one book leads to another
"It's a true pleasure losing yourself in another's imagined world." Some authors have a knack for creating wonderful stories set in grim situations and with Strangers in Time, David Baldacci joins their ranks. This novel features three equally main characters - Molly, Charlie and Ignatius - all navigating their lives and losses in London, during … Continue reading Strangers in Time
Trigger warning: existential dread Reflections on the end of a civilization is the subtitle of this bleak book published by Roy Scranton in 2015. It's not without a tiny bit of hope, but he is frank in his assertion that "this civilization is already dead." We - humanity - are on the way out and … Continue reading Learning to Die in the Anthropocene
12 steps for a deadly addiction Assassins Anonymous begins and ends in the Christmas season but this is a Christmas book like Die Hard is a Christmas movie. It's part thriller, part meditative examination of life and friendship, and I practically inhaled it. Meet Mark, ex-Navy Seal and ex-assassin for a group that's beyond the … Continue reading Assassins Anonymous
Love and Chaos This Disaster Loves You by Richard Roper is a feel-good book filled with self-deprecating humor and tons of warmth. Down in the dumps? Dr. Bookthrasher prescribes this funny and comforting dose of British writing. Brian is a good fellow with a broken heart: the love of his life, his wife Lily, disappeared … Continue reading This Disaster Loves You
sun, sea and suds First things first, fantastic title. It had me expecting some drug running in this laid-back mystery but turns out it's a surfing term: the "surfer name for riding a wave that suddenly disappeared beneath them." Dude. Luke Fischer isn't a detective or a private eye, but he finds people (sometimes). He's … Continue reading Surf City Acid Drop
fiction and nonfiction with common themes I just finished two books that I didn't think had much in common except for a quest for justice. But as I reflected I realized they share other themes like how politics ruins everything; how the dedication of good detectives and journalists are necessary in a free society; how … Continue reading And justice for all?
Trust me, watch the show first, then read the book. I didn't set out to read a third Robert Harris novel this year, but then I watched the 2005 BBC miniseries Archangel and found out it was based on his 1998 book of the same name...so basically I had no choice. The show stars Daniel … Continue reading Archangel
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