I read The Marriage Plot a year and a half ago when I was still sorting out my dissertation topic and trying to figure out which texts I was using. After reading this book, I decided that it was necessary for my topic. So, this re-read is in preparation for the writing of my current chapter–and I … [Read more]
Defy – New YA Fantasy with a Twist
Sara B. Larson's Defy tells the story of Alex Hollon, the best fighter on the prince's royal guard. There's just one catch, however — Alex is actually Alexa; she and her twin brother Marcel lied about her identity so she could join the army after their parents' death at the hands of an enemy … [Read more]
Mockingjay or Swan Song?
This cold, snowy weekend has enabled me to do lots and lots of reading. Now, to catch up on the reviews! I finally finished Mockingjay on Saturday night. The first time I read it, I hated it. I didn’t hate the ending, but I thought it was the least interesting and more poorly-edited than the … [Read more]
Jen K’s Review #6 – In the Shadow of the Banyan
I've been looking forward to reading this novel for a while, even if other books kept getting in the way. I would like to visit Cambodia one day, mostly to visit Angkor Wat, and a friend of mine lives there. As a result I was very interested to read about this darker period of Cambodian history … [Read more]
The Woman Upstairs. You wouldn’t like her when she’s angry.
This novel appeared on several 2013 "best novels" lists and it seems to fit into a genre that's very popular these days, featuring a narrator whose truthfulness and mental well being are unclear. As I read, I was reminded of novels like The Other Typist and The Dinner, but The Woman Upstairs carves … [Read more]
Romance and Tragedy
"What'll become of us? All of us?" "In the end, only one thing." The Invisible Bridge is a novel about one young man's journey from adolescence into manhood, on the eve of World War II. I cannot remember who recommended that I read this book, so I am unable to thank them for the … [Read more]





