For although a man is judged by his actions, by what he has said and done, a man judges himself by what he is willing to do, by what he might have said, or might have done - a judgment that is necessarily hampered, not only by scope and limits of his imagination, but by… Continue reading What I Read – January 2018
Tag: Penguin Books
Book Review: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
First things first, I liked Rules of Civility better than A Gentleman in Moscow, Towles' first book and I think I'm in the minority in this opinion so I'll explain why. Both novels are well written and Towles clearly excels at bringing historical time periods to life, whether that's New York in the 1930s, as seen in Rules of… Continue reading Book Review: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
Book Review: 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
Generally speaking, I don't enjoy books centred around bookstores. I find they tend to romanticize an experience I've known very well in the real, practical world. So I didn't begin 84, Charing Cross Road with high hopes, despite the fact that it was recommended to me by a bookseller. In the end, it surprised me. This… Continue reading Book Review: 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
What I Read – March 2017
I've fallen behind in reviewing books but am working to catch up and get some reviews posted next week. In the meantime, here's what I read this month: Eileen - Ottessa Moshfegh (Penguin Press, 2015) The Dark and Other Love Stories - Deborah Willis (Hamish Hamilton, 2017) She was glad that was done. What a… Continue reading What I Read – March 2017
Book Review: Eileen – Otessa Moshfegh
I finished this book in about two days, which gives you a pretty good idea of how compelling a read it is. Yet now, days later, I find myself struggling over what to say about Eileen and even whether or not to say that I liked it. It's a compulsive read. While the action… Continue reading Book Review: Eileen – Otessa Moshfegh
What I Read – May 2016
Paper Towns - John Green (Penguin Books, 2008) Before I Fall - Noah Hawley (Grand Central Publishing, 2016) Housekeeping - Marilynne Robinson (Harper Perennial, 2005) A Visit from the Goon Squad - Jennifer Egan (Anchor Books, 2010) Did Not Finish: The Little Red Chairs - Edna O'Brien (Little, Brown and Company, 2016) Currently Reading: Infinite… Continue reading What I Read – May 2016
Book Review: Paper Towns by John Green
I've read three books by John Green before this one (see my reviews of The Fault in Our Stars and Looking for Alaska) so it's safe to say that I enjoy his writing. Green captures teens well, finding that balance between realism and fiction to keep the story interesting. Our main character here is Quentin,… Continue reading Book Review: Paper Towns by John Green
Book Review: But You Did Not Come Back by Marceline Loridan-Ivens
How much devastation can you pack into 100 pages? A lot. Even more when every word is true. In the vein of Night by Elie Wiesel or Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, Marceline Loridan-Ivens recounts her years as a slave (her word) in several prisons and concentrations camps. Loridan-Ivens was arrested with her… Continue reading Book Review: But You Did Not Come Back by Marceline Loridan-Ivens
What I Read – April 2016
*I've added a new page on the blog that lists all the book reviews. Currently, it is alphabetical by author's last name. Let me know if you have thoughts on better/additional ways to organize that. Feel free to check out some of the older reviews, including some books I'd forgotten I'd ever reviewed! Did you… Continue reading What I Read – April 2016
Book Review: The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene
The convergence of literature and religion is something that has long interested me as a reader, a writer, and a Christian. It's rare that I'm quite satisfied with the way Christianity and the Christian life and walk is portrayed in art (this was one of my primary complaints with such books as Good to a… Continue reading Book Review: The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene
Karissa Reads Books 