Sadie Witt is a vibrant sixty-four year old woman who, with her sister, Jane, runs a small resort in northern Minnesota called Witt’s End. Unlike conservative Jane, Sadie wears miniskirts, a thong, tank tops, and spikes her colorful hair. Oh yeah, did I happen to mention she is also a death coach? It seems that the souls of the deceased, [...]

I’m normally not a big fan of historical fiction. If I’m going to be reading about history, I’d much rather read about something that actually happened. Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth was one exception. Now, David Benioff’s City of Thieves is another. It’s 1942 and the siege of Piter (Leningrad) is well underway. A scrawny, shy, young Jew [...]

Some things you glance at, do a double-take, and then go ewww, still unable to take your eyes away. That’s what I did with the cover of John-Ivan Palmer’s, Motels of Burning Madness – Confessions of a Male Stripper. The cover shows a lit cigarette being dropped into a male g-string that looks like a miniature tuxedo? Who would not [...]

I’m not sure as to why, but death has always fascinated me. Not so much the death happens to everyone sooner or later kind of death, but the whole I am Death, pleased to meet you, now walk this way kind of death. Christopher Moore’s A Dirty Job fit the bill perfectly. Charlie Asher is a Beta Male (Moore will [...]

10. Hoot by Carl Hiaasen: I don’t think I’ve come across a Carl Hiaasen book yet that I haven’t enjoyed.As a young adult novel, Hoot has a slower pace and a thinner plot, but still a fun read. Like his adult novels,the characters are just as twisted, the humor is just as warped (that’s a good thing), and the environment [...]

Jin-Ling is an American-born girl whose parents came to this country from China bringing their customs and culture with them. Jin-Ling’s 2 Left Feet, Helen Chen’s debut novel, could have been an ordinary run-of-the-mill young adult novel, but the way Chen blended American and Chinese culture made this book a pleasure to read. Jin-Ling is a high school senior worried [...]

Browsing through my favorite bookstore, I picked up a copy of Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell. I don’t usually buy national bestsellers at an independent bookstore, but the manager highly recommended it, and I respect her opinion – so there ya go. When I’m unfamiliar with an author, the first thing I usually do is check the back of [...]

Sibylla Wihelmina Beatrice Forsenstrom grew up as a child of privilege. She was brought up with the children-should-be-seen-and-not-heard mentality of her strict parents. While her father neglects her, Sibylla’s mother seems to take a perverse joy in embarrassing her, especially in front of Sibylla’s classmates. After rebelling, being institutionalized, and estranging herself from her family, Sibylla lives on the streets [...]

Let me start out by saying that I am no expert on poetry. The following review is based not on the formal structure of a poem, or what poetry should or shouldn’t be, but based strictly on my love for the written word. Friends of mine would tell you that I’ve never been a huge fan of poetry. Most of [...]

It’s 1:44 a.m. in Manhattan when Carol Meitzner wakes up with a feeling of dread. Something is definitely not right with her son Jonas. So starts Masha Hamilton’s latest novel, 31 Hours. Every chapter starts with New York time and Mecca time. And obviously, every chapter ticks closer to the 31st hour. By the end of chapter two, only eleven [...]