****1/2 Tai-Pan (Asian Saga #2) Author: James Clavell First Edition: Atheneum, 1966 Original language: English Summary: The novel opens with the British seizure of Hong Kong after the first Opium War. Long and sweeping, covering the lives of many characters, the book focuses on Dirk Struan, the Tai-Pan, the most powerful trader in Asia and […]
Category Archives: Reviews
Georgetown Library Book Sale: My Haul
posted by lasesana
Washington DC, November 19, 2012- Last saturday my mom and I went to the Georgetown Library book sale. We went early, but it was still pretty crowded and most of the good books were gone. However, i think I did pretty well, considering I spent $84 total, and two of the books were $55 (one […]
King Rat, James Clavell
posted by lasesana
***** King Rat Asian Saga #1 Author: James Clavell First Edition: Marin Joseph, 1962 Original language: English Summary: King Rat follows the lives of the POWs at Changi Prison, in Singapore, during the last weeks of WWII. Clavell was himself a POW at Changi, and the story retells his experience. The story is mostly told […]
Review: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
posted by lasesana
From my column at the Washington Times Communities WASHINGTON DC, November 16, 2012- After waiting for a month to get my back-ordered Kindle Paperwhite and using it every day for two weeks, I can honestly say that this is Amazon’s best Kindle yet. I read a lot. From fiction, to magazines, to biographies, I love to […]
November
15
Savages, Don Winslow
posted by lasesana
*** Savages Author: Don Winslow First Edition: Simon & Schuster, 2010 Original language: English Awards: Barry Award Nominee for Best Novel (2011), Dilys Award Nominee (2011) Summary: Savages follows a few days in the life of Ben, Chon (formerly John), and O (short for Ophelia). Selling the best stuff on the market, Ben and Chon […]
November
11
The Language of Flowers,Vanessa Diffenbaugh
posted by lasesana
****3/4 The Language of Flowers: A Novel Author: Vanessa Diffenbaugh First Edition: Ballantine Books, 2011 Original language: English Summary: The Language of Flowers begins with the emancipation of Victoria when she turns 18 years old and no longer has to live in a group or foster home. Victoria is ill-equipped for life outside the system, […]
The Art of Fielding, Chad Harbach
posted by lasesana
**** ½ The Art of Fielding Author: Chad Harbach First Edition: Back Bay Books, 2011 Original language: English Summary: Harbach’s novel deals with the life of Henry Skrimshander at Westish College. Henry, in his senior year of high school and with no prospects for college, is spotted by Mike Schwartz, who sees Henry’s potential right […]
October
19
Whose Body? Dorothy L. Sayers
posted by lasesana
*** Whose Body? Author: Dorothy L. Sayers First Edition: 1923, T. Fisher Unwin Original language: English Summary: A man wearing nothing but a pair of pince-nez is found dead in a bathtub; a rich businessman disappears. Enter Lord Peter Wimsey, amateur sleuth and thus begins Sayers’ classic mystery. Through old-fashioned detective work and a little […]
October
17
Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel
posted by lasesana
***½ Wolf Hall Author: Hilary Mantel First Edition: 2009, Fourth Estate Original language: English Awards: ▪ Winner – 2009 Man Booker Prize ▪ Winner – 2009 National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction. ▪ Winner – 2010 Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction ▪ Winner – 2010 The Morning News Tournament of Books. Summary: […]
October
15
Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel
posted by lasesana
***1/2 Author: Louise Penny First Edition: 2005 Original language: English Awards: Barry Award for Best First Novel (2007), Anthony Award for Best First Novel (2007), Dilys Award (2007), Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel (2006), The Crime Writers’ Association New Blood Dagger (2006) Summary: Elderly resident of Three Pines, Jane Neal, is found dead, […]
lasesana 