“For every man there exists bait he cannot resist swallowing.” I started this book on the subway en route to work one morning. I almost missed my stop. That is something that hasn’t happened to me in far too long. It’s an exhilarating sensation, to get so caught up in a book that everything around … More Book Review: Night Film, by Marisha Pessl
As we get ready for Dexter‘s final season on TV (premiering June 30th on Showtime), I thought it would be fun to take a look at the differences between the show and the books (authored by Jeff Lindsay). Last week, you may recall, I did the same for Rizzoli & Isles. This is going to … More Book Series vs. TV Series: Dexter
Let’s do this. Previously, we discussed the many differences between Tess Gerritsen’s gritty Rizzoli & Isles books and the decidedly-not-gritty TV show (read all about it here). But it’s hard to get at the scope of a series without taking a look at it in depth. I told you that the characters took journeys on … More The Rizzoli and Isles Books, by Tess Gerritsen (Part I)
Back in the day, I would have called Tess Gerritsen’s Rizzoli and Isles series of books a guilty pleasure. That was back in my book snob days (which you can read all about here). Now I can happily tell you that I’m a fan of Rizzoli and Isles in both of its incarnations: as a … More Book Series vs. TV Series: Rizzoli and Isles
“You can build a whole world around the tiniest of touches.” I’m just going to say it straight out: this book kinda creeped me out. And not in a good way. The year is 1987. June Elbus is one of those quirky, misunderstood teens in the Royal Tenenbaums, Harold and Maude mold. None of her … More Book Review: Tell the Wolves I’m Home, by Carol Rifka Brunt
Food, Family, and Heart And now for something completely different. I have never reviewed a cookbook before. Sure, I’ve reviewed books about cooking, but never, ever an actual honest-to-God cookbook. Mostly, this is because I’m traditionally not a chef. Just so we understand each other, I’ll give you some background, then we’ll talk about my … More Book Review: Old-School Comfort Food, by Alex Guarnaschelli
“I suspect that the truth is that we are waiting, all of us, against insurmountable odds, for something extraordinary to happen to us.” Hype can be a cruel demon. For an author, it sets an expectation that can be extremely difficult to live up to. For a reader, more often than not it only leads … More Book Review: And the Mountains Echoed, by Khaled Hosseini
Dan Savage in Conversation with Andrew Sullivan at the New York Public Library This author event was particularly great for Boo and me. As gay men who grew up in the pre-Ellen world, there’s a special place in our hearts for the It Gets Better Project. I wish it had been around for me when … More The Morning After: Dan Savage at the NYPL for American Savage
“In reality I was playing a part, doing what I imagined I was supposed to do.” Finbar Dolan is having a breakdown. He’s had a mildly successful career at an advertising agency in New York (read: he’s successfully been rewarded for doing the minimal amount of work). His engagement went bust, leaving him with two … More Book Review: Truth in Advertising, by John Kenney
My name is Greg, and I was a book shamer. Thankfully, I reformed. This is my story. Not too long ago, I happened on this blog post from YA author Tara Fuller entitled “Book Shaming: Why Do We Do It?” To break it down, book shaming is essentially book snobbery. It’s the idea that people … More Confessions of a Former Book Shamer
