Books

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

Posted on January 3, 2017 Leave a Comment

★★★★☆ This hefty novel opens in 1806 with the meeting of the Great Magic Society. Theoretical magicians meet to discuss their discoveries while reading about, but not practicing, magic. A gentleman does not, after all, practice magic. Ms. Clarke weaves a wonderful tale filled with shadows lurking in dark corners and chilled breezes that sneak […]

The Buried Giant

Posted on July 26, 2016 Leave a Comment

The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Buried Giant is a book that will leave you thinking long after you have finished reading the last words. Kazuo Ishiguro masterfully weaves a tale of things forgotten, covered in the mists that hang like a curtain at the edge of remembering. […]

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating

Posted on January 21, 2016 Leave a Comment

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey ★★★★☆ I was pleasantly surprised with this book. The writing is very eloquent. It has a quiet strength to it that the reader may not realize until after reading Ms. Bailey’s story. The main character (the author), who is gravely ill, finds her own […]

Beastkeeper

Posted on January 20, 2016 Leave a Comment

Beastkeeper by Cat Hellisen ★★★★☆ I LOVED the writing style that carried me through this quaint story. The plot was not earth shattering so my rating of a four instead of five stars. I still really enjoyed reading this and recommend it to adults as well as young adults. From Goodreads: Sarah has always been […]

Fourth Son

Posted on November 3, 2015 Leave a Comment

Fourth Son by Monica Poole ★★★★☆ Fourth Son is a bitter tale of a young man, Jahnes Tehrel, who faces saving his family from slavery after his father dies in a mining accident. His decision changes his life and those he loves the most. This book is an excellent examination of a society built on […]

The Hundred-Year House

Posted on August 20, 2015 Leave a Comment

The Hundred-Year House by Rebecca Makkai ★★★★☆ The Hundred-Year House takes a look at a family’s estate from the recent past (Y2K era) back to the 1900’s through the quirky characters that occupy it. This is a treasure hunt disguised as a book. Rebecca Makkai pulls the reader back through a century of people who […]

Thea’s Tale

Posted on August 2, 2015 Leave a Comment

Thea’s Tale by Lisa Manifold ★★★★☆ This is a story of love, curses, and royalty. A fairy tale for everyone! Ms. Manifold weaves a new twist into the old German tale of twelve sisters who are cursed to dance every night until their shoes are torn and tattered. The original story is short(about 5 pages)whereas […]

The Paper Magician

Posted on February 12, 2015 Leave a Comment

The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg ★★★★★ Ceony Twill dreams of being a smelter magician, yet her desires are thwarted by her assignment to the eccentric Paper Magician Emery Thanes. Her apprenticeship to a paper magician initially seems like an insult to her. After all, she was the top student in her graduating class […]

Fairest: A Good Read

Posted on January 29, 2015 Leave a Comment

Fairest: Levana’s Story by Marissa Meyer My rating: 4 of 5 stars Fairest, the next installment in The Lunar Chronicals delves deep into the backstory of Levana and the royal family of Luna. Meyer develops Levana’s tragic life in such a way that I was sympathetic to her plight. Her evil rule is well established […]

A Beautiful Story

Posted on January 24, 2015 Leave a Comment

The Shell Collector by Hugh Howey My rating: 5 of 5 stars Hugh Howey has out done himself in this beautifully written book that explores the depth of love and passion to save a world that has lost so much. The Shell Collector is an exploration of great loss that leads to redemption. Howey takes […]