Category: Book Review

The Great Believers Rebecca Makkai

Living and Dying in Times of Crisis: The Great Believers, by Rebecca Makkai

July 19, 2018

“It’s always a matter, isn’t it, of waiting for the world to come unraveled? When things hold together, it’s only temporary.” Simply put, The Great Believers is a novel about the fragility of life; how tenuous our grasp on it–and each other–is. It is also beautiful, honest, and funny. I am not ashamed to admit that … More Living and Dying in Times of Crisis: The Great Believers, by Rebecca Makkai

Harbor Me Jacqueline Woodson

Why Stories Matter: Harbor Me, by Jacqueline Woodson

July 15, 2018

Harbor Me is a timely intermediate novel about the importance of stories, of empathy, and of understanding. It’s about how the things that make us different can bind us together and make us all better–if only we’re willing to connect with each other. Six kids of varied backgrounds are put in a room together one … More Why Stories Matter: Harbor Me, by Jacqueline Woodson

There There Tommy Orange

Living and Dying the Native American Life in America: There There, by Tommy Orange

July 2, 2018

My favorite reading experiences either teach me about something I didn’t know much about or shine a light on parts of our culture I am unfamiliar with. Part of the urgency of reading Junot Díaz, for example, is that the stories he tells are usually left on the margins if they get told at all. … More Living and Dying the Native American Life in America: There There, by Tommy Orange

The Nine Jeffrey Toobin

The Nine: Jeffrey Toobin on the Evolution of the Supreme Court

June 27, 2018

In the current political climate, The Nine isn’t a particularly pleasant read for more liberal audiences, but it is something of an essential one. On the day when Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement, now is actually the perfect time to get to know the ways the court has evolved since Kennedy was appointed under Reagan … More The Nine: Jeffrey Toobin on the Evolution of the Supreme Court

When We Rise Cleve Jones

When We Rise: Cleve Jones and His Life in the Gay Rights Movement

June 26, 2018

It may seem surprising that more than half of Cleve Jones’ memoir is taken up with his life before activism–before, that is, his work with Harvey Milk or creating the AIDs Memorial Quilt–but that is the whole point. Admittedly, it does feel as though the first part meanders as Jones moves around, travels, parties, hooks up, … More When We Rise: Cleve Jones and His Life in the Gay Rights Movement

Into the Black Nowhere Meg Gardiner

A Twist Too Far: Into the Black Nowhere, by Meg Gardiner

June 9, 2018

This is the second book I’ve read by Meg Gardiner and it’s the second book with a serious case of too-muchness. To be fair, Into the Black Nowhere is toned down compared to its predecessor, Unsub, which introduced us to the character of Caitlin Hendrix as she faced down a serial killer who enjoys antagonizing her family … More A Twist Too Far: Into the Black Nowhere, by Meg Gardiner

The Last Time I Lied Riley Sager

I Know What You Did Last Summer Camp: The Last Time I Lied, by Riley Sager

June 9, 2018

I have a pet peeve about books that deliberately withhold information from the reader and then tease you with the fact of that withholding. “If she only knew what really happened that night, she’d never forgive me. [End chapter]” “I’ll always hate myself for that thing I did that I don’t want to talk about … More I Know What You Did Last Summer Camp: The Last Time I Lied, by Riley Sager

The Sparsholt Affair Alan Hollinghurst

A Gay Multigenerational Saga: The Sparsholt Affair, by Alan Hollinghurst

May 14, 2018

I have a condition where I want to like Alan Hollinghurst’s writing more than I actually do. The Line of Beauty was fine, but my opinion of it was helped by a BBC adaptation that smoothed out a lot of the areas I found problematic in the book itself–namely that there was something inaccessible about it. … More A Gay Multigenerational Saga: The Sparsholt Affair, by Alan Hollinghurst

The Silkworm Robert Galbraith

Cormoran Strike in The Silkworm, by Robert Galbraith

May 3, 2018

Mystery/thrillers tend to be my book equivalent of comfort food. I go to them when I want something quick and entertaining to read. I can’t imagine that ever changing, but I do occasionally find myself bored of the genre’s trappings. Hard-boiled male detectives or ladies with clumsy romantic comedy love lives try to solve a … More Cormoran Strike in The Silkworm, by Robert Galbraith