book reviews
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Reviewed: “Superior Women” by Alice Adams
The women in Alice Adams’ SUPERIOR WOMEN certainly do think they are ‘superior.’ And they are really not. They are in turn ordinary, awful, bland, and absolutely normal women. It doesn’t make for a particularly compelling story, because they can be so bland it’s hard to even enjoy rooting against them. SUPERIOR WOMEN is the… Continue reading
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Reviewed: “Fire in Heaven” by Malcolm J. Bosse
For what it’s worth, I absolutely didn’t even realize that “Fire in Heaven” is a sequel when I read it, not until I sat down to write my review. That being said, I can say that you do not need to read the first book in order to fully appreciate the sequel. It never even… Continue reading
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Reviewed: “The Third Rainbow Girl: The Long Life of a Double Murder in Appalachia” by Emma Copley Eisenberg
Question: Why does it seem like true crime books are required to have at least 80% of their sentences be fewer than five words? I like true crime stories, I do. True crime books and I do not, however, often get along. Maybe I’m too picky. It’s possible. I could be. Might be. Am. (See… Continue reading
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Reviewed: “Love Lettering” by Kate Clayborn
I want to write a love letter to Kate Clayborn to thank her for writing “Love Lettering.” Sounds cliche and horribly pun-y, but it’s true. So consider this review my love letter. I am in love with this story, head over heels in love. It’s mid-December and I’m considering not reading another book this year… Continue reading
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Reviewed: “Husband Material” by Emily Belden
This book was an up and down ride for me. It was quick and easy, didn’t take too much thought. But it was also not quite compelling enough that I could read it fast. The premise and plot were both unique and interesting, and too unique and a little weird. The main characters (a programmer/app… Continue reading
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Reviewed: “Ten Things My Cat Hates About You” by Lottie Lucas
I don’t giggle. Catch me giggling and you’ve done well to break through to me. Laughing loud, yes, and quiet stoicism, yes. Nearly never the thing, giggling, between the two. So the fact that TEN THINGS MY CAT HATES ABOUT YOU made me giggle, countless times, bumped it from a four-ish star read to five.… Continue reading
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Reviewed: “A Death in Harlem” by Karla F.C. Holloway
A DEATH IN HARLEM is a story of the Roaring Twenties. I haven’t read THE GREAT GATSBY since high school, but this book seems to be an excellent view of another slice of life in the same time period. Set in Harlem, as the title implies, it is also the story of how the people… Continue reading
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Reviewed: “Reputation” by Sara Shepard
Sometimes, when life is crap for one reason or many reasons, I like to relax with books I’d filed under the sub-genre of Rich People Problems. Some people might find these sorts of books boring, and I sometimes do. But sometimes, when my mood is right – and by that I do mean grumpy and… Continue reading
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Reviewed: “To the Lions” by Holly Watt
To the Lions is a stunning book. Holly Watt has created a story that will pull you in, that will haunt you, that will make you think about horrific things that could so easily be reality. And maybe they are. I wouldn’t be surprised. This thriller, seemingly the start of a series, focuses on Casey… Continue reading
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Reviewed: “The Long Call” by Ann Cleeves
Thrillers and mysteries seem to be my genre of late. They are what make me happy, they are what suck me in, they are what I give the highest ratings to. And The Long Call, the first in a new series by Shetland author Ann Cleeves, is no exception. This novel probably falls under the… Continue reading
About Me
An English diarist and naval administrator. I served as administrator of the Royal Navy and Member of Parliament. I had no maritime experience, but I rose to be the Chief Secretary to the Admiralty under both King Charles II and King James II through patronage, diligence, and my talent for administration.
Adventures With Words 