Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations”
It’s been quite some time since I’ve reviewed a classic, and there is one in particular I’ve been wanting to give a second read now that I’m doing so for pure enjoyment, rather than classwork. This week I’m tackling Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, the great 19th century coming-of-age novel. For those of you who are […]
Cherie Priest’s ‘Boneshaker’
It’s rare to find an alternate history novel that is well-written, unfortunately. Many entries in the genre contain glaring plot holes, paper-thin characters, and shoddy pacing. Luckily, I managed to find an alternate history/sci-fi novel that stands out from the crowd in Cherie Priest’s Boneshaker. In the mid-1800s, the gold rush was sweeping America, culminating […]
Patricia Cornwell’s ‘Postmortem’
This week I picked up the first novel in Patricia Cornwell’s Dr. Kay Scarpetta series, Postmortem. This novel differs from most “detective” novels I read, as it is really one of the first CSI novels to hit genre fiction. The story revolves around the brutal murder of a young woman, and the forensic investigation of […]
Lev Grossman’s ‘The Magician King’
This week I finally had time to pick up the second book in a trilogy I started a little over two years ago: Lev Grossman’s The Magician King. In this installment, Quentin Coldwater, our depressed, bored protagonist, has ruled the magical land of Fillory for centuries. True to his nature, Quentin eventually bores of even […]
Raymond Chandler’s ‘The Big Sleep’
Lately I have been tearing through multiple detective novels, and one of my favorites has been Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep. Written in 1939, The Big Sleep follows private investigator Philip Marlowe, a man who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty on the job, and who is becoming increasingly tired with the persistence of […]
Richard and Barbara Osborn’s ‘The Red Moon Affair’
This week I am reviewing a novel by local authors Richard and Barbara Osborn: The Red Moon Affair. The Red Moon Affair is a techno-political thriller following the ambitions of President Edward Tuckwell, a man who believes he should be president for life. Of course, such a proposal is Constitutionally impossible, unless a state of […]
Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mysterious Affair at Styles’
This week I dove into the detective novel that started the theme of “manor house mysteries”: Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles. This is the first novel of Christie’s Hercule Poirot, the enigmatic sixty-something detective who is known for pursuing crimes because he simply “does not approve of murder,” though there is little evidence […]
Terry Goodkind’s ‘Temple of the Winds’
This past week I plowed through a book I have been meaning to pick up for a few weeks: Terry Goodkind’s Temple of the Winds. If you have been following my reviews for the past few months, then you probably remember that I am waist deep in a mammoth of a series by Terry Goodkind […]
Douglas Adams’ ‘So Long and Thanks for All the Fish’
If you’ve followed my reviews, then you know I am a huge fan of Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy. I recently reread the whole collection, so I thought it was time to review entry number four: So Long and Thanks for All the Fish. In the onset of the story, Arthur Dent […]
Elizabeth Kolbert’s ‘The Sixth Extinction’
This week I am reviewing a nonfiction book, that I desperately wish was fiction: Elizabeth Kolbert’s The Sixth Extinction. Kolbert presents an analysis at various extinction events throughout earth’s history, as well as examines various ecological crises of present, in order to support the hypothesis that earth is seeing its sixth great extinction event. Throughout […]
Jean M. Aurel’s ‘Clan of the Cave Bear’
Over the past week I finally got to read a book a friend has been urging me to read for quite some time: Jean M. Aurel’s Clan of the Cave Bear. Clan of the Cave Bear is the story of the interactions between Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon humans approximately 25,000 to 28,000 years ago, primarily seen […]
Terry Goodkind’s ‘The Blood of the Fold’
This week I finally had the time to sit down and blast through a book that has been on my list for quite some time. Back in November, I reviewed the second entry in Terry Goodkind’s The Sword of Truth trilogy, so I am excited to finally get to book three: The Blood of the […]
Josh Green’s ‘The Fault in Our Stars’
This week I am reviewing a book that has surged in popularity recently: Josh Green’s The Fault in Our Stars. Especially since the movie adaptation was released, The Fault in Our Stars has been labeled by many as the “must read” of teen books that is actually compelling, genius, and enjoyable by all ages. But […]
James Patterson’s ‘The Dangerous Days of Daniel X (Daniel X Series #1)’
This week I am reviewing a book that was recommended by a friend of mine: James Patterson’s The Dangerous Days of Daniel X (Daniel X Series #1). As far as thrillers go, James Patterson is one of my absolute favorite authors, so I dove into these literary waters with some rather high expectations. While not […]
George R. R. Martin’s ‘A Feast for Crows’ Review
Since the show just wrapped up its season 4 finale, I figure it is time to review George R. R. Martin’s A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire: Book 4). As usual for my gradual review of this series, there will be incredibly heavy spoilers for the past entries, including one that […]
Roy Barzilai’s ‘The Objective Bible’
My review this week is on an absolutely fascinating philosophical/socio-psychological work by Roy Barzilai: The Objective Bible: Western Civilization’s Struggle for Philosophic Liberation from a Herd-Mentality and Pagan Mysticism. This book presents Barzilai’s thesis that United States is headed for a splitting of civilizations much like the split in ancient Israel, and supports this thesis […]
