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Monthly Archives: November 2013
A Review of Guillermo Martinez’s The Oxford Murders (by Bethany)
I apologize in advance: this is going to be another one of those reviews where I say at the outset that I don’t like mysteries very much but that every so often I read them, and then I’m going to … Continue reading
A Review of Rick Steves’ Travel as a Political Act (by Bethany)
Up until recently, I worked at a chain of tutoring and learning centers in the Bay Area. Modeled on the Asian-style “cram school,” these centers offered one-on-one tutoring, SAT-, ACT-, and AP-prep classes, and other classes for younger students designed … Continue reading
Solitary, Poor, Nasty, Brutish, and Not Short Enough: Thoughts on Cormac McCarthy’s The Road (by Bethany)
I don’t have a very pleasant history with Cormac McCarthy. If books are like friends, Cormac McCarthy is one of those friends who is part of your circle mostly because your other friends get along with him. Since you don’t … Continue reading
A Review of Margaret Drabble’s The Red Queen (by Bethany)
I really wanted to like this novel. It’s about a literary and spiritual connection between an eighteenth-century Korean crown princess and a modern-day anthropology professor named Babs Halliwell. The first half of the book is told from the crown princess’ … Continue reading
A Review of Stephen King’s 11/22/63 (by Bethany)
What is it about time-travel fiction? I’m a sucker for it. In other genres I whine about stereotyped characters and clichéd language and too many damn vampires. But time-travel stories can really be quite bad before I lose patience with … Continue reading
Yarn Along (by Bethany)
Yes, this is another scarf. I know – I’m off on one of my obsessions again. It’s like the hats all over again. I’ve even named this style of scarf and have started planning out variations on the original. Am … Continue reading
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A Review of Pat Conroy’s The Death of Santini (by Bethany)
Last week I finished Pat Conroy’s memoir The Death of Santini, and I have mixed feelings about it. If you’ve been reading this blog regularly, you know that Pat Conroy has a special place here at Postcards from Purgatory. We … Continue reading
Yarn Along (by Bethany)
I am going through one of my promiscuous phases as a reader and a knitter. I’m reading – let’s see – four books: Pearl S. Buck’s The Angry Wife (pictured and mocked here), Iris Murdoch’s Under the Net, Stephen King’s … Continue reading
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Mornings With Milton: Book I of Paradise Lost (by Bethany)
Paradise Lost is hard. It’s hard and intimidating and impossible to read without hearing Milton’s throaty voice laughing at you from wherever he is now – probably Purgatory. It’s also fascinating. This poem reminds me how much I love blank … Continue reading
Review of Jasper Fforde’s The Woman Who Died A Lot (by Jill)
It occurred to me just now that this is the first Jasper Fforde book I’ve read since we started the blog. Which means this is the first time I’ve had to write about a Jasper Fforde book. Which makes me … Continue reading
Postcards From Purgatory 