I’m native to Mississippi, but I am in love with Louisiana. I associate it with mysterious swamplands and sprawling cyprus trees dripping Spanish moss, peopled with an Acadian culture marked by fierce independence and a shared multi-cultural heritage. To me it’s one of the most romantic, beautiful and fascinating places on earth. I’ve been to [...]
Archive for the ‘Book Reviews’ Category
Acadiana: Louisiana’s Historic Cajun Country by Carl A. Brasseaux
Posted: March 26, 2011 in Book ReviewsTags: acadiana, cajun, louisiana
0
A Widow’s Story by Joyce Carol Oates
Posted: March 10, 2011 in Book Reviews, UncategorizedTags: a widow's story, detachment, grief, joyce carol oates, widows
A Widow’s Story by Joyce Carol Oates Oh God – you are going to be so unhappy. – Gail Godwin ______________________________________________ I guess the only way to do this is just plunge right in, though of all the books I’ve reviewed this one is probably among, if not the most difficult. I don’t mean difficult [...]
The Dead Path: A Novel by Stephen M. Irwin I tip my hat, Mr. Irwin. As a literary fiction snob, curmudgeonly reviewer, and reader of thousands of books let me tell you I don’t impress easily. Besieged by free review copies, I toss aside far more than I read. Then in came this book. The [...]
My (mostly) great reading streak continues! I’m getting spoiled. I’m also getting really overwhelmed with review books. Ain’t that a shame? Here are a few I either already have (some digital, some the regular, old fashioned book) or are on the way: Small Memories: A Memoir by Jose Saramago The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar [...]
Some recent reading
Posted: February 16, 2011 in Book ReviewsTags: Breaking Night, Erin Blakemore, Hilary Mantel, Liz Murray, The Heroine's Bookshelf, The Moviegoer, Vacant Possession, Walker Percy
Not enough caffeine in the world to keep my eyes open today, so I’m using transparent tape. The problem is my eyes keep drying out, which makes my contacts detach. I guess that’s okay, though. You don’t need 20/20 vision to see your dreams. The following is only a small smattering of the reading I’ve [...]
The Quickening by Michelle Hoover
Posted: February 3, 2011 in Book ReviewsTags: michelle hoover, the quickening
New novelists, in their desire to create a descriptive novel, so often commit the sin of over-writing. That is, nearly every sentence contains a metaphor or unnecessary description which doesn’t allow the reader to form his or her own mental picture. Such a writing style can impinge on the reader’s patience, veering into annoying [...]
Flyaway: How a Wild Bird Rehabber Sought Adventure and Found Her Wings by Suzie Gilbert “Wildlife rehabilitators find themselves … faced with a … skeptical public, many of whom seem to believe that wild animals are little more than programmed robots. Some loudly and indignantly question why rehabbers “waste” their time with animals when they [...]
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Remember when you were around age 12 or 13, before life became cluttered with boring adult things like paying bills, doing laundry, and making meals? Reading was so different then, a whole other experience. At that age I could curl up with a book and be so into the story it would block out [...]
Lots of books out there on the topic of the information age, and how to tell what’s true and what isn’t. With everyone able to post anything anywhere, how does the average person navigate the web hoping to get the best information? You and I know the answer to that, but I’m not positive [...]
Gosh diddly darn it (edited for delicate ears), why didn’t I think of this idea first? I’ve been moaning about this exact topic, not that I have any answers, but I have asked myself a lot of questions about how the distractions of modern, everyday life will affect the future. I look at my children, [...]
