Category: Literature

Yet again, I watched the movie version before I read—or even knew about—Ian McEwan’s novel. It doesn’t happen to me often, but it’s such a shame when it does. Especially in this case, where it’s such a conscious effort to remove the film’s influence and fully examine McEwan’s genius. Atonement is such a compelling story, […]

I learned of the controversy surrounding this book only after I read it. And after reading other people’s reviews and articles, I felt like I should be ashamed for enjoying the book. It discouraged me from writing a review… which is exactly why I’m writing a review.  This book was recommended to me as a […]

Unlike the last book I read, I actually finished this one! But I did take a long break in between reading Part One and Part Two, because I wasn’t necessarily looking forward to it. The whole thing simply felt amateurish.  I remember reading the first page of The Memories We Keep by Walter Zacharius and […]

I can’t remember the last time I DNF’d a book. Even when I’m not crazy about a book, I have a compelling need to read to the last page. But I don’t have the smallest desire to finish The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. I read half of the novel, and then […]

I’m not quite over my recent binge of Jane Austen novels, so I thought I would rank her leading men. I would rank her heroines, but it would be too similar to my ranking of her novels in general, so if you want to know how I would rank the heroines, check out their corresponding […]

I have finished my binge of Jane Austen’s completed novels, and I am delighted to say I was never disappointed by the prolific author’s genius. She completed seven novels, and all of them were enjoyable to read; cast with relatable, complex characters; and delightfully satirical. Her gentle mockery of most of her characters and their […]

“Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.”  – Mary (ch 5).  A college professor once asked my class which character in Pride and Prejudice showed more pride, and which showed more prejudice: Elizabeth Bennet or Fitzwilliam Darcy. I couldn’t answer the question with confidence […]

I have only read The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, and I’m not planning to read The Dark Artifices or the companion books, so this review will focus on those two series in the Shadowhunter world.  The Shadowhunter world created by Cassandra Clare has become extremely popular since its release in 2007, particularly in […]

I read the bulk of The Poisonwood Bible in a day. I was so captivated by Kingsolver’s descriptions of the Congo, the distinct personalities of each daughter and the mother, and the suspense that Kingsolver crafted so adeptly. But then I got to the part where the family separated and there was a time shift […]