The Dinner by Herman Koch takes place over the course of one meal between two brothers and their wives. The novel begins with an aperitif, being an introduction to the couples and casual small talk. When we reach the succulent main course we learn the true reason for the evening out; to talk about their […]
The tragedy of waiting too long to write a review is that you are given time to forget, so forgive my vagueness. This was a very surprising read, I was not expecting much more than supermarket fluff and was pleasantly surprised by the intensity and depth the book entailed. Jody is a little girl lost, […]
I can say one positive thing for French Lessons, it was a fast read, but that’s about all. The back cover proclaimed it as a “page-turner” I do agree with that but not for the same reason, which to be rid of the horrid story! I knew it was a romance but was expecting a […]
Rebecca Makkai’s novel was told from the point of view of a librarian — someone who loves books, loves her job and her patrons. and there are book references on every page. Sounds like a book lover’s dream right? Unfortunately, no. Ian Drake is a ten-year old patron of the library whose parents have enrolled […]
First Impressions I recently watched the Diane Sawyer interview with Jaycee Dugard. One word came to mind, why? What would possess anyone to commit such an act? A sick bastard. Room by Emma Donoghue captured my attention with atrocity that is hard to imagine. Impressions While Reading What I liked about Room was that it does […]
The novel is well paced and Mathilda is a fun lively character, parading around the house in her dead sister’s clothes and amidst it all, dealing with the dreaded puberty. Despite her attempts at being bad, the author, Victor Lodato, shows the innocence and naivety as 9/11 takes place during all this chaos with Mathilda […]
I’ve always hated books about animals — Black Beauty just wasn’t for me. Maybe it is because of this and my extremely low expectations but I actually kind of liked it. The dog was actually rather intelligent — more the Lassie type so that probably helped my disinterest in animal books as he was a […]
The novel is told from various points of view flashing back to their childhood in the 30s to 1990 with the murder in question. Through this, the reader grasps a better understanding for the boys, leading to what could have been the motive and that Audie and Creed were victims themselves. I have mixed feelings […]
A tinker is a mender of pots, kettles, pans, etc. Therefore, Tinkers is a very fitting title for this Pulitzer Prize Winning novel as every character is somehow wounded with their past and in some respects is far beyond mending. George Washington Crosby, a lover of the workings of clocks lies dying and reflects upon […]
First Impressions I actually read The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold several years ago. At first, I was very hesitant because of the subject matter. Do I really want to read about a 14-year-old getting raped and murdered? I was only a few years older than Susie at the time. I ended up loving it. […]