Over this much extended winter (sigh) I have been gobbling up mysteries left and right. I have recently realized that the ones that keep me on my toes the most are those with a non-linear timeline. Not to worry, these books have nothing to do with math! By non-linear, I mean that the story unfolds […]
If you love hair-raising Gothic novels, you can’t do better than The Darkling Bride by Laura Andersen. This is a complex, well-plotted novel that came out just this year, and it hits all the right notes for a dark and intriguing read. Pitch-perfect! The story takes place in Ireland, and begins in 2015 with Carragh Ryan, […]
Here’s a cozy read as we experience the last of the cold days that make this spring seem like we are still in the midst of winter. Chilean visiting professor, Lucia Maraz hunkers down in her freezing Brooklyn apartment with her beloved chihuahua, as a storm pelts the city. Perhaps she’ll make some soup and ask […]
Some people say that reading graphic novels is not reading, I disagree! Lucy Knisley’s graphic novels about her life are engaging and well-written, especially An Age of License. Remember when you were a young to mid-twenty something and trying to figure out where you were going in life and what you wanted out of it? […]
This is another one of those terrific books that defies genre categories…I’m feeling grateful for the Literary Fiction designation! which to me denotes a book notable for excellence in both the writing and the structure of the story. Gregory Blake Smith’s novel The Maze at Windermere is a deeply satisfying experience, especially if you want an […]
Did you know that the Cleveland Heights Historical Society offers programming focused around local history in conjunction with the Cleveland Heights Landmark Commission? In May, the Cleveland Heights Historical Society and the Cleveland Heights Landmark Commission will offer a series of programs focused around the theme of preservation. No registration is required to attend these […]
Gabriel Tallent’s debut novel, My Absolute Darling, the story of a man and his 14-year-old daughter living in the wild woods of Mendocino County, California, is filled with startling prose, untenable situations and a variety of abuse. Among the crashing waves, tide pools, huckleberry bushes, pine trees and other idyllic natural wonders are the alarming […]
Leviathan Wakes tells a relatively standard sci-fi story featuring two men from very different backgrounds, Jim Holden, an officer on an old transport ship, and Joe Miller, a detective on a Belter station. The plot begins with Holden’s ship gets blown up while he and a few others were out investigating a derelict ship, while […]
Ahoy, there! Announcing a new novel for historical fiction readers who enjoy a salty adventure on the high seas! William Westbrook launches (!) a new series featuring Captain Nicholas Fallon in his novel The Bermuda Privateer. Since I don’t get to use the word “swashbuckling” in a book review nearly as often as I would like, I’ll […]
So far this year I’ve read two memoirs that, in my estimation, earned five stars, the highest rating on Goodreads. Both are extremely well written, inspiring, and, coincidentally, chronicle many brushes with death. The first is, I Am, I Am, I am: 17 Brushes with Death by Maggie O’Farrell. The title is taken from a […]
