City On Fire By Garth Risk Hallberg Let me start by saying that City on Fire requires a bit of a commitment. At over 900 pages, some have argued that it’s far too long. But if you’re up to the task, this novel is worth it. Set in the crime-ridden, dirty and corrupt New York […]
By Nick Hornby This story is set in the 1960’s about a girl from Blackpool England who dreams about becoming a comedic actor. While I don’t think that this is one of Hornby’s best work – I felt disconnected from the protagonist, especially since the book jumps back and forth to different characters. I did […]
Boy, Snow, Birdby Helen Oyeyemi A modern-day fairy tale, Boy, Snow, Bird takes place in small town Massachusetts, 1953. Fleeing an abusive father, Boy Novak arrives in Flax Hill and adopts it as her home. She meets and marries Arturo Whitman and becomes a mother to his beautiful daughter, Snow. Snow’s goodness and beauty is […]
Me Before Youby Jojo MoyesI had heard the name Jojo Moyes buzzing around the book blogs in the past year or so, but I hadn’t read anything by her until now. Me before you is fantastic. Dealing with some very serious issues that make you think long after you’ve finished reading the book.Heart-wrenching, funny, thought […]
Go Set A Watchmanby Harper LeeIt’s hard to follow up a classic like To Kill A Mockingbird, especially after 55 years. Harper Lee’s other manuscript has finally been published, and fans of To Kill A Mockingbird may not like what they read. The story didn’t draw me in until about page 100. After that, I enjoyed […]
Kitchens of the Great Midwestby J. Ryan StradalI had read many positive reviews about this title and I was really excited to read it. The reviews were right – this is an excellent book. However, it is definitely not what I expected.When I first started to read the book I thought the book would be […]
Who do you loveby Jennifer WeinerRachel Blum (pronounced Bloom) and Andy Landis meet each other for the first time in the Emergency Room waiting room when they are only eight years old. Rachel has a congenital heart defect and has just undergone heart surgery to save her life. Andy is there for a broken arm. […]
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Sweeping love story meets meditation on race relations: this is Adichie at her best. Ifemelu grows up in Nigeria and in high school, meets Obinze, the love of her life. Sounds cliché, but Adichie’s writing makes it so real, so heartfelt, that even the most jaded readers will want […]
By Amanda LeeWhen a Bollywood starlet is found murdered all suspicion is on Beverly, the costume designer. What does this have to do with our main character Marcy, you might be asking yourselves. Well Beverly just happens to be Marcy’s mother. Set in quiet Tallulah Falls; Beverly suggested the location for the filming of a […]
The husband’s secretby Liane MoriartyCecilia Fitzpatrick accidentally comes across a letter her husband wrote to her after the birth of their first child. However, the envelope says not to open the letter unless he’s dead, and he’s very much alive. What would you have done? The decision Cecilia makes may not only ruin the life […]