Thanks to my 30-minute train commute each way and my lazy, lazy ass, I read 48 books in 2016. The longest book I read was Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton. It was a nice cherry on top of my Hamilton-fixation sundae…
Alexander Hamilton book review
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow My rating: 4 of 5 stars I, like many, am caught up in the giant swirl of love for the musical “Hamilton.”After listening to the soundtrack dozens of times, I was ready to dive into…
Beautiful Ruins book review
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book had everything I usually hate: jumping through time, crazy eyeroll-inducing events, and a multitude of characters. And I loved it all. So well done, Jess Walter! Although…
February update
Hello, lovelies! I was going to quietly sunset this blog after the last post but UGH I miss it too much. So you’re stuck with sporadic updates until I die or retire and can’t afford hosting, I guess. Today is…
Modern Romance book review
Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari My rating: 4 of 5 stars Why is it so hard to meet The One? In this book Aziz Ansari looks at the modern dating world in a way that only a stand-up comic who…
In the Unlikely Event book review
In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume My rating: 2 of 5 stars Forgive me, Judy, for I have sinned. I ended up skimming the second half of this book, and reading the last 3 chapters. I so looked forward…
The Crimson Petal and the White book review
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber My rating: 4 of 5 stars How far can one socially climb in late 1800s England? How is the process different for a prostitute, a businessman, a widow, a sheltered wife,…
The Cuckoo's Calling review
The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith My rating: 3 of 5 stars British supermodel Lula Landry tumbles to her death from her third-floor balcony on a freezing cold night. Although all signs point to suicide, her brother John Bristow thinks…
This is Where I Leave You review
This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper My rating: 2 of 5 stars The premise of “This is Where I Leave You” is fantastic: four adult siblings who really only have their parents in common are summoned to…
Delicious! review
Delicious! by Ruth Reichl My rating: 1 of 5 stars In Delicious!, Billie Breslin gets a job at a prestigious food magazine, makes friends with Minorities, and uncovers a not-very-interesting mystery, all while dealing with sister issues and being unaware…
Life Itself review
Life Itself: A Memoir by Roger Ebert My rating: 3 of 5 stars I love a good autobiography. I’d been wanting to read this book for ages, but since I’m opposed to paying $12.99 for an eBook and the library…
The Killing Moon review
The Killing Moon by N.K. Jemisin My rating: 4 of 5 stars I used to think I was bored by fantasy novels, but I think I was bored of elves-and-dwarves-and-orcs, LordAndLadyofWoodyWood, boy magical prodigy fantasy novels. This one? This was…