West Oversea takes the tone of a saga, only with an accessibility that had me turning pages like a madwoman to find out what new wonder Lars Walker would create for me. I want to read everything else he’s ever written! Lucky for you, the publisher (Nordskog Publishing) has given me 2…

This Wicked World by Richard Lange

American Literature June 30, 2009 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Fresh out of jail and trying to go straight, ex-bodyguard Jimmy Boone’s curiosity is piqued by a mauled pit bull, leading him to a cache of counterfeit money, a pissed-off stripper, and a conman looking to retire at any cost. Review: I wasn’t sure that I would like This Wicked World, being that I typically prefer British crime novels written by women to American crime novels of any kind. It did not take long for me to get totally sucked into the book, however,…

A Morning Like This by Deborah Bedford

American Literature June 25, 2009 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: When David learns that he has a daughter from an affair, and that she needs a bone marrow transplant from his son, he confesses all to his wife and tries to put his marriage back together. Review: I really did not care for A Morning Like This. I felt like David expected cheap grace just because the child from his affair had cancer, and didn’t think he needed to do any real work of repentance. He was just awful to Abby, not allowing her…

Ms. Taken Identity by Dan Begley

American Literature June 22, 2009 Superfast Reader 1 Comment

Synopsis: A guy decides to write a chick lit novel, and finds love and loses himself along the way. Review: Ms. Taken Identity could’ve been a big huge miss. It’s a great concept that the author could’ve coasted on. Happily, Ms. Taken Identity has humor, heart, and a whole lot of smarts. Mitch is a PhD candidate with a 750-page magnum opus that nobody wants to buy. On a lark, he decides to write chick lit because in his mind, any idiot can do it.…

The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand

American Literature June 18, 2009 Superfast Reader 3 Comments

Synopsis: A tight-knit group of 4 couples must deal with the sudden and suspicious deaths of two of their own. Review: The Castaways put me off at first because it reminded me of The Big Chill, a movie I’ve never liked. I’ve never really been able to put my finger on why, except I know it has something to do with Glenn Close’s smug smile throughout. Perhaps it was because although they were ostensibly reuniting because of a death, they were so solipsistic in their…

You Make Me Feel Like Dancing by Allison Bottke

American Literature June 16, 2009 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Dancing hairdresser Susan loves disco and dreams of opening a Disco Hall of Fame, but secrets from her Studio 54 past may ruin everything. Review: I’m totally the wrong demographic for “boomer lit,” and I never really connected with the characters in You Make Me Feel Like Dancing. I felt like the Christian aspect didn’t go very deep, with much of the God-talk feeling like Oprah-theology, not orthodox Christianity. It just was not for me.

The Sinful Life of Lucy Burns by Elizabeth Leiknes

American Literature June 15, 2009 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Lucy only wanted to save her sister after a accident, but a lifetime escorting souls to hell wasn’t quite the price she had in mind, and now she wants out. Review: The Sinful Life of Lucy Burns was a quick, breezy read. Elizabeth Leikness has imagination to spare when it comes to her plotting, and I never quite guessed what was coming next. She has a wonderfully satirical wit, but her book isn’t superficial at all. Lucy’s job is to wrangle the truly wicked…

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