For the most part, you know what you’re getting when you read a book that takes place during World War II and is set in a location that was occupied by Germany. Even if you find a book or movie that tells an inspirational or uplifting story within that backdrop, it’s always delivered with the requisite edge of horror. How could it not? There is no story to tell from that period in human history that isn’t tainted by the atrocity. I’m not sure if […]
The Kind Worth Reading On a Beach When You’re Kinda Drunk and Not Thinking Too Hard
I added this book to my audiobook queue because it was recommended that if you liked Girl On The Train and Gone Girl you would also like this. It’s also supposedly in development to become a movie, but I read that same thing about The Lies of Locke Lamora about 20 years ago, and it STILL hasn’t happened and I’m STILL angry about it. Here’s the thing, I DID enjoy both GOTT and GG, and I can see why someone would recommend this […]
The stupidity we need right now, but maybe not the stupidity we deserve
So, arguably not the timeliest of reads, considering this is a Christmas-themed novel and it’s February. But there’s no way I’m going to remember to review this come December, and it’s not my fault I read it in February. I can only read what the audiobook people send to me when they do; and despite how I order my list, they seem determined to fulfill it on their own whim! However, despite it being unseasonable, this book is so great it doesn’t matter. If […]
Shitty ex’s and poorly written poetry
I’m not the target demographic for this book. I’m not a huge fan of memoirs/autobiographies in general, and while I am a big fan of Star Wars, I didn’t see the movies until I was older and Princess Leia was not a foundational fictional character in my youth. I didn’t idolize Carrie Fisher and I never had any desire to meet her or get her autograph (although, of course, if I had run into her in a store somewhere I would have likely been star-struck). […]
For those looking to be terrified by something other than reality right now
Imagine, if you will, being suddenly blinded and forced to navigate the world while protecting your two young children, all while unseen monsters stalk you. Thus is the premise of Josh Malerman’s debut novel Bird Box. The plot jumps around in time with some chapters taking place several years in the past, when reports of strange and disturbing events in Russia begin filtering onto U.S. news channels. Something that people are seeing is making them lose their minds, causing them to murder people and/or […]
Everything is terrible: Why I need to stop reading YA romance
I was yelling at this audiobook while I was driving, which was great because it distracted me from my usual road rage but bad because it made me look and feel crazy. Of course, today it’s a crazy world so strap in everybody. Let’s go for a hate ride. First, the synopsis: This (young adult) book is (supposedly) a play on the classic Arabian Nights. It features Khalid, an 18-year-old Caliph (i.e. king) in the kingdom of Khorasan who marries a new bride every […]