book reviews
Reviews of books by relationship gurus, dating experts, and cautionary tale-tellers.
Book Review: The Complete Fairy Stories of Oscar Wilde, Illustrated by Philippe Jullian
For nearly 150 years, the classic fairy stories of Oscar Wilde have been cherished by readers of all ages. Rediscover all nine of the stories first published in The Happy Prince and other stories (1888) and A House of Pomegranates (1891) in this beautiful new edition of Duckworth’s exquisite 1952 complete collection, featuring intricate illustrations by the celebrated twentieth-century artist and aesthete Phillippe Jullian, and an afterword by Wilde’s son Vyvyan Holland.
By Marie Sinadjan3 years ago in Humans
Book Review: Northern Wrath by Thilde Kold Holdt
Following in the steps of Neil Gaiman & Joanne Harris, the author expertly weaves Norse myths and compelling characters into this fierce, magical epic fantasy. A dead man, walking between the worlds, foresees the end of the gods. A survivor searching for a weapon releases a demon from fiery Muspelheim. A village is slaughtered by Christians, and revenge must be taken. The bonds between the gods and Midgard are weakening. It is up to Hilda, Ragnar, their tribesmen Einer and Finn, the chief’s wife Siv and Tyra, her adopted daughter, to fight to save the old ways from dying out, and to save their gods in the process.
By Marie Sinadjan3 years ago in Humans
Can Netflix Do A Good Historical Fiction Adaptation?
At the beginning of this month Netflix released the sequel to one of my favourite movies of 2020, Enola Holmes, cleverly titled Enola Holmes 2. And there seems to be a thing about the second movie in any series that just makes it the best one (I'm not sure what it is but if someone knows please share the secrets).
By The Austen Shelf3 years ago in Humans
Book Review: Keeper of the Dead by Ryan Young
The undead still carry memories of the past: a phone, a wallet of family photos, an ID. After a ravaging plague has turned humanity into a race of flesh-eating monsters, remembering these victims as people falls on one man—a grieving, hopeless survivor who feels called to collect these artifacts. Years of living in solitude grind away until Viktor discovers the ID of a woman whose photo doesn't match the corpse that carried it. Imagining that she may still be alive, he conjures a plan to track her down by traveling thousands of miles to foster the only thing more dangerous than the dead: HOPE. On this mission he’ll face hordes of the infected, the horrific beast that sparked the outbreak, and an old foe from the past from whom he barely escaped with his own life. Ryan Young’s debut novel Keeper of the Dead is an intense and binge-worthy horror thriller that will frighten, shock, and influence the very perception of your own mortality.
By Marie Sinadjan3 years ago in Humans
Book Review: Zero Waste Home by Bea Johnson
Whether you are trying to reduce your environmental impact or you just want to learn more about what you can do to protect the planet, you will find a wealth of information in this awesome "Zero Waste Home" book by Bea Johnson. From reducing your energy and noise pollution to preventing deforestation, you will learn how to make your home more sustainable.
By Susan Wise3 years ago in Humans
Book Review: The Stars Undying by Emery Robin
Princess Altagracia has lost everything. After a bloody civil war, her twin sister has claimed not just the crown of their planet Szayet but the Pearl of its prophecy, a computer that contains the immortal soul of their god. Stripped of her birthright, Altagracia prepares to flee the planet - just as Matheus Ceirran, Commander of the interstellar Empire of Ceiao, arrives in deadly pursuit. Princess Altagracia sees an opportunity to win back her planet, her god, and her throne . . . if she can win over the Commander and his distrustful right-hand officer, Anita. But talking her way into Commander Matheus's good graces, and his bed, is only the beginning. Dealing with the most powerful man in the galaxy is almost as dangerous as war, and Altagracia is quickly torn between Matheus and the wishes of the machine god that whispers in her ear. For Szayet's sake, and her own, Altagracia will need to become more than a princess with a silver tongue. She will have to become a queen as history has never seen before - even if it breaks an empire.
By Marie Sinadjan3 years ago in Humans
Isn't It Bromantic?
Summer is the perfect time to kick back and relax with a good book. For me, summer reading has a different feel to it than winter reading. During the winter, I find myself getting cozy with a thrilling adventure or shocking mystery, but during the summer I want to sit by the pool with a nice steamy romance or daring drama. Beach reads, a popular subgenre of books designed to capture the ease of the summer spirit, are often a section of the bookstore that I overlook, but there was something about this book that caught my eye.
By Kurt Mason3 years ago in Humans
Gift Ideas for Readers & Book Lovers
The holiday season is almost upon us, or perhaps upon us already if you're one of those people who start playing holiday music November 1st at 12:00am (I am those people). So whether you're looking for some gift ideas for a friend, partner, family member, esteemed acquaintance, or maybe just for yourself, here are 6 Gift Ideas for Book Lovers!
By The Austen Shelf3 years ago in Humans
Book Review: Songbird by J Victoria Michael
A twentieth century woman is lost in a fantasy world with nothing but the clothes on her back and her innate humanity. This is the story of her compelling need to redefine herself. When Irenya O’Neil suffers a panic attack and falls into the realm of Dar Orien, a world with a failed MageGate system, she finds herself unable to return home to her infant son – she is trapped in a nightmare that tests her sanity. Confronted with evidence that she possesses a Gift of power, Irenya attempts to control her fledgling talent through music. This could be her ticket home. But Irenya becomes mired in the civil unrest that has befallen Dar Orien. Sickened by the bloodshed and fearful for her own safety, Irenya is desperate to find her way home. CW: mental illness, violence, on-page sex, infidelity
By Marie Sinadjan3 years ago in Humans
Margherita Musella, "Scuola di cucina... io e le altre"
I have read all of Margherita Musella’s books and I must say that this latest novel sees a darkening of her thinking that remains positive ad nauseam, full of confidence and perspective, but more as a self-imposed belief than as a real foundation. Here, fear and uncertainty about the future break out, here they come to terms with the disease. Among the writers I know and frequent I have noticed, as I age, the bite of nostalgia — as in the case of Lupi, Costanzo, Pedicini, Coremans — and a subtle, unacknowledged fear of the future, as in this case.
By Patrizia Poli3 years ago in Humans
How To Become A More Effective Reader: 5 Simple Habits
We all want to be more effective readers, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. There is much more to reading a book than opening the first page and closing the last. Fiction books offer us the chance to pause our own reality and take a step into someone else’s. Non-fiction books provide us with limitless learning and opportunities for growth. Whether you like sci-fi fantasy or prefer to read up on the history of Peru, there are some simple steps you can take to become a more effective reader.
By Christia Huntington3 years ago in Humans
