Tag Archives: book reviews

February 11

A History of the World in 6 Glasses, Tom Standage

****½ A History of the World in 6 Glasses Author: Tom Standage Website: http://tomstandage.wordpress.com First Edition: 2005 Original language: English Summary: Following human history through predominant beverages, this book presents history in an interesting and different light.  Highlighting the human need for water, this book chronicles how drinks – beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and […]

February 08

The Kitchen House, Kathleen Grissom

****½ The Kitchen House Author: Kathleen Grissom First Edition: 2010 Original language: English Awards: Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Historical Fiction, Debut Author (2010) Summary: Told from the point of view of an orphaned Irish indentured servant and the illegitimate daughter of a tobacco plantation owner and one of his slaves, The Kitchen House tells […]

January 27

Heart-Shaped Box, Joe Hill

*** ½ Heart-Shaped Box Author: Joe Hill First Edition: 2000 Original language: English Awards: Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel (2007), Locus Award for Best First Novel (2008), Macavity Award Nominee for Best First Mystery Novel (2008), British Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novel (2008) Summary: Semi-retired heavy metal star Jude Coyne is somewhat […]

January 25

Divergent, Veronica Roth

***** Divergent Author: Veronica Roth First Edition: 2011 Original language: English Awards: Goodreads Choice Award for Favorite Book of 2011 and for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2011), ALA Teens’ Top Ten Nominee (2012), Children’s Choice Book Award Nominee for Teen Choice Book of the Year (2012), DABWAHA (Dear Author Bitchery Writing Award […]

January 22

The Last Chinese Chef, Nicole Mones

***½ The Last Chinese Chef Author: Nicole Mones First Edition: 2007 Original language: English Summary: It has been a year since Maggie’s husband passed away, but she has been unable to rebuild her life after his sudden death.  She has sold their house and moved into a small house boat, and her work as an […]

January 10

Choke, Chuck Palahniuk

***** Choke: A Novel  Author: Chuck Palahniuk First Edition: 2001 Original language: English Website: http://www.randomhouse.com/features/palahniuk/ Author Website: http://chuckpalahniuk.net Twitter: @chuckpalahniuk Summary: Sex addict Victor Mancini works in Colonial Dunsboro by day.  In the afternoon he cruises sex addiction meetings for dates.  By night he pretends to choke at restaurants so that a stranger can save […]

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky

***** The Perks of Being a Wallflower   Author: Stephen Chbosky First Edition: 1999 Original language: English Summary: Written in the form of letters to an anonymous “dear friend,” The Perks of Being a Wallflower recounts a young boy’s freshman year in high school in 1991-1992.  Charlie is a sensitive boy, intelligent, with a “normal” […]

Tell No One, Harlan Coben

** Tell No One: A Novel Author: Harlan Coben First Edition: 2000 Original language: English Awards: Barry Award Nominee for Best Novel (2002), Macavity Award Nominee for Best Mystery Novel (2002), Anthony Award Nominee for Best Novel (2002), Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee (2008)   Summary: Dr. David Beck is still suffering from the murder of […]

Top Ten Books Read In 2012

WASHINGTON DC, December 28, 2012- I read a few books this year.  I don’t know how many exactly, but probably not as many as I would have liked.  I did read Fall of Giants, Shogun, and Tai Pan– all really long novels.  It was a little difficult to pick my favorites, and since I have […]

Shogun, James Clavell

***** Shogun Asian Saga #3 Author: James Clavell First Edition: 1975 Original language: English Summary: It is 1598 and John Blackthorne is the English pilot of the Dutch vessel, Erasmus.  Running from enemies in South American waters, Blackthorne becomes the first English pilot to reach Japan after a seemingly hopeless two-year voyage across the Pacific. […]