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About Ale

CBR 7
CBR 8
CBR  9
CBR10 participant
CBR11 participant

I'm adjuncting in creative writing, and I'm in the midst of finishing a novel I'd like to send for publication by the end of 2019. CBR has definitely helped my writing since now I know what readers are looking for and not looking for in their works. So, thank you, CBR! Hopefully someday, we'll be able to review my novel on this blog. :)

Ale's Reviews:

The Asides Are the Best

February 21, 2016 by Ale 3 Comments

I’m on a Pratchett kick right now, going through and reminding myself how much I adore the Discworld books. I did a close-read for my MFA on “Lords and Ladies”, and even though my paper was based on how Pratchett expertly weaves Celtic folklore in with his parody of a “Midsummer’s Night’s Dream”, I found the things I really enjoy about Pratchett’s writing are his glorious, humorous, and bountiful asides. “Lords and Ladies” follows Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg as they battle a mythical force […]

Filed Under: Fantasy Tagged With: discworld, fantasy, Granny Weatherwax, nanny ogg, pratchett

Religion Is Hard to Kill

January 28, 2016 by Ale 4 Comments

This was another MFA required read, and sadly, I wasn’t really impressed by it. I’ve noticed a trend in books of this time period (Graham Greene was writing in the 20s, 30s, and early 40s) disappointing me, and I have a feeling it’s partially because I don’t understand the social temperature of that time, nor the social issues being tackled in books of that era. So this low star-rating is quite possibly not the book’s fault. I know several people, (including my professor, who did […]

Filed Under: Fiction Tagged With: classic, Graham Greene, mexico, power and the glory

Fact or Fiction?

January 26, 2016 by Ale 2 Comments

  I do like that my MFA forces me to read books I wouldn’t normally pick up. While it’s not always a sure-fire way to a favorite read, “My Brilliant Friend” makes my top 10 for ‘required reading.’ A note of caution, this is a long book and is followed up by four subsequent sequels that will totally suck you in, so unless you’re willing to devote a copious slot of time to this story, beware! I was only mildly enjoying the read and thought […]

Filed Under: Fiction Tagged With: Elena Ferrante, Italy, My Brilliant Friend, Naples, Neopolitan Series

This is the Letter that Never Ends, Yes it goes on and on, my friends!

January 6, 2016 by Ale Leave a Comment

I can’t decide if I wasn’t a fan of this book because it was assigned to me and I had no choice but to read it over a four day period, or if I wasn’t a fan due to it actually not being my cup of tea. Because there were parts that I loved…truly, the writing and craft in here is absolutely beautiful. But it just sort of goes on. And on. And on. Like, you know…. The book is a letter from the narrator […]

Filed Under: Fiction Tagged With: dear thief, Fiction, Samantha harvery

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    can i make this comment
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    Leaving a comment! As scheduled
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    Great review
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    another one
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