I almost don’t want to give anything away about A Touch of Jen, the explosive debut novel from Beth Morgan. My advice to those who have not read it is to stop reading this review right now, avoid reading any plot descriptions, and just start reading the book. I’ve said this before, but I’m a … Continue reading Book Review – A Touch of Jen, by Beth Morgan (Little, Brown & Company)
Short Story Update
The Saddest Short Story Ever Written Yesterday, I read the saddest short story I've ever read in my life, so I need to share the details with you. I found this little gem in The Persephone Book of Short Stories, which features a wealth of gorgeous stories by well-known and little-known female writers. I urge … Continue reading Short Story Update
Short Stories – A Beginner’s Guide
A dear, dear friend of mine asked for "A recommendation for an introduction into short stories", that would be applicable to adults, and 14-16 year-olds. Oof, what a tremendous request! What follows is not a complete guide, but here are my suggested gateway drugs. The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson Is it the best short story … Continue reading Short Stories – A Beginner’s Guide
June Check In
June been rough with a capital UGH. I can’t even nail down why it has been difficult, it just has. Most of my energy has gone into being a mother, and coping with the increasing demands of my day job (I’m an Executive Assistant at a publishing company, and I bloody love it). There was … Continue reading June Check In
May 2021 Round-Up
Here’s the list, with a quick five-word summary: Because of You - Dawn French (Penguin) - Funny, entertaining, French is wonderful.Vulnerability is My Superpower - Jackie E. Davis (Andrews McMeel) - Honest, beautifully insightful, colorful comics.Piranesi - Susanna Clark (Bloomsbury) - Cosmic madness in Manchester, maybe?Two Besides: A Pair of Talking Heads - Alan Bennett … Continue reading May 2021 Round-Up
April 2021 Round-Up and May Reads
April Reads Well, suppose I’d better get my April round-up done before June comes along. Here’s the run-down: Parable of the Sower - Octavia Butler (Grand Central Publishing)Near the Bone - Christina Henry (Berkley Publishing)Folklore - Angela Mi Young Hur (Erewhon)Chouette - Claire Oshetsky (Ecco)Jews Don’t Count - David Baddiel (TLS Books)Sometimes Amazing Things Happen - Elizabeth Ford … Continue reading April 2021 Round-Up and May Reads
Where To Read Amazing Short Stories
I'm approaching the three-year anniversary of starting my habit of reading a short story every day. I've read over 1000 stories. To be honest, I don't manage to read one absolutely every day; I don't treat it like homework. There are days when I'm just not feeling it, or I'm engrossed in a novel. I … Continue reading Where To Read Amazing Short Stories
“It rubs the lotion on its skin…”
WARNING: This post contains teeny-weeny plot details for The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward, and Near the Bone by Christina Henry. I didn’t mean to read two books with themes of abduction and abuse back-to-back, but I did. Here are my highly scientific findings: I finally read The Last House on Needless … Continue reading “It rubs the lotion on its skin…”
Beware the reading slump…
March has been rough. My brain flat-out gave up, and refused to participate. I found reading extremely difficult because I couldn’t focus. Maybe it was because it had been a year since the COVID crisis really blew up in Los Angeles, and I subconsciously wanted to mark the occasion with a bout of mental stillness? … Continue reading Beware the reading slump…
February 2021 Reading Round-Up
If you’re just interested in the list, let’s kick off with that. The Atmospherians, by Alex McElroy (Atria Books, released May 18, 2021)Happening, by Annie Ernaux (Seven Stories Press)Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, by Winifred Watson (Persephone Books)The Voice in my Ear, by Frances Leviston (Jonathan Cape)The Twisted Ones, by T. Kingfisher (Simon & … Continue reading February 2021 Reading Round-Up
California Reading 