Category Book Lists
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by L…
The year is 1915. Mary Russell, a brilliant and feisty young woman, takes a walk on the Sussex Downs and bumps into Sherlock Holmes, the great consulting detective. The Holmes of 1915 is older, semi-retired, and amazed at Mary Russell’s powers of deduction. The two strike up a friendship, Holmes mentors his new pupil, and they […]
One Summer by Bill Bryson
A lot happened in the summer of 1927: Charles Lindbergh made his historic flight across the Atlantic, Babe Ruth was closing in on his home run record, and President Coolidge took a three month vacation in South Dakota, to name a few things. Bill Bryson’s book One Summer is an in-depth look at just about everything that […]
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Sometimes I think the authors we read in school deserve a second chance outside the classroom. Today’s example: John Steinbeck. I read Of Mice and Men and The Pearl while I was in school, and I did not enjoy either of them. So when I started East of Eden I had to try and forget those negative experiences. I’m so glad I did, because this novel was, for me, another Tess experience. The book is so full of symbolism and Biblical references that I know I will be thinking about it for a long time.
Five (Unexpected) Love Stories
Everyone knows that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy end up together, and everyone knows how Rhett leaves things with Scarlett, but I thought I’d take a minute or two to share with you my top five unexpected love stories–books you might not recognize, or books you might not have gone into the bookstore to buy.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Yesterday I stopped by Barnes and Noble on a whim and picked up this book. The movie version is scheduled to release in June, and I saw the first trailer yesterday. It looked intriguing, so I jumped headfirst and purchased it! Well, I finished it last night. Not even a whole day later. The story […]
Four Books for an Early Spring.
This morning I got my weather forecast from a groundhog, which, in my opinion, is the only truly reliable source of meteorological information. Phil said winter is over, and it sure feels like it today, so I thought I’d share four books for an early spring–two I’m familiar with and two that are on my […]
The Fiddler’s Gun
It’s been a long time since I’ve read one of those fiction books that makes you stay up past your bedtime reading. The Fiddler’s Gun is one of those books. The novel is set during the American Revolution, and it involves, among many other things, orphans, pirates, Redcoats, fiddles, and buried treasure. Sounds like a good story right out of the gate, if you ask me!
The Remains of the Day
Uptight British butler takes road trip, realizes he hasn’t always made good decisions. Sounds thrilling, right? Normally I wouldn’t have ever picked a book based on that description, but The Remains of the Day was really interesting. Mr. Stevens, the main character, is a fiercely loyal, dedicated butler. He constantly questions what it means to […]
A Center of Quiet
It’s always exciting to see what the first book of the new year will be, and in 2016 my first book was A Center of Quiet by David Runcorn.
Three Books For Sherlock Fans
I’m the first one to admit that I arrived late to the Sherlock party. I didn’t start watching this BBC show until a few months ago, but once I pressed play on episode one, I couldn’t stop! I love that the show is a modern adaptation of a Victorian classic, and I really love all […]
Book Fifty 