24
Aug
2010
Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
In Dolen Perkins-Valdez’s debut novel, Wench, Lizzie, Sweet, Reenie, and Mawu are all brought to the Tawawa resort in southern Ohio for the summer by their masters. Perkins-Valdez researched the real retreat where it was common for Southern gentlemen to bring their slave-mistresses. Of course, being in a free state has a certain lure, and for the first time, their eyes are open to real possibilities of living free. An edifying friendship forms, one that none of the women have ever been able to have with other slaves, due to their status as the master’s mistress.
10
Aug
2010
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Spoiler: the guy lives at the end. But you and I already knew that, considering that the sequel, Linger, is already out. I actually would have really enjoyed some delicious tragedy where he died and the next book could have been about some of the other werewolves, but this is YAPARANORMALROMANCE and that just isn’t going to happen. Thus I never felt any sense of urgency whatsoever, which might’ve brought the book up from “meh” to pretty ok.
6
Aug
2010
The Last War by Ana Menéndez
I really wanted to love this book, but it’s over-narration killed it for me. Never in recent memory has it taken me so long to get through a book so short (just over 200 pages).
2
Aug
2010
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
I…actually liked this book. I had invited my Inner Teenaged Self up from the basement where she’s usually kept and we read it together. She liked it, too. So, here is is Inner Teenaged Self (you can picture her has having purple spikey hair, fishnet tights, and doc Martins, and that will be a pretty accurate description of me my Sophomore year of high school).
29
Jul
2010
31 Bond Street by Ellen Horan
I really enjoyed Ellen Horan’s debut novel, 31 Bond Street. Centering on a murder in 1850’s New York City, it is more about a lawyer, dedicated to defending the accused, than the who dunnit you might expect.
18
Jul
2010
Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde
Life seems perfect for Thursday Next. She’s just gotten married to the love of her life, saved the world from Acheron Hades, improved Jane Eyre, and basically ended the Crimean war, which has been going on for about 150 years.
15
Jul
2010
Honeymoon in Tehran by Azadeh Moaveni
Azadeh Moaveni published this book slightly too early. It came out last year before the riots over the election in Iran. Thus I assume this sequel to Lipstick Jihad will become the second book in a trilogy.
14
Jul
2010
Hidden Wives by Claire Avery
This book is riveting. For reals. In fact, the pace could have been slowed down a bit, particularly the last few chapters. But as it was, I found myself totally engrossed.
1
Jul
2010
L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad
Oh. My. Fucking. God. Why would anyone ever read this book? WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY? O.K., say you’re a fan of “The Hills” or whatever (though I don’t really get that either…scripted reality? don’t you people have enough drama in your lives?). And say that since you’re a fan, you want to learn more about the show, some behind the scenes type stuff. You might then pick up a tell-all by Lauren Conrad. Sure, it’d be as atrociously written, but at least it might legitimately shed light on this show that you keep watching.
14
Jun
2010
The Namesake by Jumpa Lahiri
Once again, my mind has been blown by Jumpa Lahiri’s ability to capture parent-loss. Though it’s not the focus of the story, deaths of parents, both in America and India play important parts.
