Tag Archives: book review

South to America wins National Book Award

That Imani Perry’s South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation just won the National Book Award is no surprise. It kept me up at night for the weeks I read it, stirring, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Book Review: “To the Bones” by Valerie Nieman, in Appalachian Review

Hi, friends. It’s been a while. Again. For my family and me, time has both sped up and seemed suspended or slow during the year and a half of pandemic life. I know we’re not alone. Like many of you, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What I’m Reading Now: Robert Macfarlane’s “The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot”

This is a special book. It begs to be read slowly, so as to savor each line. Not since reading Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker Creek in my early 20s have I experienced a book like this: one which offers … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spring Reading: Kate Quinn’s “The Rose Code”

I read Kate Quinn‘s World War II era historical novel, The Rose Code, in a fevered (possibly actually fevered, as I’d just received my second Covid vaccination) rush, over the course of two nights while my kids were on Spring … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What I’m Reading Now: “Beach Read” by Emily Henry

Need a Spring Break read? Literally headed to the beach? I picked up Emily Henry’s Beach Read from my local library on a total whim yesterday. The premise—two very different writers (with a shared college past) stuck in neighboring lakehouses, who … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Books & Candy: A Thursday Shout-Out

This is a Thursday shout-out to books and candy — one of the best combos around. First, The Once and Future Witches, by Alix E. Harrow. I honestly don’t know that I’ve read a thing like it. It’s a wild, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I swear this is not a book blog: and, What I’m Reading Now: Rene Denfeld’s “The Child Finder”

Pandemic win: more books. Another recommendation from a friend … although I probably shouldn’t have read this one at night. Which speaks to the power of Rene Denfeld’s harrowing and atmospheric novel. The Child Finder is fast-paced, tightly-plotted, and touching … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What I’m Reading Now: Helene Wecker’s “The Golem and the Jinni”

Book recommendations from friends have been one of the wins of this pandemic year. I always tend to read very different sort of books from the ones usually on my list when it’s a friend handing it over. The Golem … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Summer reading recommendation: “The Summer Set” by Aimee Agresti

I picked up The Summer Set by Aimee Agresti (Graydon House Books, 2020) on a whim, not knowing a thing about the author. The gorgeous cover–all summer night and twinkle lights–and the copy on the back cover, promising a cast … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What I’m reading now: Late Migrations by Margaret Renkl

Hi, readerly folks. I’m an Instagram convert, and occasionally I talk there about the books I’m reading. Usually it’s a lovefest, because I just can’t stand NOT to share the stories which change me. Margaret Renkl’s debut book of essays, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment