The first time I heard about this book, I was struck by how much it sounded like my own family. Neumann grew up in Venezuela, but her father was born in Czechoslovakia. He survived the Holocaust but never talked about it, and she grew up not knowing any of his family, except for her father’s…
I spent a lot of time this month participating in Nonfiction November, so I thought instead of the usual monthly wrap-up I’d post some mini-reviews instead. These three books address issues related to science, religion, and the intersection of the two. I recommend all three. The Story of More by Hope Jahren (audio by the author):…
This is a book I think most of us should read, though it’s definitely not an easy read. In 2015, Chanel Miller went to a party at Stanford. Two guys found her unconscious on the ground near a dumpster, with a guy on top of her. When they yelled the guy ran, so they tackled…
I’ve been recommending this book a lot lately, especially to my friends with daughters. There aren’t that many books out there that feel fresh and original, and this one did. First, a major disclaimer: I am NOT the target audience for this book. It’s a bit hard to fairly review a book written by a…
Regardless of whether you like Star Trek, whether you’re Japanese, or whether you read graphic novels, you should pick up this book. George Takei never fails to impress me with his humor, his knowledge, and his passion for telling a story. He brings all of those things to this graphic depiction of his childhood experiences…
It seems fitting to discuss a book about therapy the day after Thanksgiving, a holiday that raises so many complicated family issues — though hopefully yours was lovely! This book has plenty of buzz already without my review, but I loved it. It’s unlike most books I’ve read, in that it’s an inside look at…
This month is Nonfiction November, a celebration of all things nonfiction. I’ve read some fantastic nonfiction this year and I’m proud of myself for reading more nonfiction than I used to. I enjoy this event because I get so many good nonfiction recommendations for next year. Each week will be a topic hosted by a different blog. This…
This is my first time reading Reichl, and I found this book fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable. Reichl describes her background and what led her into cooking and then restaurant critiquing, but most of the book is spent describing her years as the editor of Gourmet Magazine. I was never a reader of the magazine, but…
A very timely read, Buttigieg has a really nice writing style and an interesting story to tell. He’s not the most qualified guy on the debate stage, but he’s thoughtful, articulate, and smart. And he’s kind of adorable. I can sum up his book by saying that it made me like him even more as…
For those interested in reading memoirs about events in other countries, I recommend this book by a young woman from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Sandra is from a Congolese tribe called the Banyamulenge that has been a frequent target of ethnic violence. In August 2004, ten-year-old Sandra sees her mother and sister gunned down…
I really appreciated this memoir by Nicole Chung about her adoption and the search for her birth family. It was particularly interesting to read about her personal struggles as a child being of Korean descent in a white family and a mostly white town. It made me think about the complexity of identity, and the…
I didn’t have a chance to review any of the books I read in December because I was traveling, so I’m posting some mini-reviews of the more interesting books I read during my trip: Lethal White by Robert Galbraith: I will only say here that I was disappointed with this entry in the series, which…
I read, breathe, and live in bookish worlds.
Book Reviews & The Written Word
"Books are a uniquely portable magic" - Stephen King
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"She had read novels while other people perused the Sunday papers" - Mary Elizabeth Braddon
A Classic Literature Journey
Thoughts on Literature, Expressing Creativity, Being Authentic
books, libraries, life
Reading, Writing, Cats - Life is pretty good.
Books and Beverages
