I completely ADORED My Lady Jane a few years ago. It was so refreshing and funny and unique, with such a great audio narrator. I had high hopes for this next book in the series and HALLELUJAH it delivered. It's not quite as shockingly quirky as My Lady Jane (nobody's fiance regularly turns into a … [Read more]
Recent Reviews
CBR Diversions: Holiday Season –Time To Give BOOKS
Disturbing parallels to modern-day society
The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye
I liked this one well enough, but I can't say it wasn't a little bit of a disappointment after liking Faye's other books so much. The pacing was very uneven here and I wonder if cutting some of the material (the book is about 400 pages) would have helped. There's a great book in here somewhere, … [Read more]
He might fear God, but he still loves boobs.
Jane Doe: A Novel by Victoria Helen Stone
I follow a lot of authors on twitter. Every once in a while a bunch of writers will start talking about one book. A couple of months ago, that book was Jane Doe. Authors, all women but from several genres, were reveling in Jane's darkness and her passion for revenge. Jane has diagnosed herself as … [Read more]
“There are new monsters now”
Universal Harvester by John Darnielle
This novel sneaks up on you. You're lulled into comfort with descriptions of old video rental places, suburban living rooms, and the polite peace of the Midwest before being startled awake by sudden glances of violence and fear. These shocks originate from movies. Movies within movies. Were they … [Read more]
Buttermilk Onions Cheese Life Lessons
Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat, Wendy McNaughton
The lovely and amazing narfna was my CBR10 Book Exchange gifter last year. She shopped from my wish list and bought Salt Fat Acid Heat. I love cooking and cookbooks. I have worked as a chef professionally, but all my training has been at home and ad hoc in bakeries and small food shops. Samin … [Read more]
an exercise in lying to liars
Transcription by Kate Atkinson
What began as a slow and cold (le Carré-esque) waiting game grew into a white hot flash of deceit, anxiety, and dangerous thrills. I cannot claim to know the full horrors and trials of World War II- nor can I draw a true comparison between that dark time and the present, but the world of this book … [Read more]
Third Tag block editor test, when does the author tag show?
All Systems red by Martha Wells
Though the long period of a Southern whaling voyage (by far the longest of all voyages now or ever made by man), the peculiar perils of it, and the community of interest prevailing among a company, all of whom, high or low, depend for their profits, not upon fixed wages, but upon their common luck, … [Read more]
Another block editor tag persistence test
gone with the architects by Frank Lloyd Wright
t es, a mighty change had come over the fish. All alive to his jeopardy, he was going “head out”; that part obliquely projecting from the mad yeast which he brewed.* *It will be seen in some other place of what a very light substance the entire interior of the sperm whale’s enormous head … [Read more]
Saving a new post draft with no book info test – block editor
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
“Ka-la! Koo-loo!” howled Queequeg, as if smacking his lips over a mouthful of Grenadier’s steak. And thus with oars and yells the keels cut the sea. Meanwhile, Stubb retaining his place in the van, still encouraged his men to the onset, all the while puffing the smoke from his mouth. Like … [Read more]
Saving a new post draft with no book info test – classic editor
Rock and Roll High School by Joey Ramone
can i save a draft with no book info Edit: yes … [Read more]