This wonderful cannonball book exchange inspired an essay on the importance of the tangible in books; a subject close to my heart. Coming home my apartment seemed slightly bleak and dark compared to the sparkling holidays where my parents lit candles and christmas carols endlessly adorned a gold and silver tree. Instead, in my apartment, on the other side of Christmas, was completely overthrown with books and scraps of paper. It was a reminder of my deadline in January. A deadline that seemed a large, […]
I Think I Need Some Tums
This is a novel that feels more like a movie script with lots of amazing food descriptions—some mouthwatering and some stomach-turning (depending on how you feel about certain types of French food). There are interesting elements here and the text goes down easily but it ultimately felt a bit unsatisfying to me. Richard Morais’s novel tells the story of Hassan Haji, who travels from the kitchen of his father’s Indian restaurant to a career as an acclaimed French chef. Hassan’s early memories are of his […]
Dennis Lehane Didn’t Steer Me Wrong
[Finished 6/25/14] I picked this book up at the Book Cellar in Lincoln Square because I had read rapturous reviews of it in last summer. It did not disappoint. Ivy Pochoda sets this multi-character novel in Red Hook, Brooklyn—a neighborhood trying to be in transition that includes both housing projects and hipsters. The defining moment that ties all the characters together is the disappearance of a teenage girl. Two fifteen year old friends, Val and June, take a plastic raft out onto the water; however, […]
Police Procedural in Dystopian Scotland
A Police Procedural in a future (2035), slightly dystopian Scotland. What is “Rule 34”? Here it is: rule #34: – If it exists there IS porn of it. Our hero – Liz Kavanaugh – is on the “Rule 34 squad” – which investigates crimes of ….uh…unorthodox, fringe and …uh…innovative nature. Her career is a bit on the decline and she has been relegated to rule 34 squad – not really the prime place to be, but then….some ..uh…”unique” murders occur. She is pulled into an […]