More a collection of linked short stories than a novel, Jami Attenberg’s “The Middlesteins” paints a family portrait from a number of different perspectives. Each chapter is told from the POV of a different character, among them matriarch Edie, a “queen among women” whose weight …
Read MoreWhat I’m Reading: Artful
I’ve had a soft spot for “Oliver Twist” ever since I played a small role – that of Charlotte, the undertaker’s slatternly daughter – in my high school’s production of the musical “Oliver!” So when I saw “Artful: A Novel” being offered free as a …
Read More10 books that had an impact on me
These are not necessarily my “favorite” books, but 10 that have a special place in my life for various reasons. Presented roughly in the order in which I encountered them: The Outsiders. The book that made me believe I could write a novel, since S.E. …
Read MoreWhat I’m Reading: Why We Broke Up
Daniel Handler’s “Why We Broke Up,” a birthday gift from my brother, took me two months to finish — not because I didn’t enjoy it, but because it’s so dense, with pages-long stream-of-consciousness passages consisting of carefully chosen phrases that would be a shame to …
Read MoreWhat I’m Reading: Belong to Me
Just finished Marisa de los Santos’ “Belong to Me,” the sequel to “Love Walked In,” which I found difficult to enjoy because its dual POV distracted me from getting lost in the story. When I saw that “Belong to Me” is divided into chapters told …
Read MoreHow fast do you read?
I thought this reading speed test from Staples was fun and informative. It turns out I read 74 percent faster than the average American hooman, however I don’t always retain what I read (only got 2 out of 3 comprehension questions right). To misquote Paul …
Read MoreWhat I’m Reading: Bigger than a Bread Box
Took a break from Marisa de los Santos to read a middle-grade book by a local author: Bigger than a Bread Box. I heard Laurel Snyder speak at the January Atlanta Writers Club meeting, and found her inspiring, especially when she shared that she sent …
Read MoreWhat I’m Reading: Love Walked In
I just finished “Love Walked In,” a novel recommended and Christmas-gifted by my sister, who’s a big fan of the author, Marisa de los Santos. It’s the story of Cornelia, a coffee shop manager who loves old movies and whose life changes in unexpected ways …
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