Book Review: 1984 by George Orwell

By trade, I’m a book editor. Sometimes a sample from a prospective client will come across my desk, and I’ll wonder how the author thinks it could possibly be close to ready-to-query/self-publish. The story, while it may have an excellent central theme, may not be coherent. In many cases, I’ve found that the author is … Continue reading Book Review: 1984 by George Orwell →

Lifetime Reading List: 1984 by George Orwell

When I set out on this Lifetime Reading List challenge, I planned on reading every book, no matter how much it sucked, to completion. Then, William Goldman’s The Princess Bride was in my hands, and I quickly abandoned that plan (see here). I figured that out of 100 books, perhaps 3-4 would be ones I … Continue reading Lifetime Reading List: 1984 by George Orwell →

“Would You Marry a Non-Reader?”

One of the recurrent discussions I’ve seen in the Writing Community on Twitter poses a simple question: Would you (a reader) marry a non-reader? I want to take some time today to explore my thoughts and answer. I met Nick just after my nineteenth birthday. At that point in my life, I didn’t have the … Continue reading “Would You Marry a Non-Reader?” →

Sharing the Joy

This weekend, my son turns three-years-old, and over the past couple of months, he has discovered books. I’ve kept books around the house in baskets, on shelves, casually stacked on tables, and pretty much anywhere I could since before he was born. Around the time he was six months old, I started mixing in some … Continue reading Sharing the Joy →

Book Review: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I talk to one of my former teachers a lot, and as I’ve been making my way through this Lifetime Reading List (see post regarding To Kill a Mockingbird here), I’ve been talking to her about some of the “classics” that are typically assigned reading in high school/college. Yesterday, we were on the phone, and … Continue reading Book Review: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee →

Lifetime Reading List: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This year, many of the books on the Lifetime Reading List have included ones I was required to read in high school, such as The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, as well as one I chose to read in high school, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. After … Continue reading Lifetime Reading List: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee →

Book Review: Girls in Pants by Ann Brashares

Of all five books in the Sisterhood series by Ann Brashares, Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood is absolutely my favorite (although the first book is a close second, review here). I feel that the arcs for each character are true to their personality as well as the lives of readers. The … Continue reading Book Review: Girls in Pants by Ann Brashares →

“Let Them Grumble”

If you know me, you know that I am a complete and total Tudorphile. Both of my kids are named after Tudor figures, and the person from history I’d most like to have a conversation with is Anne Boleyn. So, in a way, it’s only fitting that when I was dealing with a vexing situation … Continue reading “Let Them Grumble” →

Book Review: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

Charming. Warm fuzzies. Playful. Beautiful. These are just some of the words that come to mind as I try to describe and review Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. Now that I think about it, I’m not sure I’ve ever used the phrase “warm fuzzies” to describe a book, but I’m going to roll with it … Continue reading Book Review: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White →