My Current Reads
Books I’ve read and reviewed.
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
Kim has written a page-turning mystery, laced with a stellar representation of family dynamics, buoyed by the voice of an utterly fantastic and realistic narrator, and blending….
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent
Nugent's writing style is a nice balance of character exploration and propulsive page-turning intrigue. While the story isn't plot-driven, it is also not light on plot, with plenty to explore through flashbacks and ephemeral material, as well as another point of view that enters the novel's narrative.
Lost Believers by Irina Zhorov
Lost Believers is a novel inspired by true events, unfolding in 1970s Soviet Russia, where two women's lives intersect and take unexpected turns. Galina, a young geologist from Moscow, falls in love with her pilot, Snow Crane, during a mineral exploration trip in Siberia. Their discovery….
The Art Thief by Michael Finkel
While I found the story itself fascinating, and the level of crimes committed and the resultant aftermath rather horrific in their way, several choices made by Finkel kept this from rising above ordinary….
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
Aelin Galathynius, once known as the assassin Celaena Sardothien, is back in the empire, seeking vengeance and the restoration of her kingdom. As the Queen of Terrasen, she embraces her identity but….
Lamb by Christopher Moore
Perhaps a better understanding of the source material would have helped, but the predictability of the plot and the characters' predetermined destinies bored me….
Speech Team by Tim Murphy
In Speech Team, Tip Murray, a nonprofit writer in his early forties, receives shocking news of a former teammate's suicide. This revelation leads him and his high school best friend, Natalie, on a nostalgic journey to….
They Came to Baghdad by Agatha Christie
In Agatha Christie's They Came to Baghdad, a secret summit in Baghdad brings together superpowers concerned about an unidentified and powerful secret weapon. British agent Carmichael holds….
Spider-Man: Life Story Annual #1 by Chip Zdarsky and Mark Bagley
An encore to the world of Spider-Man: Life Story, featuring J. Jonah Jameson, driven by his relentless obsession to expose Spider-Man as a menace to society, suffers at his own hand in his decades-long aim to bring down the superhero.
Spider-Man: Life Story by Chip Zdarsky and Mark Bagley
In the iconic Amazing Fantasy #15 from 1962, 15-year-old Peter Parker's life changed forever when he was bitten by a radioactive spider, transforming him into the Amazing Spider-Man.
Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
Sadie Montgomery's life takes an unexpected turn when she is diagnosed with face blindness, leaving every face she sees as a perplexing puzzle. While navigating this new reality, she grapples with….
The Mythmakers by Keziah Weir
The Mythmakers by Keziah Weir is a wonderfully immersive story — the type where the world around me goes gray and unfocused while I'm reading scenes that are vivid and every bit as fixed as the reality I'm steadfastly ignoring.
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
Amidst a looming financial crash, Rachel and James become friends and embark on a bohemian lifestyle in their early lackadaisical years of adulthood in Cork. This witty but emotional novel….
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
In Heir of Fire, Celaena has survived intense challenges and heartbreak, but not without a cost. Now, she's off to a new land to face a truth about her heritage that could change her life forever. As brutal forces gather,….
They Do It with Mirrors by Agatha Christie
Miss Marple senses danger during her visit to an old friend who lives in a Victorian mansion, which also serves as a rehabilitation center for troubled youth. A young patient fires a revolver….
Vera by Elizabeth von Arnim
Years before other novels (ones that become classics and immortalized on film), Arnim lays the groundwork for Rebecca and Before the Fact (both adapted famously by Hitchcock — and both with Joan Fontaine), with echos of Wuthering Heights….
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
All Systems Red by Martha Wells is a science fiction adventure novella and the first book in The Murderbot Diaries series. It explores the ethics of sentient robotics and follows a self-aware security droid known as "Murderbot."
Three O’Clock in the Morning by Gianrico Carofiglio
In the enchanting city of Marseille, a brilliant mathematician and his teenage son embark on a two-night journey that forges a newfound connection between them….
Foster by Claire Keegan
In 1981 Ireland, a girl is sent to live with foster parents on a farm while her mother gives birth. She finds unexpected affection and starts to flourish in their care. With her unnamed narrator,….
The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas
The Assassin's Blade, short stories within the Throne of Glass universe, inadvertently showcases how much world-building room Maas needs and uses in full-length medium. While….