Book Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Published by Penguin Random House 2017 There are far too few novels out there that address mental illness; especially books where the protagonist is the one with mental health issues. Honeyman shows that this can clearly be done well, with gentleness, tact, and even humor. Written in first person POV, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine …

Book Review: Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, by Haruki Murakami

This book is a real mind bender. I took so many notes and at the end of my note book is this acronym: WTF!!!! So, yeah, that kind of sums it up. I can't wait to tell you about it! How did I Hear About Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World? This novel …

Her Hair, Her Choice.

"She cut her hair." "What? Short?" "Yes! Chopped it all off! What was she thinking?" "She was such a pretty, elegant young lady." The woman's companion shook her head. Her own hair, I noticed, was plaited in a long braid draped across her bosom. "All the young girls are cutting their hair off now." In …

Book Review: Disoriental, by Négar Djavadi (Translated from the French by Tina Kover for Europa editions)

Every now and then, I pick up a book I can't breeze through over a weekend. I love those books: those witty, lovely beach reads. But, sometimes––sometimes, I crave a novel that makes me pause, makes me think, perhaps makes me look at my own prejudices with a bit of vinegary honesty. And, if the …

If I Were a Book, On What Shelf Would I Belong?

Photo by Aleksei I on Unsplash It is easy and natural to put labels on things. I didn't say it was right, okay? Just natural. Our society categorizes everything: food, devices, books. People. Someone asks, "What do you like to do?" You answer, "I do yoga. I like to hike and kayak and I am training for a …

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me! Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton