books
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Reviewed: “The McAvoy Sisters Book of Secrets” by Molly Fader
There will always be something special to me about Molly Fader’s The McAvoy Sisters Book of Secrets because it is the first book I’ve read that is set where I live – something that’s stumped me on almost every yearlong readathon I’ve attempted. This book takes place in northwest Pennsylvania on the shores of Lake… Continue reading
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Reviewed: “Rosie’s Travelling Tea Shop” by Rebecca Raisin
I was reading a non-fiction book about the Middle East and, fascinating though it was, it read like the news. And the news, as I’m sure you know, is always treading a thin, terrifying line between depressing and nightmarish. So the morning I woke up grouchy for other reasons and didn’t want to get out… Continue reading
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Bookish Details: Part 1 – Childhood
I don’t remember the first book I ever read. I know I had a set of Disney books. And I know I loved, loved, loved my Berenstain Bears books – and still harbor some resentment over them having been given to my cousin, who still loves reading so perhaps I shouldn’t complain too much. I… Continue reading
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“Hope and Other Superpowers” by John Pavlovitz
The full title of the book I’m here to review today is… Hope and Other Superpowers: A Life-Affirming, Love-Defending, Butt-Kicking, World-Saving Manifesto. John Pavlovitz wrote this book and, presumably, picked the title. It is possibly the longest title I’ve ever seen but the book is absolutely worth ever hyphen in the title. A few things, first.… Continue reading
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Keeping myself honest… plans for a newer, more consistent bookblog
💙💙So… I do this a lot, try to figure out just how to do something better. Eventually, maybe, I’ll hit on something that keeps me happy and that I do with some consistency. Perhaps? Perhaps not. 😂 Nonetheless, it’s time to figure out how to do something better and newer and all that jazz. So,… Continue reading
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“The Sisters of Blue Mountain” by Karen Katchur
I expected this book to be more… intense. It kind of fizzled thanks to the bulk of the motivating factors (i.e. random dead animals) being unrelated to the actual plot of the story. The plot itself was relatable, in that I have a sister and we don’t always communicate well but we love each other… Continue reading
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spoiler alert: The Founding Fathers hated each other…
So… “Hamilton” is a thing. You can’t get much more all-American than George Washington. Jefferson created the basis for the laws we still follow today. And there are a handful of other Founding Fathers we learn about in elementary school, and then probably forget unless somebody asks us “who is on the $1 bill?” or… Continue reading
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“Future Leaders of Nowhere” by Emily O’Beirne
Want to know the surefire sign of a good book? Finding yourself confronted with the promise of a sequel, given a vague date (Autumn 2017, in this case), and saying to yourself (possibly aloud, since you stayed up until nearly one in the morning devouring said book) “ooh, I gotta get that book!” This is… Continue reading
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“After the Parade” by Lori Ostlund
It’s some kind of masterful when you spend the first quarter of a book thinking that the main character is a self-absorbed, ambivalent, almost blissfully ignorant fool but then you read the middle half of the book, getting ever more caught up in his story, and the final quarter of the book realizing that none… 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 