I feel a bit guilty writing this about a book that was a finalist for the Pulitzer in fiction, but here it is: this book underwhelmed me. That is not to say that it was bad, or that I wouldn’t recommend it, merely that my high expectations were not borne out. I think my disappointment stems from the potent expectation-raising combination of a) being nominated for a Very Prestigious Award, b) a glowing play-by-play by my very-well-read-now-ex-boyfriend (phew, that’s a mouthful) and c) a great, […]
The Real Surprise Wasn’t the Party
The second Fear Street book opens with a prologue from the point of view of a murderer. In this case, our killer murdered Evan for the sake of a girl, and apparently murder was quite easy. A year later, we open with Meg Dalton riding her bike with her best friend, Shannon, and her boyfriend, Tony. Evan, murdered in the Fear Street woods because people can’t die in Shadyside unless they’re located somewhere that starts with ‘Fear,’ was Shannon’s brother and Tony’s best friend. Tony […]
Anotterchaos #2: Dollars to Duchesses
Supposedly the book that inspired Julian Fellowes to create the character of Cora, Countess of Grantham, this book explores the late 19th/early 20th century phenomenon of American women taking their fortunes to England to husband-hunt. An interesting, if not riveting, read.
Drama without Passion
This is a fairly well-written but slow-paced story that takes place in the tiny town of Witless Bay, Newfoundland, surrounding a handful of colorful characters who struggle to make sense of their lives with relatively little connection to the outside world. Touches of magical realism combine with a certain bleakness of spirit to make for a story which has fascinating aspects to it, but which ultimately left me somewhat cold. Fabian is the product of a faltering marriage, who early on discovers that his […]