Book Review: A Room With a View by E.M. Forster

A Room with a View - E.M. Forster (Penguin Books, 1978) There are old-fashioned books that make you feel cozy and safe and nostalgic and there are old-fashioned books that make you thankful to live in the time we do. A Room with a View has some of each. As lovely as it sounds to… Continue reading Book Review: A Room With a View by E.M. Forster

What I Read – March 2019

READ: Southern Lady Code - Helen Ellis (Doubleday, 2019) The Immortalists - Chloe Benjamin (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2018) Tin Man - Sarah Winman (Viking, 2017) The Waiting Hours - Shandi Mitchell (Viking, 2019) Lanny - Max Porter (Strange Light, 2019) A Room With a View - E.M. Forster (Penguin Books, 1978) American War - Omar… Continue reading What I Read – March 2019

What I Read – February 2019

Read: When Breath Becomes Air - Paul Kalanithi (Gale Engage Learning, 2016) Divided Loyalties - Nilofar Shidmehr (Astoria, 2019) Fathers and Sons - Ivan Turgenev (Penguin Books, 1975) (translated from the Russian by Rosemary Edmonds) Minster Without Portfolio - Michael Winter (Hamish Hamilton, 2013) The Bellman's Secret - Heidi Barnes (Rare Bird Books, 2019) Quiet - Susan Cain (Crown Publishers, 2012) Miss Burma - Charmaine Cragg… Continue reading What I Read – February 2019

Book Review: Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev

Fathers and Sons - Ivan Turgenev (Penguin Books, 1975) Reviewing classic books always feels a bit strange to me because what can I add to the years of literary conversation surrounding an author like Turgenev? So instead I'll focus on what I enjoyed. This was my first read by Turgenev but his work has been… Continue reading Book Review: Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev

Best Fiction Book

Since I read primarily fiction, I feel that this category is similar to picking my favourite book of the year. Which is really hard for me and is something I've pretty much avoided doing in previous years' recaps. When listing the books I've read and loved in 2018, I came up with ten so a… Continue reading Best Fiction Book

Best Book From an Author I’ve Read Before

Today's category is the opposite of yesterday's. These are books from authors I've read and (obviously) enjoyed previously and so searched out further writing from them. Honourable Mention: Lila- Marilynne Robinson (Harper Collins, 2014) Rules of Civility - Amor Towles (Penguin Books, 2011) Indian Horse - Richard Wagamese (Douglas & McIntyre, 2012) Washington Black - Esi Edugyan (Patrick… Continue reading Best Book From an Author I’ve Read Before

Best Young Reader Book

Today's Award Category is for the Best Book I read in 2018 aimed at the Young Reader. Because I don't read a huge amount of young adult fiction, I'm classifying this as books for readers from 8-16, which, I know is a broad category but these are my literary awards. You can start your own.… Continue reading Best Young Reader Book

The First Annual Karissa Reads Books Literary Awards

That's an ambitious title. And maybe a more honest one would be The First (Maybe?) Annual Karissa Reads Books Awards of Some Books I Read This Year. But that doesn't sound so impressive. This idea is blatantly inspired by FictionFan's Annual (really) Awards that are far more organized than mine (so you should check them… Continue reading The First Annual Karissa Reads Books Literary Awards

What I Read – September 2018

Coming in a little late but here's my September Reading Round-Up: Dubliners - James Joyce (Penguin Books, 1979) I've read Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and made two separate attempts at Ulysses. Dubliners was so much easier. It was a very smart, very moving, often unexpected collection of short stories. Herzog - Saul Bellow (Penguin Books,… Continue reading What I Read – September 2018

What I Read – February 2018

2018 has obviously not been a great year for book reviews thus far but I am sneaking in lots of reading time. Here's what I read in February and the quickest reviews I can manage at this moment: The Hut Builder - Laurence Fearnley (Penguin Books, 2010 New Zealand novel. I likely would have abandoned this… Continue reading What I Read – February 2018