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”
Category Archives: book review
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”
Review of “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson
Warning: the book reviewed deals with sexual violence. The review mentions it but does not describe it. Plot:Melinda Sordino starts high school with everyone hating her. Her old friends from middle school aren’t talking to her. She really does eat her lunch all by herself. Maybe if she could tell them about what happened, aboutContinue reading “Review of “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson”
Review of “The Life of a Stupid Man” by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa
A warning: This work, published posthumously, was written shortly before its author took his life in 1927 and reflects his long-standing despair. I wish to add that if you are dealing with issues like this, please call the Suicide Prevention and Crisis Hotline at 988. The Stuff and Ramblings: This extremely short semi-autobiographical book canContinue reading “Review of “The Life of a Stupid Man” by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa”
Review of “The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself about Russia and Betrayed Ukraine” by Alexander Vindman
For it is the US and its allies, I argue, that have enabled the ongoing tragedy in Ukraine. The West’s failings to constrain Russian aggression and harden Ukraine against it have nourished the Russian sense of impunity.–Alexander Vindman, The Folly of Realism, p. 3 In his introduction, author Alexander Vindman describes the history of America’sContinue reading “Review of “The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself about Russia and Betrayed Ukraine” by Alexander Vindman”
Review of “The Dark Side of Christian History” by Helen Ellerbe
In short: The book has an engaging writing style and is a quick, easy read. However, it is too short to do the subject justice and suffers from oversimplification and insufficient information. My first impression of this book, with its 188 pages of text, was that it was too short to do its subject justice.Continue reading “Review of “The Dark Side of Christian History” by Helen Ellerbe”
Review of “Reunion: Coda: Book 2 of the Reunion Duology” by Alex Diaz-Granados
Full disclosure: The author and I have been netbuddies for twenty years (YEE GADS!), first “meeting” at the defunct review site, the late great Epinions. This novel is a lyrical story of new love interwoven with a story of acceptance of love lost and self-forgiveness. In his mid-thirties, Professor Jim Garraty is lucky in manyContinue reading “Review of “Reunion: Coda: Book 2 of the Reunion Duology” by Alex Diaz-Granados”
Review of “Two Boys Kissing” by David Levithan
The Stuff: This young adult novel follows the fortunes of several gay boys and young men. A Greek chorus of gay men who died during the AIDS crisis serves as the narrator. They cannot interact with the living. Peter and Neill are a couple still in high school who have been dating for a while.Continue reading “Review of “Two Boys Kissing” by David Levithan”
Reviews of Old and New Stories. Mostly Old 