Curlygeek04

LATEST ARTICLES ( 475 )

• American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures, Edited by America Ferrera

  American Like Me is a compilation of essays about what it means to live in America, from actors, athletes, writers, and activists who are either immigrants or... Read more

  Posted on 09 November 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Top Ten Backlist Books I Want to Read

  

  This week’s Top Ten topic, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is about backlist books I want to read.  What’s a backlist book?  The term refers to books that... Read more

  Posted on 06 November 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• My October Reading Wrap-Up

  October flew by, with a week-long work trip to Boston and preparing for our trip to Chile and Argentina next month.  I discovered two new book clubs in my... Read more

  Posted on 03 November 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Why Do We Read Books That Scare Us?

  As Halloween approached, I’ve been thinking about scary books and why we read them.  With all the horror in the news, my work colleagues have been increasingly... Read more

  Posted on 30 October 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Review: Tiny Shoes Dancing and Other Stories by Audrey Kalman

  This book of short stories by Audrey Kalman really resonated with me.  The stories are different but deal with common issues, most related to marriage and... Read more

  Posted on 28 October 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Review: The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar

  I loved this book, set in 18th century England, about a lonely merchant who comes upon a mermaid that changes his life.  It’s one of those rare books you can’t... Read more

  Posted on 21 October 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• RIP XIII: Mini-Reviews for Halloween

  

  It’s a few weeks until Halloween, but here are some of the RIP-themed books I’ve read lately. Dread Nation by Justina Ireland: I loved this book by Justina... Read more

  Posted on 13 October 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Review: An Untamed State by Roxane Gay

  This book wrecked me – and I mean that in a good way.  I finished this book in two days, and it was so intense I was thinking about it when I wasn’t reading –... Read more

  Posted on 06 October 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• My September Reading Wrap-Up

  

  I began the month with a first-time visit to the National Book Festival, and ended it with an old favorite, the Antiquarian Book Fair, where I picked up a new... Read more

  Posted on 01 October 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Read Harder 2018: Revisit a Classic You Hated

  

  With three months left to finish the Read Harder 2018 challenge, I’ve been putting off the toughest category on the list: an assigned book you hated or never... Read more

  Posted on 28 September 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Review: Transcription by Kate Atkinson

  Readers of historical fiction will enjoy this book about MI5 agents in World War II (and post-WWII) London.  I also know there are some Atkinson fans who... Read more

  Posted on 25 September 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Review: Less by Andrew Sean Greer

  I already knew I wanted to read this book, mainly because it won the Pulitzer prize earlier this year and so much of the media buzz around it was that, as a... Read more

  Posted on 21 September 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Thirteen Books on My Fall TBR List

  This week’s Top Ten topic, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is our Fall TBR List.  I like to post a reading list every quarter, as a way of looking at what... Read more

  Posted on 18 September 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• R.I.P. XIII: Readers Imbibing Peril

  One of my favorite annual blog events is Readers Imbibing Peril, or RIP.  Because let’s face it, the real world is scary enough. Read more

  Posted on 16 September 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Review: The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

  This is a book that’s gotten a ton of praise, and has been described as Agatha Christie meets Groundhog Day.  As a murder mystery, it’s great fun, playing on th... Read more

  Posted on 12 September 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Attending the National Book Festival

  

  The National Book Festival has been going on for 17 years in DC, and I’ve never been.  Not because I didn’t know about it; some of my colleagues go every year... Read more

  Posted on 07 September 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Summing up My 20 Books of Summer

  

  This summer I read 21 books for the 20 Books of Summer, hosted by Cathy at 746 Books.  From my original list, I read 11 books, which isn’t bad since I rarely... Read more

  Posted on 03 September 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• My August Reading Wrap-Up

  Ah, August.  My co-workers are freaking out about the heat and all I can think is, just a little longer please!  I’m never ready for summer to end (and yet it... Read more

  Posted on 01 September 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Ten Books to Help You Learn About the United States

  

  It’s Back to School week at Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl), so I decided to write about ten books that can help us learn about America. Read more

  Posted on 28 August 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Review: Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

  Those who love a good gothic novel will certainly appreciate this one, as will those looking for more LGBTQ stories and characters in their reading. Read more

  Posted on 26 August 2018 BOOKS, CULTURE