Tag Archives: 21st Century

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer (The Southern Reach Trilogy, Book 1)

American Literature February 4, 2014 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: A biologist signs up for an expedition to discover the secrets of Area X, a mysterious place that has driven the members of 11 previous to madness, suicide, and murder. Review: I am really glad that all three installments of this trilogy will be released this year, because after finishing Annihilation I am itching for more and certain that Jeff VanderMeer can deliver. The mood here is sublimely creepy, with outstanding descriptive passages that bring to life Area X in all its fecund, biologically…

The Vanishing by Wendy Webb

American Literature January 28, 2014 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Desperate to escape the notoriety inflicted on her thanks to her Bernie Madoff-esque ex-husband, a writer takes a job as companion to an elderly reclusive writer, only to find herself seeing ghosts around every corner. Review: The Vanishing started out with such promise, and while it did have some predictable elements, I felt that Wendy Webb did a great job parceling out the mystery to keep me engaged and interested. I was a bit disappointed in the ending, which felt like it came too…

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

American Literature January 28, 2014 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Offered the chance to infiltrate the training academy for the elite ruling class in a future where Mars has been colonized, a young miner who once believed in love transforms himself completely into a ruthless killer. Review: All comparisons between Red Rising and Ender’s Game and The Hunger Games are entirely and awesomely appropriate. I’m almost sad I got a review copy because I’ll just have to wait that much longer for the next installment in the story. The storytelling, worldbuilding, character development, and…

Evolving in Monkeytown by Rachel Held Evans

American Literature January 20, 2014 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Subtitled: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions. Review: If you grew up evangelical, you pretty much have to read Evolving in Monkeytown. Rachel Held Evans nails it perfectly. I have never felt such a kinship with a book in my life. I felt like the ending sort of wandered off, but that didn’t take away from its powerful message–that questions are more important to faith than answers.

A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire)

On Reading January 20, 2014 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: When honorable Ned Stark goes to court to serve as the Hand of the King, he places his family into danger at the hands of the Lannisters, who will stop at nothing to stay on top, even as zombie-like White Walkers are killing people in the north, and across the Narrow Sea a deposed princess is amassing an army for an invasion. Review: What struck me most on this reread of Game of Thrones (I think this is #4 or #5, I can’t be…

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

American Literature January 17, 2014 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: A young boy steals an invaluable painting in the wake of a bombing, and it comes to dominate his life. Review: If anybody actually follows this blog, they probably think I am dead. I have never gone this long without posting a review! It’s been 3 weeks! What a way to start the new year. Basically, what happened was that I started a reread of Game of Thrones. Then my friend loaned me a copy of The Goldfinch, so I started reading that at…

David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell

American Literature December 27, 2013 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Subtitled “Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants.” Review: In David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell reframes many underdog stories, some famous, some obscure, to reveal that there’s more to coming from behind than just luck and good fortune. The underdogs in his stories, including Huguenots hiding Jews in Vichy France, black children facing police dogs in Birmingham, Alabama, a scrappy basketball team comprised of short girls from nerdy families, Br’er Rabbit, and of course, David, the shepherd boy who became a king, won…

The Circle by Dave Eggers

American Literature December 24, 2013 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: When Mae gets a job at The Circle, the greatest tech company in the history of the world, she tries to reserve a little bit of privacy for herself, but The Circle is an all-consuming fire of connectivity and transparency. Review: I’ll blog about The Circle, but please do not like, share, or tweet this post. I certainly do not want you taking a selfie with this blog post, applying a sepia filter, and posting it to your stream. Please just read this book…

The Panopticon by Jenni Fagan

Scottish Literature December 20, 2013 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Anais has never known a family, having spent her entire life in the foster system, and now it seems she’ll be trading the small bit of freedom she still has for a jail sentence. Review: The Panopticon‘s marketing copy would have you believe that it’s another dystopian YA story. If you write it off because you’re weary of the genre, then you’ll be missing out. Anais is one of the most alive characters I’ve ever experienced in a book. For all her vulgarity and…

The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith

British Literature December 14, 2013 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: When a childhood friend asks PI Cormoran Strike to investigate the suspicious-looking suicide of his supermodel sister, Strike battles personal demons in order to revive his career and prevent the killer from striking again. Review: I am really, really picky when it comes to crime novels. I don’t love the genre in its own right, and I’m not generally a fan of recurring detectives. However, I’m desperately hoping that JK Rowling is planning to write more murder mysteries featuring Cormoran Strike because I just…

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