This book had the potential to be an emotional rollercoaster. The plot is killer… anything Old Hollywood is sure to catch my interest. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo already had a pre-prepared slot on my Favorites bookshelf, and I was so excited to have a contemporary bestseller included. But the writing is so incredibly […]
Book Review: Atonement by Ian McEwan
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, […]
Book Review: American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
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 […]
My Experience at the Sante Fe Art District in Denver
Happy International Artist Day! I’ve never lived anywhere with a prolific art scene, so I took advantage of Denver’s while I was visiting, and went to the Sante Fe Art District. I went on a Friday, which turned out to be a decent day to visit, since a lot of the galleries and studios are […]
Degas’ Bathers: Misogynistic or Progressive?
The other day, I was watching The Thomas Crown Affair, and in a museum scene, I glimpsed a familiar statue in the corner of the screen. I realized that I had been given a bronze cast of the same statue a long time ago, and after a little research, I found out it was Edgar […]
Book Review: The Memories We Keep by Walter Zacharius
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 […]
Book Review: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
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 […]
Ranking Jane Austen’s Leading Men
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 […]
Ranking Jane Austen’s Completed Novels
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 OR Prejudice: A Character Study of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy
“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 […]