Lolita is a narrative that permeates pop culture, in advertisements, references and romanticizing of things that are not okay. This narrative probably originates from the 1997 film adaptation starring Jeremy Irons: When I was a teenager this novel was a way to live out my own sexuality and confused feelings about adults around me. These adults were mostly male teachers making Humbert Humbert the perfect stand-in. However engaging with this story as an adult is a bit different. It’s gross you guys. Lolita is […]
An oldie, but a goodie
The other day my boss, who loves books, told me she hadn’t read any Jane Austen. Luckily we have the kind of relationship that made it possible for me to let loose a string of incredulous profanities. She loves subtle, witty, clever books with great characters so Austen is a perfect fit. I went in search of audiobook versions I could send her and realized Pride and Prejudice is the only full length Austen book I don’t own in audio form. Luckily, Prime members get […]
Ya wee scunner, if it’s nae Scottish it’s crap!
The nice thing about living with another book lover is that when I’m between books and want to pick up something to read, I can just peruse the shelves, and I’m sure to find something new. The upside is this can lead me to discover books I would probably never have sought out on my own. The downside is my options are often limited and are heavily weighted towards nautical fiction and British history. So recently when I was trying to decide on what new […]
He may be able to turn a phrase, but I’m thinking Hemingway isn’t for me
A few weeks ago, I put out a plea on my Facebook page – I had overlooked choosing a book for this year’s Banned Book Week. While emmalita sang the praises of This One Summer a book I already had on my to read list (which I did read that week), another friend gamely suggested that I read A Farewell to Arms since he was reading it as well. I checked out the audio offerings, and decided to give it a go since John Slattery […]
They don’t give that Pulitzer out for just anything.
American Pastoral won the pulitzer and boy oh boy it is deserved. This novel is a masterpiece of storytelling. Swede Luvov is a small town hero: star athlete, considerate son, professional Jewish American businessman, and married to a former Miss Jersey. By all accounts, he is living the American Dream, until his daughter tears the fabric of his family and life apart as an anti-war terrorist. It takes us a little while to get there though, as the novel is framed as the musings of […]
Childhood favorite revisited, more than holds up.
I must have read this book dozens of times when I was a kid (I think I had an illustrated version as well, but I can’t find it, nor any record of it online, so far all I know I may have made it up?), but I haven’t read it, oh I don’t know, at least since middle school? I also never read any of L.M. Montgomery’s other books. No idea why I did this. Even as a kid, I was all over sequels, a little […]
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