When Chrissie was 8, she killed a little boy. Twenty years later, she’s a mom trying to do what’s best for her daughter. But how do you forgive yourself for something so awful? Or are some acts so terrible that there’s no coming back? Do the standards for redemption change if you killed someone as a child, rather than adult?Equal parts disturbing and heartbreaking, The … [Read more...]
‘The Order of Time’ Reveals the Perplexity of What it Means to Exist
Consider the following: time passes faster in the mountains than it does at sea level. If this sentence confounds you but piques your interest, then I can already tell you that you want to read The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli, which answers questions such as what is time? Is there a universal time? What does it mean to live in the present? Does the present … [Read more...]
Feminism, Privilege, and Power Meet Head-On In ‘The Female Persuasion’
I've read two books by Meg Wolitzer - The Wife and The Interestings. One I loved, the other I was underwhelmed by. Her latest, The Female Persuasion, was the book that would tip the scales on how I feel about her books and wow, did she convert me into a fan.In addition to being a great story, The Female Persuasion had my mind doing mental flip flops on what it means to … [Read more...]
The Mothers: A Judgment Free and Mesmerizing Novel
Following her mother's suicide, Nadia Turner is hurting. At 17, she has good grades and is filled with dreams and ambitions, but she also harbors a hole in her heart that she fills with rebellious acts. So when Luke Sheppard, an older boy and son of the local pastor, shows interest and compassion, they ensconce themselves in a world of their own making. But young … [Read more...]
Public Shamings and the Loss of Identity
What do the stocks, public whippings, and the gossip's bridle have in common? They were all instruments used to punish wrongdoers. The alleged crimes were varied, from violent crimes to gossiping too much, but the goal of the punishment was the same: to punish citizens and turn them into social pariahs via public shamings. This sentiment is still alive and … [Read more...]