The House by the Churchyard by J. Sheridan Le FanuMy rating: 4 of 5 stars When you read the work of a good writer, you feel its distinctiveness, and if the book is a surprise to you, it feels as … Continue reading →
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters My rating: 2 of 5 stars I entered this book with high hopes and exited with a sigh that it had taken it so long to do so little. The story telegraphs its next … Continue reading →
Chronicle in Stone by Ismail KadareMy rating: 5 of 5 stars This is one of those books that makes its own ground; told through a child’s consciousness, the novel explores the life of a city prior to and during World … Continue reading →
Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee DivakaruniMy rating: 4 of 5 stars Reading this novel was a marvelous experience. The writing is to be admired in all ways; the language is rhythmic, the images verdant, and the world of … Continue reading →
The pile of books I have been meaning to read has begun to shrink. It is a virtual pile, not an actual one. I gave up on the physical pile and shelved all the books stacked there. Well, truth be … Continue reading →
The Farewell Symphony by Edmund White I have loved Edmund White’s books since I first discovered them. I like this one mildly. I read it with some absorption, but more as a memoir than a novel; the chatty, I’m-talking-to-you-directly quality … Continue reading →
The Thief’s Journal by Jean GenetMy rating: 3 of 5 stars I’m mindful here that the rating is about how much I liked the book, not necessarily how good it is. That it is a good book, a great book, … Continue reading →
Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi My rating: 4 of 5 stars What struck me about this book was its depiction of what women went through in Iran over the course of the years described … Continue reading →
There is a certain kind of book that makes me crazed. Well, exaggeration, of course. But which irks me. The chatty, wise first person narrator. Constantly pausing the drama to give me observations on LIFE. “I do like bean burritos,” … Continue reading →
Year of the Dog by Shelby HearonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars This is my introduction to Shelby Hearon; the book was very readable, clear, and moved forward nicely, the story of a woman who must reinvent her emotional life … Continue reading →