This archive contains book reviews written by myself and guest writers. Topics are all over the board: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, plus size related, writing related books and more.
“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.” ~ Anna Quindlen
It’s August 2001 in Saratoga Springs, Florida. It’s hot and fifty-nine-year-old Belly O’Leary is being released from prison. He was sentenced six years for illegal gambling in his establishment, The War Bar; but got off early after four years for good behaviour. Lisa Selin Davis’ debut novel gives a peek into the life of Belly…
What could be more beautiful than a family? Why, the debacles of two of course! Awarded the Orange Prize for Fiction, On Beauty follows the Belsey and the Kipps families through 443 pages of shenanigans only family can forgive. This review appeared 7/17/2006 on Literary Fiction, BellaOnline. The full review of Zadie Smith’s On Beauty…
The Iris family lives in Johannesburg, Africa. Where you can “fall asleep with the faint roar of a lion or the laugh of a hyena coming across the lake.” Their story takes place in the Spring of 1966 and is described through the eyes of the youngest member, twelve-year-old This review was published on 6/14/2006…
In Havana, Cuba during 1982 high school students were required to put in time in the Tobacco fields as part of their learning and as service to the communist regime. A Girl Like Che Guevara follows the life of sixteen year old Lourdes Torres through her four month term in the School-in-the-Fields, Pinar del Rio camp.
The characters were enjoyable, the story line was easy to follow and it was entertaining. There may be a few new concepts raised about the Grail and religion but really nothing strikingly new but then again it is a work of fiction and I didn’t read it expecting to find some new revelation. I read…
Many emotions course through Girls In Trouble: excitement, fear, happiness, love, forgiveness, acceptance, jealousy, and the all powerful anger. With her flowing dialogue and decorative prose, Leavitt draws readers into the life of two families forever connected by one blessed event. Birth. I originally reviewed Girls in Trouble for BellaOnline. Read the full review of…
Cosmopolitan compared it to Bridget Jones but this book is really about loss. It isn’t about the laughs and it isn’t about finding someone to spend the rest of your life with. I originally reviewed this book for Linear Reflections and reprinted it for Literary Fiction, BellaOnline. Read the full review.
It is not necessary to read 1916 and 1921 to follow 1949, although it might help when reference is made to significant events from previous periods, especially if you have little knowledge of Irish history. The review for 1949 originial appeared in Linear Reflections and was republished at Literary Fiction, BellaOnline. Read the entire review…