(My dad felt that my summer reading level had dropped off so I have done my best to boost my numbers this September. However, please keep your expectations low for October.) The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters: The Jolly Regina - Kara LaReau (Amulet Books, 2017) The Good People - Hannah Kent (Little, Brown,… Continue reading What I Read – September 2017
Month: September 2017
Reading with Pearl: Bunny Edition
If you ask Pearl currently what she wants to be when she grows up she will gleefully tell you, "A bunny!" This is mostly due to the book on the top left, When Bunny Grows Up. Regardless, bunnies are popular in our household and Pearl's book collection reflects that. When Bunny Grows Up and Home… Continue reading Reading with Pearl: Bunny Edition
Book Review: The Wind is Not a River by Brian Payton
In this novel, Brian Payton explores a lesser known portion of World War II history - the Japanese invasion of Alaska. At least, this was unknown to me and I consider myself decently informed. Our main character is John Easely, a journalist who has snuck his way into the Aleutian Islands where the native peoples… Continue reading Book Review: The Wind is Not a River by Brian Payton
Book Review: The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters (Book One): The Jolly Regina by Kara LaReau
I bought this book as a gift for a seven-year-old I know so the true test will be whether or not she enjoys it. In the meantime, here are my thoughts. Jaundice and Kale are sisters who enjoy looking at wallpaper, watching grass grow, and eating plain cheese sandwiches. Their parents went out to run… Continue reading Book Review: The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters (Book One): The Jolly Regina by Kara LaReau
Death is Swallowed Up in Victory
Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? Today is the first day of the autumn season. A year ago, I sat in a hospital, swallowing back tears, repeating to myself the lines from that famous psalm, "Even though I walk through the valley of… Continue reading Death is Swallowed Up in Victory
Book Review: The Good People by Hannah Kent
With her second novel, Hannah Kent confirms that she is a master of historical fiction. As with Burial Rites (read my review here), Kent uses a true historical story to build her novel around. This time the setting is early 19th century Ireland and the tale revolves around "the good people" - the fairies and… Continue reading Book Review: The Good People by Hannah Kent
Book Review: Fall Down 7 Times, Get Up 8 by Naoki Higashida
This collection of short essays (plus an interview and a short story) follows Higashida's previous book translated into English, The Reason I Jump. I haven't read Higashida before and while The Reason I Jump may provide some helpful context and personal history, I don't think it's necessary to have read it first. It also… Continue reading Book Review: Fall Down 7 Times, Get Up 8 by Naoki Higashida
Book Review: The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne
The Heart's Invisible Furies follows the life of Cyril Avery, beginning in the 1940s and jumping ahead every seven years and, in doing so, also outlining the history of Ireland in the 20th century and many of the changes it went through. We begin with Cyril's mother, publicly cast out of her church, family, and… Continue reading Book Review: The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne
Book Review: The Golden House by Salman Rushdie
Salman Rushdie's latest novel begins with the arrival of Nero Golden and his three sons in New York City, on the day of Barack Obama's inauguration. These four men have appeared in the city under mysterious circumstances, from an unnamed country, with assumed names. They move into a close knit, wealthy neighbourhood with a… Continue reading Book Review: The Golden House by Salman Rushdie
Book Review: The Wonderlings by Mira Bartok
I didn't finish reading this book. A few short chapters in, I realized that I was most definitely not the target audience and I simply wasn't being grabbed by what was happening on the page. That said, I do feel like I can recommend it because Karissa ages 8 - 12 would have loved this… Continue reading Book Review: The Wonderlings by Mira Bartok
Karissa Reads Books 