Less than Picture Perfect

Book Review of "Lessons in French" by Hilary Reyl. What budding artist wouldn't grab the chance to work in Paris with the world-famous photojournalist Lydia Schell? For Katherine, who just finished Yale, it will also be like going home, having lived in Paris as a young girl when her father was dying from cancer. Back … Continue reading Less than Picture Perfect →

A Socially Capital Laugh

Book Review for "Various Pets Alive & Dead" by Marina Lewycka. Their twenty years of commune life didn't turn out as reaffirming as Marcus and Doro had hoped it would be, so maybe it is time to conform and get married. This isn't news their children ever expected to get, but neither Clara nor Serge … Continue reading A Socially Capital Laugh →

Hollywood Secrets and Pasts

Book Review of "Melting the Snow on Hester Street" by Daisy Waugh. Its 1929 and movie director Max Beecham and his actress wife Eleanor hobnob with Charlie Chaplain, Greta Garbo, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, John Barrymore, Gloria Swanson and more. To them, Max and Eleanor are the happiest, most loving couple in Hollywood. However, the … Continue reading Hollywood Secrets and Pasts →

"The Wednesday Sisters" Sequel Story

Book Review of "The Wednesday Daughters" by Meg Waite Clayton. Ally, Hope's mother, has died. Not long before her death, she made several visits the Lake District in England, researching a biography of Beatrix Potter. Hope, together with Anna Page and Julie are going to Ally's cottage to pack up her things and say goodbye. … Continue reading "The Wednesday Sisters" Sequel Story →

A fine (gay) romance

Book Review of "The Apple Polisher" by Heidi Belleau. Christian wants to be a preschool teacher, and he's enrolled in a prestigious MA program where he has to be a model citizen. But that isn't as easy as it seems when you're gay. With no money, he finds the only place he can afford. When … Continue reading A fine (gay) romance →

The Science of Love

Book Review for "The Rosie Project" by Graeme Simsion. Don Tillman may be a genius when it comes to science and genetics, or anything else he decides to study, but he's clueless about two things: women and his Asperger's Syndrome. Despite this, he's determined to find himself a wife in the only way he knows … Continue reading The Science of Love →

Steaming Open a Family’s Pandora’s Box

Book Review of "Instructions for a Heatwave" by Maggie O'Farrell. On the morning that the 1976 heat in London was about to hit over 90oC for the 10th day in a row, Robert Riordan went out to buy a newspaper - just as he did every morning. Only this time, he didn't come home to … Continue reading Steaming Open a Family’s Pandora’s Box →

Early 20th century American Romeo and Juliette

Book Review for "Marching to Zion" by Mary Glickman. Magnus Bailey fell in love with Minerva Fishbein the minute he scooped this flaming haired child out of her sorrowful father's arms, to help them off the boat in St. Louis. However, Magnus didn't know how much in love he was until it was too late. … Continue reading Early 20th century American Romeo and Juliette →

A 21st Century Holden Caulfield?

Book Review of "The Universe versus Alex Woods" by Gavin Extence Alex Woods is probably one of the most remarkably famous people in the world. That's because he's only the second person in recorded history (after Ann Hodges) who survived being hit by a meteorite. Alex was only 10 at the time, and his meteorite … Continue reading A 21st Century Holden Caulfield? →

Oh, the tangled (ww)web we weave…

Book Review of "Kiss me First" by Lottie Moggach. How many friends do you have on Facebook? How many of them are people you met online? How many are "real life" friends you haven't seen for months, maybe even years? I'm betting those people make up a pretty big percentage of your list. In fact, … Continue reading Oh, the tangled (ww)web we weave… →