Category: Book Reviews
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Train Dreams by Denis Johnson – A Book Review
I’ve enjoyed short novellas all summer that were recommended by Literary Hub’s “The 50 Best Contemporary Novels Under 200 Pages.” I just finished my favorite one yet – Train Dreams by Denis Johnson. I find it very hard to believe this book is only 116 pages. Though I flew through it, I literally felt as…
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Winter In the Blood by James Welch – A Book Review
Once again, I must give Literary Hub’s “The 50 Best Contemporary Novels Under 200 Pages” credit for helping me find yet another substantial read. This time, it is the novella Winter In the Blood by James Welch. At just 138 pages, it is indeed a brief, yet potent, experience. Though it’s a provocative, expertly executed…
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Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls – A Book Review
Like several of my other recent reads, I discovered Mrs. Caliban on Literary Hub’s “The 50 Best Contemporary Novels Under 200 Pages.” At just 111 pages, Mrs. Caliban is indeed a swift, potent read full of social commentary but cleverly disguised as pseudo-fantasy. The story focuses upon a housewife named Dorothy. Dorothy is in an…
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So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell – A Book Review
After seeing Literary Hub’s “The 50 Best Contemporary Novels Under 200 Pages,” I decided to give So Long, See You Tomorrow a try. After all, it’s only 135 pages. Imagine my surprise when I learned that the author, William Maxwell, hails from Lincoln, Illinois! Lincoln is just a short way south of me along Interstate…
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Treasure Island!!! by Sara Levine – A Book Review
Though Treasure Island!!! by Sara Levine is one of the wackiest books that I’ve ever read, it has burrowed into my heart and will stay there for quite some time. It won’t reside in my heart because it’s sentimental to me or because it imparted upon me some important life lesson. No, it’s special to…
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Range by David Epstein – A Book Review
While discussing our range of interests with friends, one of them recommended a book with that very name — Range by David Epstein. You may remember this author from his other, very popular book entitled The Sports Gene. Subtitled Why Generalists Triumph In a Specialized World, Range offers many examples as to why it’s totally…
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The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell
I didn’t know exactly what to expect from The Bomber Mafia. The title is a little misleading if you’re not an air warfare aficionado. However, I generally enjoy everything Malcolm Gladwell writes, so I thought it was worth trying out. The Bomber Mafia proved a quick, informative, engaging read that not only entertained me, but…
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The Vegetarian by Han Kang – A Book Review
When I mentioned to a friend that I grew interested in reading novels written by international authors–especially those from Eastern cultures, she quickly recommended The Vegetarian by Han Kang. Because I completely respect her opinion, I put it on hold at my local library. I just finished it, and, wow … there’s quite a bit…
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Sea Of Rust by C. Robert Cargill – A Book Review
Though I enjoy the science fiction genre, I often have trouble finding actual science fiction books that hook me. A friend thought Sea Of Rust by C. Robert Cargill might do the trick, and my friend was spot on! The premise is not necessarily anything new. There’s been a robot uprising. Humans are the virus.…
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Think Again by Adam Grant – A Book Review
I chose to read Adam Grant’s Think Again after hearing Angela Duckworth mention it on No Stupid Questions. In Think Again, Grant challenges the reader to reconsider the thinking process. He provides ample evidence to reinforce the idea that thinking should not be a fixed exercise. The ability to change an opinion, the willingness to…
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