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Review of “Flight 7500” (2014)

Our latest Saturday pizza and bad movie offering was something of a departure. Though it’s called “supernatural horror,” this flick at first brought to mind 70s disaster movies like Airport. Plot:Vista Pacific Airlines flight 7500 departs from Los Angeles to Tokyo Haneda. Lyn (Aja Evans) and Jack Hafey (Ben Sharples) are vacationing with their friends,Continue reading “Review of “Flight 7500” (2014)”

Review of “The Skull” (1965)

We’ve kept up our pizza and bad movie nights, but I’ve slacked off on reviewing the various gems. But by special request, I’ll add at least one more. Remember—you asked! 😊 Plot: In an early 19th-century graveyard, cloaked men carrying lanterns and shovels make their way toward a specific grave. At certain points, the treesContinue reading “Review of “The Skull” (1965)”

A Few Thoughts…

Oddly, a review I wrote for Goodreads in 2012 popped up on my radar. I excoriated a piece of anti-abortion propaganda disguised as a YA romance book. I can’t remember what induced me to read it in the first place—perhaps I lost a bet? I was all prepared to unleash a new and improved rantContinue reading “A Few Thoughts…”

Review of “Crazy Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors” by Stephen E. Ambrose

A word upfront: when I bought this book at a used bookstore and started reading it, I was unaware of allegations of plagiarism, fabrication, and misstatements of fact made against this author. Some of the oopsies include the following book, so I can’t in good conscience recommend it, even if it were a fantastic read.Continue reading “Review of “Crazy Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors” by Stephen E. Ambrose”

Review of “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Plot: This book is more of a character study than a narrative with a plot. Ifemelu is a young Nigerian woman who comes to the United States for a postgraduate education. The book begins as she is about to return to Nigeria and stops in a hair salon to have her hair braided. This isContinue reading “Review of “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie”

Review of “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Plot: In 1945, Barcelona, Spain, Daniel Sampere’s father, a bookseller, allows him to choose one book from the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. The father does this to comfort him after Daniel realizes he can no longer remember what his late mother looked like. He chooses The Shadow of the Wind by Barcelona author Julián Carax,Continue reading “Review of “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafón”

Review of “Family Lore” by Elizabeth Acevedo

Plot: Widowed and about 70, Flor Marte asks her family for a living wake so she can enjoy it while she’s still here. She’ll get to see everyone again, especially her three sisters, Matilde, Pastora, and Camila. They are originally from the countryside of the Dominican Republic and immigrated to the United States at differentContinue reading “Review of “Family Lore” by Elizabeth Acevedo”

Review of “What You Are Looking For is In the Library” by Michiko Aoyama

Plot:This is a collection of five interrelated stories of people who come into the library in Hatori Community House in Tokyo. There, the librarian asks each person, “What are you looking for?” Ms. Sayuri Komachi, the librarian, is not a mousy person with black-framed winged glasses, but something of a presence. In the first story,Continue reading “Review of “What You Are Looking For is In the Library” by Michiko Aoyama”

Review of: “The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding” by Osita Nwanevu

Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…Winston Churchill,Continue reading “Review of: “The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding” by Osita Nwanevu”

Review of “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie

The Stuff and Ramblings:This semi-autobiographical YA novel centers on an adolescent young man called Junior growing up on the Spokane Reservation. Like the author, he was born with hydrocephalus and underwent surgery as an infant. Both also suffered seizures as children. Because he is not athletic, he is easy prey for bullies. He has oneContinue reading “Review of “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie”