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”
Category Archives: book review
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”
Review of “Blindness” by José Saramago
The Stuff: Not all the cars take off when the light turns green. The man inside seems to be saying something, but it takes a while before anyone outside pays attention or stops to hear him. He cries, “I am blind.” The blindness struck suddenly and without warning. The man cannot drive any further. AnotherContinue reading “Review of “Blindness” by José Saramago”
Review of “The Case Against Christian Nationalism: An Expository Commentary on Stephen Wolfe’s Book” by Blake Callens
I apologize in advance. This is even longer than usual.The Stuff: Author Blake Callens wrote this book in response to The Case for Christan Nationalism by Stephen Wolfe. It is information-dense and appears intended for a Christian audience—perhaps clergy?—who understands theology and American and European history. All is not lost, however. Even an old heathenContinue reading “Review of “The Case Against Christian Nationalism: An Expository Commentary on Stephen Wolfe’s Book” by Blake Callens”
Review of “Reunion: A Story: A Novella” by Alex Diaz-Granados
Full disclosure: author Alex Diaz-Granados and I have been net buddies for (is it possible?) nearly twenty years, first becoming acquainted at the now-defunct site Epinions, lo, these many years ago. Plot:Jim Garraty’s dream of becoming a history professor at a prestigious university has come true. He has some well-regarded publications under his belt andContinue reading “Review of “Reunion: A Story: A Novella” by Alex Diaz-Granados”
Review of “After the Forest” by Kell Woods
The Stuff: Hänsel and Gretal have grown up and now live in the Black Forest at the close of The Thirty Years War. Rumors abound of Greta’s childhood doings with the old crone in the woods—did she really push that old woman into the oven?—but, for the most part, the villagers accept her. She bakesContinue reading “Review of “After the Forest” by Kell Woods”
Review of “Harbour Street” by Ann Cleeves
Plot: Detective Joe Ashworth is on the Metro, bringing his daughter Jessie home from a school program. The train is crowded because of the holidays. Joe noticed a couple necking. A well-dressed elderly lady boards, and Joe wonders why someone with money didn’t take a taxi. Bad weather stops the train, and the passengers exitContinue reading “Review of “Harbour Street” by Ann Cleeves”
Review of “How to Sell a Haunted House” by Grady Hendrix
This New York Times Bestseller by horror writer Grady Hendrix mixes horror, grief, and family trauma with camp. According to my exhaustive—or exhausting—reading of reviews on Goodreads, most people either love it or think it’s the stupidest thing they’ve ever read. I fall somewhere between. Plot:Louise Joyner returns home to Charleston after her parents dieContinue reading “Review of “How to Sell a Haunted House” by Grady Hendrix”
Review of “Now They Call me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad For America, Israel, and the War on Terror” by Nonie Darwish
The Stuff: This memoir was written by Egyptian-American Nonie Darwish who spent her childhood in Gaza. Her father, Colonel Mustafa Hafez, served as commander of the Egyptian Army Intelligence in Gaza, then under military control of Egypt. Hafez was assassinated by the Israeli Defense Forces. Darwish’s brother was wounded in the same attack. The survivingContinue reading “Review of “Now They Call me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad For America, Israel, and the War on Terror” by Nonie Darwish”
Reviews of Old and New Stories. Mostly Old 