Contemporary Archive

Probably the most buzzed-about novel of the year, The Goldfinch has graced many a store bookshelf, been put on hold at many a library, and slugged through by many a reader, culminating in a little award called the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. It’s also controversial – some readers loved it, others hated

Warning: this is another book about the Holocaust. I’ve read a lot of these lately, kind of accidentally. It’s a heavy topic, but an important one. And the books I’ve reviewed lately (Fatelessness, What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank) have been very enriching.

It looks like I’m steadily scrolling down my To Read list, which encompassed some of the most critically praised books of 2013. Khaled Hosseini is the author of The Kite Runner, which was much beloved by everyone, and A Thousand Splendid Suns, which was much beloved by ME.

When people ask me for a book recommendation – a novel that is solid and well-written with an enjoyable and engaging story – I think of this book. It’s been a favorite of mine since it came out in 2011.

Guys. This book isn’t good. I’m admittedly not very familiar with the “chick-lit” genre, but I think The Friday Night Knitting Club falls neatly into it. I really wanted to like this novel, as the premise is innocent and sweet.

This is a novel that celebrates books and storytelling. Love books? Love a good story? Come on in. A is for Austen, B is for Bronte, C is for Charles, and D is for Dickens. I learned my alphabet in this shop

Yes, I read them – all three books: 50 Shades of Grey, 50 Shades Darker, and 50 Shades Freed. I try to give everything a fair shake and I’m (usually) not above trying popular bestsellers because sometimes they’re worth it.

I can’t believe a week has gone by without posting! I hate not updating the blog for that long. I started a freelance job in an office last week and that, along with some doctors appointments and other work, left me with little time for fun stuff (like writing book reviews!).

Have the tissues ready. This is not your typical teenage love story Seventeen-year-old Hazel is our straight-shooting, badass heroine. She was diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer and lung tumors at thirteen.

  When Freedom came out in 2010, Jonathan Frazen appeared on the cover of Time magazine with the headline “The Great American Novelist.” (Subhead: “He’s not the richest or most famous. His characters don’t solve mysteries, have magical powers, or live in the future.