The Book Thief – Markus Zusak

“First the colors.Then the humans.That’s usually how I see things.Or at least, how I try.*** HERE IS A SMALL FACT***           You are going to die.” And so Markus Zusak’s novel, The Book Thief, begins.  Told from Death’s point of view, The Book Thief, is the story of Liesel Meminger and her encounters with Death inContinue reading “The Book Thief – Markus Zusak”

W. Somerset Maugham – The Razor’s Edge

There’s a story behind this review and, as all stories must, it involves a pretty eyed boy and a girl who thought she knew everything. The short version is thus: your bookslut had never heard of William Somerset Maugham – a man who just happened to be a pretty eyed boy’s favorite author. For Christmas,Continue reading “W. Somerset Maugham – The Razor’s Edge”

Robert Jordan – From the Two Rivers

This bookslut seldom ventures into the realm of genre fiction, but she made an exception for a friend.  For years, this particular friend has been pushing The Wheel of Time series on me like a drug dealer pushes crack.  When I found From the Two Rivers on the dollar table at a local used bookstore,Continue reading “Robert Jordan – From the Two Rivers”

Mishna Wolff – I’m Down

This review has been a long time coming.  Law school gets in the way of fun things.  My apologies.  Of all the books of 2010 (which weren’t nearly as many as I would have liked), I’d recommend I’m Down the most.  Well, I’m Down and God of the Animals.  Mishna Wolff’s childhood memoir is brilliant. Continue reading “Mishna Wolff – I’m Down”

Kent Nelson – Land that Moves, Land that Stands Still

Apparently your bookslut has only been picking books written by those with a Juris Doctor degree. Kent Nelson graduated from Yale with a degree in Political Science and then went on to Harvard Law where he earned a JD in Environmental Law. To be honest, he strikes me as a bit of a bum; theContinue reading “Kent Nelson – Land that Moves, Land that Stands Still”

Debra Magpie Earling – Perma Red

I adore Native American literature – Sherman Alexie, James Welch, Louise Erdrich, Leslie Marmon Silko… all have homes on my bookshelf. They recently had to move over to make room for Debra Magpie Earling. Earling is a member of the Bitterroot Salish tribe in Montana. She currently teaches Native American Studies and Fiction at theContinue reading “Debra Magpie Earling – Perma Red”

Tamar Yellin – The Genizah at the House of Shepher

Religion has always fascinated me. I grew up in a Southern Baptist Church and have a pretty decent grasp of the Bible. Biblical stories were my bedtime stories and I prayed to the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. As I grew up, I began to explore other religions – never as faith-altering explorations, justContinue reading “Tamar Yellin – The Genizah at the House of Shepher”

Don Coldsmith – Runestone

I love historical sagas, always have. I’m quite fond of the books by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear, and when I saw their glowing words of praise on the cover of paperback sitting on the book cart at work, well, I knew it would make a perfect poolside read. Don Coldsmith’s Runestone (1995)Continue reading “Don Coldsmith – Runestone”

The White Tiger – Aravind Adiga

Any bookslut who has stumbled across these pages knows my love of most Man Booker Prize novels (both short & long listed and the actual winners). (I say most because of the horrible experience with The Accidental.) The White Tiger, published in 2008 and recipient of the prestigious award the same year, has been sittingContinue reading “The White Tiger – Aravind Adiga”

Love in the Ruins – Walker Percy

Walker Percy (1916-1990) was a Faulkner-lovin’, Tarheel cheerin’, good ole Catholic boy from the deep South. His childhood was marred with tragedy – suicides & car accidents – and he was eventually adopted and raised by his bachelor uncle of a poet, William Alexander Percy. He became friends with Shelby Foote and became a born,Continue reading “Love in the Ruins – Walker Percy”