book review
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Netherwood by Jane Sanderson
Netherwood was a side read to space out my 2019 Classic Novel Challenge. Like The Lady and the Gent, it is historical fiction. Though they share a genre, these novels are delightful in their own ways. Netherwood is more sober than The Lady and the Gent. It’s the story of a widow named Eve and…
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Russian Magic Tales from Pushkin to Platonov by Robert Chandler
My third book in this year’s classic novel challenge, Russian Magic Tales, was a delight. I wandered dark forests, met evil stepmothers, learned riddles, and—happily—found the Russian mermaid, who draws travelers to death with her weeping. More interesting than the stories were the biographies of each featured author. Many lived dank lives, suffering illness and…
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The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
The first book I read for my 2019 reading challenge, The Mayor of Casterbridge, is compelling because of its characters. Though there are many, it focuses on a man named Michael Henchard, a man none of us would envy. It is the story of a mistake he made as a young man and how this mistake…
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A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
This is my first Hemingway novel. It’s a quick read and struck me for being so detached. The writing style seems indifferent by nature, focusing little on the main character’s emotions and more on dialogue. I don’t know if Hemingway’s writing is like this in other novels. It isn’t bad: the way the main character…
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Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls by Lynn Weingarten
Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls—the book title was clever. I’m not sure what I expected to find once I started reading. This is a good thing. Any book title is used to draw readers in: it makes them want to lift the cover and glance at the first page, where there should be a hook.…
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A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
I was looking for a lighthearted read to end the year of 2017. Perfectly suited for the job, A Study in Charlotte turned out to be a clever and captivating spinoff of Sherlock Holmes. Parallels to the classic mystery books give it a sense of familiarity–“I’ve read this before!”–while the new setting made it refreshing.…
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A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Merry Christmas! I hope you’ve had a blessed day! Every year at around this time, I read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. It is my favorite book, because Scrooge’s experiences with the Ghosts of Christmas make me reflect on my own life. The link between his story and our lives might be difficult to admit.…
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Swann’s Way by Marcel Proust
Occasionally we find books so beautifully written that it seems the style, not the plot, keeps us turning pages. Though translated from its original French, Swann’s Way did not lose its beauty in the process: every sentence reads like a verse from an old, nostalgic poem. As an example: Meanwhile the scenery of his dream-stage…
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Book Review: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
I have spent two weeks with my nose in this book. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is a thousand pages long, but its spell extends beyond the pages. Its charm is bolder than its eye-catching cover; this book provides complete immersion in a story I wished would last longer. It tells of the movement to…
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Book Review: Wendy Darling – Stars by Colleen Oakes
I am fascinated by retellings of classic novels! Some stories are so beloved that they capture imaginations for years, never losing their magic. Often these retellings can be shallow and unoriginal, but Wendy Darling: Stars did not disappoint. It’s the story of Peter Pan told from Wendy’s point of view, and though it’s been a…
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Book Review: The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton
The Faerie Ring follows the story of a pickpocket named Tiki. She lives with several other homeless children in Victorian London; together they make a family, looking out for each other when things get rough. When the youngest child, Clara, falls ill with consumption, they find themselves facing a huge hospital bill. It’s more than they…
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Book Review: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Much has been said about Me Before You. While some people loved it, others disliked the premise enough to boycott the book. I tried reading with a neutral mind, but that didn’t save me from the heartbreaking conclusion. It felt like a punch to the gut, even though the whole time I suspected how the story would end.…
Mariella Hunt & the Tearoom 