I recently read Villa America by Liza Klaussmann, which was about Sara and Gerald Murphy. The Murphy's were two ex-pats who more or less started the 1920's lifestyle of parties and glamour on the French Riviera and, coincidentally, served as the inspiration for F. Scott Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night. Having never read this classic, I was inspired to read it because I had the … [Read more...]
‘American Rust’ a Remarkable Debut
Raw and gritty are the two words that come to mind when I think about American Rust, the debut novel by Phillip Meyer that came out in 2009. Taking place in Buell, Pennsylvania, a steel town that saw its mills shut down and its workers fleeing, it is not a happy story. It is an important one, though, for it highlights the plight of mill workers in small town America … [Read more...]
‘Freedom’ – My First Frazen (Book Review)
Before I even begin to review this book, let me preface it with the fact that I don't know much about Jonathan Franzen other than he can be controversial. I had been warned by many that they dislike the authors so much that they can't or won't read the book, but I had no such scruples and am glad I didn't bother to do any research before starting Freedom because I … [Read more...]
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (Book Review)
I finally read my first Tolstoy. I've always been afraid of picking him up because, well, the Russians are just so daunting but, since I'm trying to read some of the books from the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list, I decided to bite the bullet. My first Tolstoy was Anna Karenina and I have a lot of thoughts, especially about the characters themselves. Because I figure … [Read more...]
Sinclair Lewis’ Social Satire in Babbitt (Book Review)
If you were to look at some of the Goodreads reviews for this book, you might be hesitant to pick it up. The main character, George Babbitt, is unlikable, selfish, and a social climber. What you wouldn't know from most of these reviews is that the book is a complete satire and is absolutely hilarious.You see, Babbitt is a conservative, buttoned-up realtor with a wife … [Read more...]