I don’t normally post stand alone reviews of middle grade or kid’s lit books here, mainly because they don’t make up a huge percentage of my reading, and I also like to pretend my reviews reflect some semblance of a strong identity as a reader. But I guess the biggest reflection my book reviews show is… Continue reading Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead
Category: book review
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
It’s hard to decide what galleys to grab at Book Expo America. I bring a little list of the stuff I’ve researched and am excited about, but I like to discover new books and authors too. However, when you walk by a signing line or galley grab area there’s not really enough time to learn… Continue reading Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The front cover of Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates displays this quote at the bottom: “This is required reading.” – Toni Morrison That pretty much sums it up. It’s the most powerful book I’ve read in a long time. I wish that everyone would read it. It’s been very well received in… Continue reading Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine
I read to escape. I read to learn. I read to be entertained. I read to armchair travel. And I read to understand the lives of other people. That’s probably the most important reading I do. Understanding enables compassion and empathy – two of the most important human traits that can make the world a… Continue reading Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine
Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari
If there’s one type of non-fiction book I can’t resist, it’s a book written by a comedian that I adore. I love Aziz – from his portrayal of Tom Haverford on Parks & Recreation to his stand up specials to his obsession with good food. I picked up Modern Romance as soon as I could,… Continue reading Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari
The Shore by Sara Taylor
People in the book blogging community are likely already familiar with The Shore by Sara Taylor. In my little corner of the blogging community it seems to be the most talked about, tweeted about, and reviewed book that came out this spring. Here are the blogger reviews of The Shore from my network (if I missed… Continue reading The Shore by Sara Taylor
The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows
The Truth According to Us is a new June release from Annie Barrows, one of the co-authors of the mega-popular 2008 novel, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I really enjoyed reading Guernsey, but I haven’t always enjoyed follow up novels from authors who’ve penned runaway “book club” bestsellers. (For example: Ape House, Bellman… Continue reading The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows
Sit Like a Buddha: Review and Giveaway
As I mentioned in my review of 10% Happier by Dan Harris, I’ve decided to give meditation practice another try. I tried meditation shortly before I started traveling last year, but the habit wasn’t strong enough to be sustained throughout the non-routined days of extended travel. But 10% Happier inspired me to give it another go, and… Continue reading Sit Like a Buddha: Review and Giveaway
10% Happier by Dan Harris
10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works–A True Story is a book by ABC News anchor Dan Harris, who had an on-air panic attack and then started to seek out self help from popular books. It also possibly wins the award… Continue reading 10% Happier by Dan Harris
The House of Paper by Carlos María Domínguez
The House of Paper is a novella by Carlos María Domínguez, and it opens with a woman who buys a book of poetry by Emily Dickinson. She then gets hit by a car and killed while she’s reading and walking down the street. That happens on page 1. The next few pages highlight other people whose fate… Continue reading The House of Paper by Carlos María Domínguez
So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
In the past few years there has been a lot of critical introspection and analysis about how social media (and the internet in general) impacts the quality of our lives. It clearly can do a lot of good, both for society and individuals. And it also can do a lot of harm. There are a lot of articles,… Continue reading So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
I’ve been having trouble thinking about how to tell you about H is for Hawk. It’s a difficult book to describe, because it’s unlike anything else I’ve ever read. (It can be done though, because Kathryn Schulz’s review of it in the New Yorker is fantastic.) Let’s start with an oversimplified list of the main topics: Helen… Continue reading H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald