“Later that summer, when Mrs. Penmark looked back and remembered, when she was caught up in despair so deep that she knew there was no way out, no solution whatever for the circumstances that encompassed her, it seemed to her that June seventh, the day of the Fern Grammer School picnic, was the last day […]
David Sedaris’s short stories have me laughing out loud with people turning the heads to look. I can just hear them saying/thinking “What’s wrong with that girl?” Nothing is off-limits for this author, his parent’s dog replacing their children, being taught to play guitar by a midget so his father can put a jazz bad […]
“Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and having nothing to do…” Alice Liddell’s story does not begin on this “golden afternoon” but this particular day defines her as “Alice”. Melanie Benjamin has brought The real Alice’s life to light beautifully. Mr. Liddell is the Dean of […]
Through Truman Capote’s memorizing true crime account, we follow the case every step of the way. Beginning at the finding of the bodies and ending at the gallows. Not only does he skillfully craft this heinous crime but does so with the reader feeling empathy not only towards the Clutters but also their killers, Perry […]
To Kill A Mockingbird is a coming of age story, but the focus is not on raging hormones. Harper Lee’s novel deals with prejudice of race and financial standing, rape and the battle of good against evil, showcasing that life is not always fair or as black and white as it appears to be. The […]
Review Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is the gothic novel of an unnamed girl. The story begins with this girl as a paid companion to a Mrs. Van Hopper. Mrs. Van Hopper likes to hobnob with the rich and famous and after spotting Maxim de Winter, owner of the wonderful Manderly. (I should also mention […]
Featuring: Death, A Young Girl, Hiding, A Love Of Books Death serves as our narrator in this chilling novel. He quickly explains that he does not in any way look like the grim ripper that pop culture has perceived him to be, such as wearing a black cloak and carrying a scythe, but instead is […]
Behind a Mask is an excellent way to become acquainted with Alcott’s racier side. With a hidden identity used for publication (A.M. Barnard) it all fits together nicely in this unique thriller. From the beginning, I knew that there was something fishy going on and was pretty sure I knew the motive; my suspicions were […]
Pride and Prejudice I feel is the ultimate love story. Our heroine, Elizabeth Bennet is pretty, witty and wise with a great sense of time and humor. Mr. Darcy is rude, proud and very disagreeable, even if he is worth ten thousand a year. Both cannot stand each other. So what makes this the ultimate […]
Cranford is a small town which is high in the population of female. In the first section of the book, every male who enters the town drops like flies making it feel jinxed or like an old-fashioned sorority. Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel is a sequence of short stories that all intertwine. I’m typically not a short […]