I try to find at least one positive thing to say when writing a negative review, but with Play it as it Lays by Joan Didion I am coming up blank. The characters were all so unlikable and shallow with images of the Kardashians coming to mind. Due to the lack of caring for anyone in […]
First Impressions The hype Re Jane by Patricia Park received caught my attention, but that is all it was hype. Re Jane could have been a clever Jane Eyre retelling but instead, we received a bad adaptation of The Nanny, annoying voice and all. The writing was mediocre. I also got tired of the amount […]
First Impressions Growing up reading the Janie Johnson series obviously left an impression on me as I gobble up any novel that has a kidnapped theme to it. Thus, the premise is what first attracted me to What Was Mine by Helen Klein Ross. Clearly, this topic has been done before, from The Face on […]
First Impressions The Shawshank Redemption is a film I have watched countless times. It is a fantastical story of innocence and escape and is well presented on the screen. I finally decided to read the short story it is based on. This was not only due to my love for the novel’s film counterpart but […]
First Impressions I always enjoyed Judy Blume’s young adult novels growing up, therefore, I was looking forward to her foray into adult fiction. Unfortunately, In The Unlikely Event by Judy Blume read like a young adult novel. Blume’s book had a grown-up topic, but the simplicity and continual reminders of what happened previously made it […]
First Impressions In big named cases, such as Casey Anthony and Scott Peterson, it is usually the accused and not the victim who is remembered. This is the premise of The Meursault Investigation by Kamel Daoud. The novel gives a name to “The Arab” and who’s story is finally told by his brother debunking Meursault’s […]
The Far End of Happy was an intense read and never knew what Jeff would do next, nor the repercussions that Ronnie’s decisions created. It had page-turning chapter endings and thoroughly kept my attention, but, unfortunately, Ronnie’s mother Beverly and Mother-in-law Janet bickered throughout the novel creating a Jerry Springer show vibe, minus throwing chairs. […]
First Impressions The Travels of Daniel Ascher by Déborah Lévy-Bertherat is a story within a story with an author as mysterious as the identity of Lemony Snicket. Impressions While Reading At first, this could seem like a ditty about a writer and his antics. Although, as the reader dives deeper they become aware of the […]
First Impressions The plot for The Silver Swan by Elena Delbanco was a strange combination of the films Intermezzo and Serendipity. Being a staunch classic film admirer, I would never dream of pairing Kate Beckinsale and Leslie Howard together. Although, it in this case, with a crazed composer and the makings of a wrong place […]
Fond of: The Well by Catherine Chanter was a very interesting novel and with a water source being the focus. It reminded me of Marcel Pagnol’s Jean de Florette with both stories ending with drastic consequences. Catherine Chanter kept this reader in suspense to learn what happened to Ruth’s grandson and for that reason was a […]