It's Monday, party people!

Welcome to a new week, ladies and gents. How is everybody? We had a great dinner with the husband's family on Sunday night, but I am hoping that this week is a little quieter and healthier for the literary family. 

Read Last Week:

Tales of the Jazz Age

By F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Slap

By Christos Tsiolkas

Love You More

By Lisa Gardner

Posts from this Past Week:

It's Monday

It's My Birthday!

Wednesdays with David: No, David! 

Reviews of Patti LuPone: A Memoir and This Must Be the Place 

Reading Now:

Housekeeping
By Marilynne Robinson


Up Next:

The Watery Part of the World
By Michael Parker


What are you reading this week? Are there books I need to add to my gigantic to-be-read list? 

Review: This Must Be the Place

This Must Be The Place

By Kate Racculia

Henry Holt and Company July 2010

368 pages

ARC won from Kristin at Always with a Book

Arthur Rook is devastated when his wife Amy dies in an accident. Not knowing where to turn, he finds a postcard from Amy that was never sent and travels across the country to deliver it to its intended recipient. When he arrives at the Darby-Jones boardinghouse, he can’t find the courage to tell Mona Jones that her childhood friend is dead. As he becomes close to Mona, her daughter Oneida, and the other residents in the boardinghouse, he finds parts of Amy that he never knew to search for.

Author Kate Racculia has crafted a beautiful tale of grief, secrets, and chances missed and found in her debut novel. The novel fell flat for me in certain places, though. While Mona and Arthur were well-crafted characters, I did not want to spend so much time with our teenage protagonists. Oneida becomes friends with and then romantically involved with a boy from school known as Wendy. The point of view switches between the four characters and I felt that neither Oneida nor Wendy needed so many pages. They came across as angsty teen archetypes and rarely felt like real people with developed motivations.

However, I loved the way Amy came to life despite the fact that she is dead when the novel opens. We don’t get to see anything from her point of view; rather she is recreated through the love and memories of the people who knew her. The relationship between Arthur and Mona, as they decide which secrets and experiences they can share, is tentative and heartbreaking. I found myself cheering on these two characters whose lives had both been touched in indelible ways by the same woman.

Kate Racculia has written a beautiful debut, displaying a meticulous care for her characters and an intrinsic understanding of the ways in which relationships can both enrich and complicate our lives. I started this novel expecting some light chick lit, but was pleasantly surprised by the depth and heart displayed within its pages. I hope to see many more books from this talented writer. 

It's my party and I'll read if I want to...

“…tomorrow was her birthday, and she was thinking how fast the years went by, how old she was getting, and how little she seemed to have accomplished. Almost twenty-five and nothing to show for it.” 
― Louisa May Alcott, Little Women


It's my birthday today, friends. I am officially a quarter of a century old. Hopefully I am still sleeping or perhaps reading in bed. Either way, I took the day off from work and plan to have a lazy, enjoyable day.

This was a long ago birthday when we were newlywed sort of people.
The husband and I often share birthday parties, since our birthdays are
only two weeks apart. Also, that dessert? My mama makes it and
 it is so good, it doesn't have a name.

I shouldn't be the only one who gets something nice today, though. I'm linking up two articles for your literary pleasure. The first is by Emily Wierenga and is perhaps one of the best descriptions of why books are important that I have read to date. The second is Ann Patchett's take on the Pulitzer debacle, because I love her and she is brilliant.

Ok, kids, I'm off to party like it's my birthday. If you have any suggestions for how my bday book giftcards should be spent, please leave me your suggestions in the comments!

Wednesday with David: No, David!

No, David!

By David Shannon

Scholastic September 1998

From our shelves

The story: The David of this story (quite like a David I know) is a bit of a troublemaker. He tracks mud into the house, runs naked through the streets, and breaks his mother's vase. Despite his misbehaving, his mother reassures him of her love.

Mama opines: I think it is so important for our kids to know that, as many times as we banish them to the time-out corner, we love them dearly. This is a fun book with few words and really crazy pictures. I do have to agree with my mother-in-law though, that the protagonist of our story does look a little devilish with his pointy teeth! 

Thoughts from David: I like it because all of the parts are my favorite. The pictures are pretty cool. It teaches me about no-ness.

Favorite part: I like when he’s naked and going down the sidewalk!

Happy Reading!

Review: Patti LuPone: A Memoir

Patti LuPone: A Memoir
By Patti LuPone with Digby Diehl
Crown Archetype September 2010

316 pages

From the library

Patti LuPone is known in the theater world as one of the great leading ladies. Her unique voice and excellent acting have brought characters to life such as Evita, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Fantine in Les Miserables, and that infamous stage mother, Mama Rose. She is also known for being at the center of some juicy theatre drama, such as the time she yelled at an audience member to turn off their phone during Gypsy or the rumor that she was banned by Arthur Laurents himself from appearing in his work.

The writing in this memoir is not particularly memorable. It’s often choppy and seems as if Digby transcribed LuPone’s train of thought without adding any nuance or flow to the text. Ms. LuPone has a sort of carefree, almost callous tone throughout the book. She has some truly epic digs at various players in the theatre world – actors, producers, and directors alike. Then she turns around and claims that her experiences were lessons and she has adopted a “what doesn’t kill you” mentality. There is also a seeming refusal to take responsibility for anything. She got terrible reviews several times, but each time she is quick to blame the critics or the production as a whole. Her lack of honesty and vulnerability about this can be off-putting.

There are a lot of interesting stories here – Patti’s experiences in the first acting class at Julliard, a truly awful production of The Baker’s Wife, and her triumph of pure will as Eva Peron, for example. But somehow, even after so many pages, we don’t feel like we really know this woman. Sure, we know a lot more about her training, the shows she worked on, and who she loves and despises in the industry, but we don’t know her as a person. She reveals very little about her family or anything that happens in her life outside of a theater. Ms. LuPone almost appears to still be performing, even as she is pretending to reveal herself. (How very Gypsy of her…)

This memoir is not for the casual theatre patron. This is a book for someone who has seen and been blown away by Ms. LuPone’s work or for the person who loves to hear all of the backstage gossip. If you fall into one of these categories, you will love this quick, dishy read. Patti LuPone is truly one of the great actresses of the stage, but her memoir reveals only the history of her roles, not of her life. 

It's Monday - Did you Readathon?

Hi everybody! How were your weeks? Did you Readathon on Saturday? I did, although I didn't get quite as much done as I had hoped. I knew there would be a lot going on - a trip into Philadelphia and back, my husband's senior class luncheon, some freelance work that had to be done - but I set my sights high anyway, which always leads to failure. Sigh. I did finish listening to Jane Eyre during the drive home and I read a total of 404 pages. I think I was hoping I would finish an entire book, which I didn't accomplish. I shouldn't feel too bad, though - I finished one on Sunday afternoon. 

Read Last Week:


One Thousand Gifts
By Ann Voskamp


Oracle Night
By Paul Auster


The Girl Who Circumnavigated
Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
By Catherynne M. Valente

Reading Now:


Tales of the Jazz Age
By F. Scott Fitzgerald


The Slap
By Christos Tsiolkas


Posts From This Week:
It's Monday
Wednesdays with David: Lots of Bots 
I Can Readathon. Can You?
Review of Entwined
Guest Post at Constance Reader

Readathon Posts:
Post #1
Post #2
Post #3
Post #4

Coming Up:


Housekeeping
By Marianne Robinson

What did you read this week? Did you have fun with the Readathon this weekend? Tell me all about it in the comments. :)

Time for glasses?

Hi there, readers! How is it going?

We are in the 15th hour of the Readathon. It might be time to take out the contacts and put the glasses on. I think I will probably post one more time tonight and then head off to sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day around here and this girl with no sleep is not a pleasant combination.

I am still trucking away on those two books. I think I might finish The Girl Who...but I don't know about The Slap. It is a long one!



Last check-in: page 102
Now: page 220



Last check-in: page 47
Now: page 102

Total pages so far: 306

What are you reading right now??

I'm Back!!!

So I have been MIA for a while. I went to a fancy schmancy lunch with my soon-to-be graduating husband. It went like this: we ate some food, everyone teased my dad for being the hard professor, and then some ladies called me out for wearing jeans to a fancy event. It's so hard to please everyone...

On the plus side, I won the mini-challenge over at Reflections of a Bookaholic. Yay!!

The good news is that I finished listening to Jane Eyre on the way home from Philadelphia. Score! I'm not sure the hubby is a fan though....All of that lovely piano music is good for falling asleep and less helpful for the driving.

Time to check in with the books:


Finished!



Still on page 102



On page 47

Alright, I'm home now for the rest of the night. It is time to get some reading done. Woohoo!

The 'Thon is On!

Hello, fellow readers! This is my first update post for the Readathon. I want to catch up on the first two mini-challenges, so here they are!

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? Currently, I'm reading from my father's office at the seminary outside of Philadelphia, PA. Later today I will be back at my house in NJ. 
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson. I don't know if I will get to it, though - it's book #3 on the list. 
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? I don't know yet. I haven't really planned that part. But don't like to discriminate. I love all snacks. 
4) Tell us a little something about yourself! Well....um...I have one husband, one little boy, one fish, and lots of books. 
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to? I think I feel more at ease this year. Since I know what to expect, I can just go with the flow...



Reading in Translation Mini Challenge
I would read If on a winter's night a traveler by Italo Calvino. He is one of my dad's favorite authors. I wish I had taken Italian for more than two semesters so I could really read it in the original Italian!
                                                   

It's 10:30 a.m. right now, so here is my progress 2 1/2 hours into the Readathon!


The Slap
Start: page 16
Currently on: page 102

I've been doing some editing this morning as well, so I haven't been reading for the full 2.5 hours. I think I may switch up books soon and get started on The Girl Who Circumnavigated...

Happy Reading, everyone!

Twas the night before the Readathon....

Twas the night before the Readathon and all the little books were tucked tight in their bed, ready for the festivities of the next day...

                       

The Slap, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, and Housekeeping snuggled up close on the pillow. The Jane Eyre audiobook stole all of the blankets, as she is wont to do. Literary Lindsey was really excited about the readathon and tried to find a spot on the bed to call her own.

So what do you hope to read during the readathon? I don't think I will finish all of these, but I will see what happens! Happy Readathoning! (Yes, I just made that word up and yes, we shall all use it most happily.)

I am a guest blogger!! Squee!!

People, I was the guest blogger yesterday at Constance Reader! I am seriously thrilled. Cathy was one of the first book bloggers who I found on the interwebs and subsequently adored. She writes awesome book reviews, is a seriously funny lady, and her baby girl Lulu? Cute as can be.

I am over there writing about the books that my beloved sister Ashley has kindly gifted to David. My sister and I love each other so much that we like to harass each other a bit. For example, I found a set of hideous elephant statuettes that I am fond of hiding among her things. In return, Ashley likes to get David books that she knows will drive me a bit crazy...books about things like feet...and animal poop....

Check it out here.

Review: Entwined

Entwined

By Heather Dixon

480 pages

Greenwillow Books March 2011

Book Blogger Secret Santa gift from Briana of The Book Pixie

Azalea is the oldest of twelve princesses. Their mother has recently died. Their father insists on strict mourning which means that the girls cannot take solace even in dancing, their last connection to their mother. When the girls discover that there are still remnants of old magic in the castle, they are able to escape into another world. There, they can dance the nights away under the guardianship of the benevolent Keeper. But the princesses don’t know everything about the Keeper, magic, and the connections between the evil High King of lore and their family. Their lack of knowledge could bring about the end of their family and the kingdom.

When you read a YA novel, do you ever feel like the hero or heroine is a bit thick? You feel as if anyone with half a brain could figure out the big  reveal, closely guarded secret, or identity of the mysterious stranger except for this character (I'm looking at you, Katniss). I definitely had that feeling here. Azalea is a smart girl, but seems to miss the very obvious clues that the Keeper is not who he appears to be. This makes her shock and outrage at the discovery humorous for the reader. That being said, the tension and feeling of danger is very well done and the last half of the book moves at a breakneck pace. 

The best part of this book for me was watching Azalea grow as a big sister and a daughter. She is used to her mother smoothing out all of the difficulties in life and caring for the girls and their father, the King. As the novel progresses, Azalea comes to understand that her father’s coldness is not indicative of a lack of caring, but rather his lack of knowledge about how to nurture all of these young women suddenly under his care. She learns how to interact with her dad adult to adult instead of as an impetuous teen challenging his authority.

Author Heather Dixon manages to create an atmosphere of magic throughout. Her rich descriptions highlight the contrast between the cold, lonely castle and the color and beauty of the Keeper’s magical world. It is, of course, difficult to give great characterization to twelve sisters within a given novel. Dixon wisely chooses to focus on a few who are very distinctive. The rest are there, but not particularly integral to the plot.

This is a book you can feel good about giving to your teenage daughter or sister. There is romance, but it’s not too heavy. It's mostly about family and the ways that people try to protect the ones they love.  I liked this book now as an adult, but I think at 13 or 14 I would have loved it.

This was a good read and it ultimately pointed me back to its inspiration. It reignited my love for fairytales and inspired me to pull out my old Andersen and Brothers Grimm anthologies. In my book, that makes Entwined a success. 

Wednesdays with David: Lots of Bots

Lots of Bots

By Kiki Thorpe

Illustrated by Ben Butcher

Disney Press May 2008

From the library

The Story: This book is based on the movie Wall-E. It is told in rhyme and is about the part of the movie when Wall-E is attempting to find Eve on the spaceship. This book has a lot of easy words that young readers will identify and really great illustrations.

Mama opines: This is one of David's absolute favorite library books. He would get it out every single time if I let him. It's a lot of fun to read and, since the robots are having a dance party, often ends with dancing for us! For me, the illustrations are the coolest part of this book. It has a sort of modern collage feeling to it and the designers chose text styles that really compliment what is happening in the story. This would be a great read for any little ones who are interested in art or robots, even if they are not familiar with the Wall-E story.

Thoughts from David: I like the mystery. Where is Eve?

Favorite part: Where all the bots dance! 

Happy Reading! 

I can Readathon. Can you?

Hello and Happy Tuesday.

I just wanted to make sure that everyone knows about the 24 hour readathon, which is coming up soon!

What is the readathon, you ask? Excellent question! The 24 Hour Readathon is a glorious day when nerds from all over join together on the interwebs to enjoy 24 full hours of reading. As of right now, there are over 200 readers planning to participate in this most wonderful day.You read some books, blog about the reading (and snacks! Readathon people love them some snacks...), and you participate in mini challenges so you can win prizes! And then really awesome people will come to your blog/facebook page/twitter feed and cheer you on!

Let us review.

On Saturday, April 21, you must gather your books. Gather your snacks. Gather your courage (no...you probably don't actually need this). Read to your heart's content or until you need to nap or, in my case, go to a senior class luncheon with a soon-to-be-graduating husband. People will cheer you on! You can win books and stuff! You are awesome!

So those are the basics, friends. I will be joining in sporadically. As I mentioned, we have the luncheon thing and I do have a four year old, so we shall see what happens. Check out my experiences with last year's readathon here and visit the official 24 Hour Readathon site here and sign up!

So...are you in???

It's Monday and it finally feels like spring!

Hello, bookish people! How are you? How were your weekends? Ours was pretty quiet. The husband was gone most of the day on Saturday, so David and I partook in a few rounds of Trouble, some painting, and lots of stories. On Sunday we enjoyed the beautiful weather and spent some time outside before grilling hamburgers for dinner. Yum. 

Book time! 

Read This Week:

Patti LuPone: A Memoir


this must be the place
By Kate Racculia

Reading Now: 

Oracle Night

By Paul Auster


One Thousand Gifts
By Ann Voskamp

Posts From This Past Week:

It's Monday

Wednesdays with David: Why Do Volcanoes Erupt? 

Reviews of Enchantments, Q and American Rose 

Coming Up:

The Slap

By Christos Tsolkas

What did you read this week? Let me know in the comments! 

Review: Q

Q: A Novel

By Evan Mandery

Harper August 2011

355 pages

From the library

The unnamed narrator of this story, a part time history professor and writer of alternative histories, has met the girl of his dreams. The enigmatic and exuberant Q steals his heart from their first meeting in a very awkward movie matinee. As the pair plans their wedding, it seems they are destined to ride off into marital bliss. But he is approached by an old man who claims to be a future version of himself. His other self warns him that he must not marry Q, under any circumstances. Doing so will destroy both of them. Our narrator listens to the advice, but before long another version shows up with new advice. Q is a science fiction romp, a love story, and an examination of lives not lived.

I really enjoyed this book. I think Mr. Mandery succeeded in making a particularly lovable narrator, despite the fact that we don’t ever discover his name. He is as stymied as we are at all of the bizarre things that are happening to him and his frustration matches ours when seemingly endless iterations of himself appear, warning him to take up a new career, stop running, or start meditating. Our narrator has many quirks that make him terribly and wonderfully human.

The time travel component of this novel is very interesting. I have to admit that I don’t read too much science fiction. Despite its subject matter, Q does not read like a science fiction story. Our narrator doesn’t really understand the mechanics of time travel, and so we don’t spend too much time mulling over it. As a disclaimer, reading this book may lead to a long conversation with your husband about the possibility of crossing your own timeline and whether having so many versions of yourself is time traveling or creating multiple universes. But that’s fun, right? Oh. Only I think this is fun? Ok.

Q manages to touch on politics, art, cooking, and literature; but all without taking itself too seriously. A book really can’t be too serious when its protagonist writes alternative histories about what would have happened if Freud studied the reproductive habits of eels instead of people or William Henry Harrison manages to change the course of history…for a few years. This is a fun book to read. I sped through it so quickly that I didn’t stop to make any passages. But be assured, this is a funny modern love story that you don’t want to miss. 

Review: American Rose Audiobook

American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare

The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee

By Karen Abbott

Audiobook Random House December 2010

Library grab

I did it! I did it! I’ve only been listening to this book since December…

I was sucked in from the beginning because I loved the musical Gypsy, which I saw on Broadway a few years ago. The book opens with author Karen Abbott interviewing the elderly June Havoc, sister of Gypsy Rose Lee. She begins the book by saying that if you think you know about her family from that infamous musical, you don’t know anything. Of course I had to find out what really happened!

American Rose is a biography of Louise Hovick, who would become the infamous burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee. The audiobook covers her life from her childhood on the show biz circuit in the shadow of her sister to her death from cancer. It focuses on her relationships with her mother and her sister June, as well as her triumphs and failures as one of the biggest stars of the 20^th century. Gypsy Rose Lee became the face of burlesque, starred in movies, threw over the top parties, and carefully constructed a façade that showed the world exactly what she wanted them to see.

Unfortunately, author Karen Abbott does not stick to the history of Gypsy. Instead, she weaves other notable figures and events of the time into the narrative. This works some of the time. When we hear about the saga of the Minskys, the show biz family that helps Gypsy rise to the top, it enhances the story. But sometimes it's not clear how certain people connect to the story as a whole and I found myself wishing to to hear about strange and fascinating life of Gypsy instead.

This is even more frustrating when you are listening to the book instead of reading it. In addition to so many characters, the timeline is not linear. The writing jumps all over Gypsy’s life, leaving the reader to figure out where exactly they are and what has already happened. I would have preferred a linear telling and fewer auxiliary characters. The life and personality of our protagonist would more than have held up this book.

The narrator for this audiobook was Bernadette Dunn. I thought she did a great job. Her reading was understated. When you are dealing with personalities as big as Gypsy Rose Lee, it’s smarter to let her story and character shine through instead of trying to imitate her.

Gypsy Rose Lee is a fascinating character. When Ms. Abbott focuses on her, this biography shines. When she veers too far away from Gypsy, readers are left counting the minutes until we return. I would advise you to read the book instead of listening to the audio. The erratic timeline and plethora of characters are hard to keep track of in your head. If you are at all interested in burlesque or the seemingly larger than life Gypsy, American Rose is a good read for you. 

Wednesdays with David: Why Do Volcanoes Erupt?

Why Do Volcanoes Erupt?

By Wil Mara

Marshall Cavendish Corporation 2010

Part of the "Tell Me Why, Tell Me How" series

From the library

The story: This book explains the what, why, and how of volcanoes. It is broken up into chapters that are only a few pages long and it has lots of pictures and questions to ensure comprehension. You can find the classical baking soda and vinegar volcano experiment, a glossary and further resources at the end of the book.

Mama opines: I'm trying to get David to branch out into some non-fiction books. My husband recently had the joy to come home and discover me reading to David about Nascar...it was a strange experience for me as well. We've also taken books out from the library about dogs (which we are still not getting!), astronauts, and now volcanoes are our current interest. I thought this book was perfect for the preschool/early elementary age group. The chapters are short and accessible, but still give a lot of information. David now knows things like the three layers of the earth, and the difference between magma and lava. The "Tell Me Why, Tell Me How" series has books on a ton of subjects like hibernation, rain, seasons, and plants. We will definitely be looking for more of these books as I try to mix things up on our library trips.

Thoughts from David: I like it because I really really love the part where the volcano erupts. I love this part where it says "why do volcanoes erupt?" (the cover).

Favorite part: I love this part! (points to the layers of the earth diagram)

Happy Reading and watch out for those volcanoes!

Review: Enchantments

Enchantments

By Kathryn Harrison

Random House March 2012

 311 pages

From the library

After the death of her infamous father Rasputin, Masha and her sister are sent to live with the Romanov family at the imperial palace. The tsarina hopes that Masha may be able to help her son Aloysha, who suffers from hemophilia. While she is unable to reproduce the miracles her father performed, a friendship develops between the two. Masha weaves fanciful tales to entertain the bed-ridden prince. As their relationship shifts from friendship to romance, the Bolsheviks place the family under house arrest. What will happen to the Romanovs? Will Masha's story forever be connected to the Rasputin and the royal family? 

The strongest part of this novel is the relationship between Masha and the enigmatic Rasputin. Ms. Harrison makes the relationship complicated, but sincere. Although the story opens with his death, his influence hangs over the whole book. In Masha’s memories, Rasputin is often away and paying attention to those seeking his healing or his love instead of his children. But his love for them is obvious. It’s easy when dealing with a real person to make them into a hero or a villain. But Harrison has created a very complex character and her writing allows the nuance of his personality and relationships to come through.

As Masha buries her father, she has to deal with complicated feelings. “Though I well knew the difference between sleep and death, covering my father’s body with a blanket of dirt, of the soil he loved, felt like pulling up the bedclothes, tucking him in tight. Standing by the grave, watching the progress of the gardeners, seeing the hole as it was filled in, I found relief under my misery. For months I’d worried for the safety of my father, who refused to take even the simple precaution of telling the tsarina’s police where he was headed and whom he planned to see when he left the apartment. He’d predicted his death and left me no choice but to wait for it. Now it was done, his prophecy fulfilled, his body washed and dressed and laid to rest.”

It’s fascinating to discover how much of this story is truth and how much is imagined. Rasputin did have a daughter named Masha who escaped from Russia and became a circus performer. Part of the fun in reading Enchantments is discovering what is factual and what is story. Reading this book will give you great insight into the Rasputin and Romanov families. But the details of the Revolution and the civil unrest remain unknown to the reader, since they are basically unknown to our young protagonists.

The only downside is the strange perspective. Masha is looking back on her time with the Romanovs. We know from the beginning that Aloysha, at least, will not have a happy ending. She often notes that “this will be the last time Aloysha does such and such” or “that he will be dead within a year.” The tension that remains is caused by our lack of knowledge about what will happen to the rest of the Romanov family and what will happen to Masha and Varya between the present and the time that Masha is remembering. I wonder if the story would have been even more compelling if it were told without knowledge of what would happen later.

Enchantments is a novel that will entice its readers to rediscover the beauty and tragedy of Russia at the beginning of the 20^th century. Kathryn Harrison masterfully weaves a story of a girl who is forced to grow up in a moment with a young romance, a fascinating look at the history, and the magic that exists in the simple act of telling a story. If nothing else, you can close this book and sing “Have you heard? There’s  a rumor in St. Petersburg…”

It's Monday - Happy Easter!

Hi there and a very happy Easter or Passover to you! We had a great weekend around here. I got some reading done as well as some work on a few freelance projects currently on my desk. On Sunday, the Easter Bunny paid a visit, we went to church, and then had a big lunch with my family before visiting the husband's family. We are a well-fed, tired bunch! Wait...you want some pictures? Well, alright...

Ok, enough with the pictures. I get it. Book Time!


Read This Week:


Enchantments
By Kathryn Harrison


Q
By Evan Mandery


Entwined
By Heather Dixon


I finally finished listening to:

American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare
By Karen Abbott


Posts from This Past Week:
It's Monday
March Wrap-Up
Wednesdays with David: Wayside School is Falling Down
Reviews of Carry the One and Half Blood Blues


Reading Now:

Patti LuPone: A Memoir


Coming Up:

Oracle Night
By Paul Auster

Tell me what you read this week in the comments - should I add it to my to-be-read list?