Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
I think when I first this book, I was sort of in the haze of having read The Corrections a few times, and in the somewhat backlash to Franzen. Now, I feel like there's been a kind of Franzennaisance. In this new world, his novels are a little more familiar and even with the middling reviews for … [Read more]
The Sugared Game by K.J. Charles
CBR14 Bingo - Shadow (spies and all sorts of murky shenanigans throughout the story) This is book two in a series, and it really doesn't work very well on its own. To start from the beginning, read Slippery Creatures first. Will Darling has settled more comfortably into his role as a London … [Read more]
Paladin's Hope by T. Kingfisher
Our lady and saviour T. Kingfisher is back with another novel, and so very close to the publication of the last one in the series. Someone's productivity spiked during covid! Plot: Archenhold has it's first gnole constable. A gnole joined the force to protect other gnoles, but unfortunately … [Read more]
Boss Witch by Ann Aguirre
A grumpy heroine getting a happy ending. Plot: Picking up midway through the previous book, this time from Clem's perspective, a witch hunter has arrived, quite dramatically, in the small town of St. Claire. Much like just about everything else, Clem has decided to take on the job of getting the … [Read more]
Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention, and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari
Bingo: Minds I'm conflicted about this book. Stolen Focus is, as the title says, about all the ways in which the modern world destroys our attention spans, and what we can do to help ourselves. Each chapter is about a different cause of shortened attention, and potential solutions (some … [Read more]
Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast
Bingo: New (new author to me) This graphic novel is Roz Chast's memoir about her parents' aging and eventual death. It's a dark topic! But the book itself is highly entertaining. Chast's parents, George and Elizabeth, lived their entire lives in Brooklyn. Chast was born fairly late into their … [Read more]
