Many cultures have the “marriage to a beast” type tales – intended as warnings and preparations for arranged marriages for children and as a bit dirtier stories for adults. “La Belle et la Bête” (Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, 1740) is perhaps the heart of the most commonly known tale, but it was influenced by earlierContinue reading “A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES – Sarah J. Maas”
Author Archives: Tommi Powell
MEN AND DOGS – Katie Crouch
Katie Crouch’s Men and Dogs (2010) drew my attention because of the title and the cover. While the cover meets the aesthetic of Crouch’s first novel, Girls in Trucks, (which I have not read) neither it nor the title suit this novel and I’ve been trying to reconcile the disconnect since reading the first chapter.Continue reading “MEN AND DOGS – Katie Crouch”
THESE GHOSTS ARE FAMILY – Maisy Card
Maisy Card’s debut novel, These Ghosts Are Family ( Simon & Schuster – 3/3/2020), is quite possibly my most favorite read of this crazy year; I don’t typically give stars, but I’m giving this novel an entire galaxy. The novel is told in a fragmented way that brings to mind the oral tradition of story-tellingContinue reading “THESE GHOSTS ARE FAMILY – Maisy Card”
WHITE ELEPHANT DEAD – Carolyn Hart
Cozy mysteries aren’t something that oft find themselves in my TBR. It’s not that I don’t enjoy them, it’s just that they’re not typically something I pick up. As luck would have it, I did pick up several in last year’s library sale at the fairgrounds, and Carolyn Hart’s White Elephant Dead (1999) is theContinue reading “WHITE ELEPHANT DEAD – Carolyn Hart”
CONJURE WOMEN – Afia Atakora
One of my more recent goals has been to read more “new” releases, particularly from debut authors and authors of color. I ordered Conjure Women because it ticked off several of my boxes. It is a debut novel by an author of color, but more importantly, it’s the type of book my shelves crave: magicalContinue reading “CONJURE WOMEN – Afia Atakora”
ALL THE LITTLE LIARS – Charlaine Harris
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve read anything by Charlaine Harris, but she is candy for this book-dragon heart and just like a Bit-O-Honey, I still enjoy her characters. Admittedly, I’ve only read the Sookie Stackhouse books, and not even all of those. (I loved the books so much more than the TV show.) Continue reading “ALL THE LITTLE LIARS – Charlaine Harris”
OUTLANDER – Diana Gabaldon
Unpopular opinion – I’ve tried watching Outlander since Netflix picked it up, but it just doesn’t hold my attention. Maybe I’ll try again. I don’t know. But my attempts to watch it did result in me snagging a used copy of Outlander, the first in the series, during the times I could venture into aContinue reading “OUTLANDER – Diana Gabaldon”
UNDER THE RAINBOW – Celia Laskey
In 1915, Edgar Lee Masters published Spoon River Anthology, a collection of short free verse poems that served as epitaphs for the residents of the fictional Spoon River. Masters gave a voice to the dead – and splayed the ghosts in their closets, their shattered dreams, their angry fists, their vices and virtues, their hopesContinue reading “UNDER THE RAINBOW – Celia Laskey”
REMEMBRANCE – Rita Woods
“I will not always be here like this for you and your sister. But when the world is black, when you think you are alone, the spirits, my spirit, will be with you, living in your heart. When you don’t know the answers, just listen. Quiet. And the answers will pour into your soul…They mightContinue reading “REMEMBRANCE – Rita Woods”
CHILDREN OF VIRTUE AND VENGEANCE – Tomi Adeyemi
In 2018, debut author Tomi Adeyemi spun onto the literary scene with her magi and brilliant sparks of magic. The book deal was phenomenal. Movie rights have been acquired. Disney is at the helm. It’s a big flipping deal. I devoured Children of Blood and Bone and encouraged my readers to join in the “magiContinue reading “CHILDREN OF VIRTUE AND VENGEANCE – Tomi Adeyemi”
A Girl Named Tommi 