The Hired Man by Aminatta Forna is a haunting tale that you know from the first few pages is a book you want to read slowly so as to savor it. Set in the small town of Gost, Croatia, this relatively quick read is a story about the sorrows and tragedies of the aftermath of war and the power of perseverance in spite of it all.When an English family buys a rundown … [Read more...]
‘Ruby’ by Cynthia Bond – A #30Authors Book Review
Ruby is another book that I discovered during the #30Authors event. Thank you to Cynthia Bond for participating! Let me start off by saying that this book isn't what you think it is. I went into it thinking it was going to be a love story story that followed the main character, Ruby, out of her hometown to NYC and back again, with all the ups and downs that it entailed. … [Read more...]
Celeste Ng’s Portrait of Hope and Regret (Book Review)
One of three children born to interracial parents, Lydia was clearly the favorite. She was obedient, disciplined, talented, and never caused her parents to worry. When she goes missing and is subsequently found dead, it goes without saying that her parents were truly shocked. It is upon her disappearance that Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng begins, and what follows is … [Read more...]
Ice-T’s Memoir Offers Breathtaking Honesty
Chances are, when you hear the name Ice-T, one of two images comes to mind: 'Cop killer' or 'Odafin Tutuola. What probably doesn't come to mind is a guy who was on the high school gymnastics team that hated stealing with a passion. That's because over the past 20 years, the Original Gangster (given name, Tracy Marrow) has built a tough-guy reputation and catapulted himself into … [Read more...]
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (Book Review)
This book has been on my to-read shelf for a good number of years and I finally got around to reading it at the recommendation of a classmate. Short and filled with life lessons, I can understand why The Alchemist is an international bestseller and has a worldwide following of its "teachings." This type of book was probably pretty exciting back when it was published … [Read more...]