Monthly Archives: September 2016

Yarn Along

Posted on September 28, 2016 by lfpbe

I’ve been reading Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend on my Kindle for the last week or so and am almost done. At first I was surprised not to like it much. It reminded me of an extended Alice Munro story … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

A Review of Diana Gabaldon’s Virgins

Posted on September 22, 2016 by lfpbe

One tidbit you might not know about me is that my right shoulder has earned dozens of five-star ratings on AirBnB among the under-two set. It’s not something I’ve cultivated; it’s just one hell of a comfortable shoulder. My left … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Diana Gabaldon, E-Readers vs. Hard Copies, Fiction - general, Fiction - Historical, Fiction - Short Stories, Glimpses into Real Life, Reviews by Bethany, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Yarn Along

Posted on September 14, 2016 by lfpbe

I admire the minimalist life, though I’ve never managed to practice it myself. I’m an accumulator, always surrounded by lots of books, lots of clothes, lots of yarn. I’ve just started renting a room in a city an hour south … Continue reading →

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Thoughts on Paul Kriwaczek’s In Search of Zarathustra: Across Iran and Central Asia to Find the World’s First Prophet

Posted on September 8, 2016 by lfpbe

I read this book because the protagonist of one of the many novels I want to write was born into Zoroastrian family. I am well aware that the previous sentence way well be the most interesting sentence in this review, … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Non-fiction - History, Nonfiction - General, Nonfiction - Religion, Nonfiction - Travel, Paul Kriwaczek, Reviews by Bethany, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Yarn Along

Posted on September 7, 2016 by lfpbe

I’m currently binding off my Game of Thrones cowl, but there are ends to weave in and such, so I am taking this opportunity to brighten up your screen with this obnoxiously orange scarf (that’s not officially its name, but … Continue reading →

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Yes, Isabel Allende wrote a mystery novel. No, it’s not terrible. Thoughts on Ripper. (by Jill)

Posted on September 3, 2016 by badkitty1016

  When Ripper came out back in 2014 quick on the heels of Maya’s Notebook I asked myself if Isabel Allende had lost her damn mind. And then I remembered that Maya’s Notebook took quite literally forever to get published … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction - general, Fiction - Mystery, fiction - thriller, Isabel Allende, Reviews by Jill, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Thoughts on Reza Aslan’s Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth

Posted on September 3, 2016 by lfpbe

When I teach and tutor students in history, I often start each unit by advising students to “follow the money.” I didn’t coin that phrase, I know, but it’s a surprisingly simple and effective way to get one’s bearings in … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Non-fiction - History, Nonfiction - General, Nonfiction - Religion, Reviews by Bethany, Reza Aslan, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Early Thoughts on Kia Corthron’s The Castle Cross the Magnet Carter

Posted on September 1, 2016 by lfpbe

The meaning of the title of this long, engrossing novel starts to come clear around page 138 – well ahead of the 200-page mark at which I planned to start complaining – so of course I wanted to share it … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Fiction - general, Fiction - Historical, Fiction - literary, Kia Corthron, Reviews by Bethany, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Review of Jen Lancaster’s Twisted Sisters (by Jill)

Posted on September 1, 2016 by badkitty1016

  I almost hate to write this review because I’ve never read a book by Jen Lancaster that I haven’t found anything redeeming about. I’ll admit the quality has fallen off a bit since her first few memoirs, but I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction - general, Jen Lancaster, Reviews by Jill, Uncategorized | Leave a comment