First off, I fully recognize that this review would probably be best saved for AFTER I visit the city for which I purchased it. However, that trip is over five months away, so I don’t know if I’d really remember much at that point. If anything in the book has led me wildly astray, however, I’ll come back and update my review. In my experience of the travel book world, there are a few big players, which I usually envision this way: Rick Steves (a.k.a. […]
Or, “My Personal Opinions on Death and Friendship”
I was raised as a conservative Christian. My boyfriend has been an atheist his entire life. There are other reasons that our childhoods seem totally alien to each other, mostly because he grew up having outdoor adventures in Alaska and I grew up watching movies in New Mexico. He is the person you want on your team for a zombie apocalypse. I am the person you want on your team for Trivial Pursuit. The religion difference is significant. I believed, up until only several years […]
I’ve been around the world and I-I-I…
The latest book by Jennifer E. Smith is much like the last book I read by her, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. If you enjoyed that one (I did) then you’ll probably enjoy this, too. Travel, chance meetings, lost-loves; this book is a romantic teenagers’ wet dream. The action starts on a sweltering New York City day where two teens, Lucy and Owen, get trapped in the elevator of their apartment building when the power goes out. Once rescued, the two spend the night […]
I’ll Definitely Forget This Soon
This is my second Nora Ephron essay collection (again an audio version read by the author). Unfortunately I didn’t not enjoy it as much as her previous effort (I Feel Bad About My Neck), mostly because the essays tended to be shorter, a bit more random, and honestly not as well-written. I recall it starting out fairly strongly, and I was definitely into it for a bit. But in the end, I think my favorite part was how short it was. My biggest problem really […]
A Grimm-moire Guide to Portland’s Creepiest Residents
Grimm is a television show that has been running on NBC since the 2011 fall season. Part procedural cop show, part fantasy, the series follows Portland homicide detective Nick Burkhardt, who is descended from a long line of hunter/protectors known as Grimms. After his Aunt Marie is killed, Nick inherits the family business, from her extensive weapon collection to some super-human abilities. Grimms have the ability to see Wesen, creatures with animal characteristics that live among humans. Many Wesen are dangerous to humans and prey upon […]
Sarajevo to Chicago
I actually first saw this book on a list for new releases in 2013, and though it peaked my interest, I didn’t hear much of anything else about it, so I decided to wait. I finally picked it up recently, and thought it was a pleasant enough read. Some of the essays were incredibly moving, while a few others didn’t quite work for me though they were well-written. I just don’t tend to pick up short fiction or non-fiction that often, and when I do, […]