one book leads to another
On love, intrigue, deception and manipulation My February 2024 review of The Helsinki Affair by Anna Pitoniak is one of the most popular on my blog. Here's how I summed it up: I finished The Helsinki Affair and immediately put Pitoniak's Our American Friend on hold ("fantastic fun and spectacular" per the blurbs on the … Continue reading Our American Friend
sex, drugs & rock 'n roll The Shards is a meta-masterpiece by Bret Easton Ellis. The main character is himself, Bret, a young cinephile, avid reader and budding author, navigating life in Los Angeles before and during his senior year of high school - just like he did in real life. It's inventive and initially … Continue reading The Shards
A charming storybook that's a coloring book too! Hippo is a children's book by Robert Raphael, and it's guaranteed to engage children and grown-ups alike. It's a delight! The cover is colorful but the pages inside are black and white which makes them perfect for coloring! The lack of color doesn't distract from the pictures … Continue reading Hippo
There's room for both. I recently found myself reading two mystery novels at once, both by prolific, well-known and well-liked authors. One is a favorite, I think I've read all of his 30+ books. I've only read one by the other author. The Waiting by Michael Connelly is a tight, gripping, precisely paced thriller. The … Continue reading Keep ’em coming vs. not for me
airplane disaster fiction / high altitude thriller You guys, this book, it got to me. I teared up at the end, a combination of anxiety, relief and sadness. Wasn't expecting it but I welcome the feels. That's what I want from a book, not just a great story and great writing, but to be moved … Continue reading Worst Case Scenario
Sinclair Lewis blew me away with It Can't Happen Here. He wrote this spookily modern novel almost 100 years ago and not to be dramatic, but oh how I wish it weren't so relevant. Lewis is my kind of author: smart, witty, observant and incisive. He's a legend - the man won a Pulitzer AND … Continue reading It Can’t Happen Here
AI gone wild I'm disappointed in The New York Times. Have you seen their list of the '100 Best Books of the 21st Century?' They polled over 500 authors and book lovers for their 10 best picks and compiled them into a grand list. Only there's a few glaring omissions including Andrew Pyper. It's a … Continue reading W1LL1AM
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