I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book thanks to 8th Note Press and NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Azaan hasn't been back to his northern California hometown for many years. Not since he was caught kissing Madison, a white girl, by his father, the local imam. Azaan's family believes he's spent the… Continue reading Book Review: The Last Man in Paradise by Syed M. Masood
Pearl is 10!
Hard to believe but recently we celebrated 10 whole years of Pearl! This girl is the best. She's so thoughtful and silly and smart. She's a fantastic big sister, a loyal friend, so curious about the world and so eager to step in to be a helper. Pearl loves animals, exploring, and being outdoors. She's… Continue reading Pearl is 10!
Book Review: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
I heard a lot of mixed reviews for this one before I decided to pick it up and see for myself. Fair warning: this review will also be mixed. Our never-named narrator receives a position in a secretive branch of the UK government. Her new job is to be a "bridge". A bridge is a… Continue reading Book Review: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
What I Read: February 2025
Because I forgot to mention it last month - I've made the switch from Goodreads to StoryGraph. Feel free to find me (I'm Karissareadsbooks) there if you also are a user. Read: The Dearly Beloved - Cara Wall (Simon & Schuster Audio, 2019) Abigail - Magda Szabo (translated from Hungarian by Len Rix) (New York… Continue reading What I Read: February 2025
Book Review: At a Loss for Words by Carol Off
At a Loss for Words - Carol Off (Random House Canada, 2024) Carol Off is a widely respected Canadian journalist, the longtime host of CBC’s As It Happens. As such, and because I have read a book by Off before, I felt confident this book would be illuminating and fair and it did not disappoint.… Continue reading Book Review: At a Loss for Words by Carol Off
Book Review: Abigail by Magda Szabo
Abigail - Magda Szabo (New York Review Books, 2020) This book was translated from the Hungarian by Len Rix. I think we can all be guilty sometimes of assuming that people who lived a long time ago (and by extension, books written by and about people who lived a long time ago), aren't going to… Continue reading Book Review: Abigail by Magda Szabo
Book Review: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This - Omar El Akkad (McClelland & Stewart, 2025) I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Pub date: February 25, 2025 No, there is no terrible thing coming for you in some distant future, but know that a terrible thing… Continue reading Book Review: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad
Some 2025 Highlights
It's mid-February and the rain has returned but we had an absolutely beautiful and sunny January. Maybe it's the Vitamin D I started taking this winter, but even though January felt about 7 weeks long, it didn't feel nearly so dreary as it usually does. We had a family weekend away, booked a hotel in… Continue reading Some 2025 Highlights
(Audio) Book Review: North Woods by Daniel Mason
North Woods - Daniel Mason (Books on Tape, 2023) Having read Daniel Mason's short story collection some years ago (review here), I wasn't sure whether or not I wanted to read a full novel from him. I enjoyed the stories but I actually ended that review saying I wasn't sure whether or not his style… Continue reading (Audio) Book Review: North Woods by Daniel Mason
Book Review: The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens
The winter holidays are an excellent time to dive into Charles Dickens' work. And while I didn't read all of this over my Christmas break, I did give it a good start and finished a couple weeks later. (It's not short!) I've read some of Dickens' work where I've been grabbed almost immediately and others… Continue reading Book Review: The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens
Karissa Reads Books 