Books Distilled » Archive
Hurricane Update and Book Review: The Map of True Places
Never a Dull Moment Readers! Ever have a massively stressful week? Last week my friend Caroline (of A Wish Come Clear) visited, which was a wonderful time of friendship, conversation and of course, wine. Unfortunately it was followed by some harder events. I received frustrating news about a freelance job I did. Then my husband presided over a devastating funeral of a young man in our community. We looked forward to a relaxing weekend. Hurricane / Tropical Storm … Read entire article »
Filed under: Contemporary Literature
Literary Roundup
I’m a little short on folks to guest post, so if you want to share the 5 books you can’t live without, send me an email! (books.distilled at gmail dot com) I’ve been reading a lot of fantastic books for school. For our first two semesters in the MFA program, we read 10 books each semester and write craft essays on each, focusing on a specific craft or technique the author used to achieve effective writing … Read entire article »
Filed under: Thoughts on Literature
Book Review: Sisterhood Everlasting
I confess to having read all of the previous Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books. I enjoyed them. The second book is by far my favorite. I read it all in one sitting at the beach the summer it was released. I’ve read it several times since then. I’ve read the other three books once each. But I’ve found all of Ann Brashares’s books–which also include My Name is Memory and The Last Summer (of You … Read entire article »
Filed under: Contemporary Literature
RECAP and Posts Distilled: The Book Low-Down
Recap There’s been a lot going on at Books Distilled this past week! Just to recap… Writing & Editing I recently launched a writing and editing services page. Need some website content or a business letter, press release, or newsletter written? Need a once-over on your paper or presentation? Come on over! Book Club The first-ever Books Distilled book club will start in September with Alice LaPlante’s TURN OF MIND. You can still sign up! Update: The discussion of Turn of … Read entire article »
Filed under: Posts Distilled
Guest Post at Jenn’s Bookshelves! and Announcements
Indie Thursday Today I have a guest post at Jenn’s Bookshelves on her promotion Indie Thursday. In honor of this occasion, I am switching my allegiance on this blog from Amazon to Powell’s. Going forward, all links to books I review will be through Powell’s, an independent bookstore covering an entire square city block in Portland, OR. (They actually give you a map of the store when you walk in.) If you purchase a book through … Read entire article »
Filed under: Announcements
Book Review: The Gap Year
Welcome to my TLC Book Tour for The Gap Year, by Sarah Bird. Before I get into my review, I wanted to remind you all that I’m starting the first-ever Books Distilled online Book Club! We’ll be reading TURN OF MIND, by Alice LaPlante, sometime in September. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP! On to the review! The Gap Year is the story of Cam Lightsey, lactation consultant and suburban hater extraordinaire, and her teenager daughter, Aubrey. Aubrey’s … Read entire article »
Filed under: Contemporary Literature
Join the First-Ever Books Distilled Book Club!
I’m so excited to announce that I’m launching a book club through Books Distilled! Harold Bloom once said that “Reading well is one of the great pleasures that solitude can afford you,” and I agree with that. But I also love coming together with people who have read the same book and discussing everything about it that made it great (or horrible!). Update: Discussing books live proved to cause some scheduling problems. You can join the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Announcements
Author Interview: Hollis Seamon
Hollis Seamon is the author of the novel Flesh (see my review!) and the collection of short stories Body Work. She teaches English at the College of St. Rose in Albany, NY. I have the honor of working with Hollis as my faculty mentor this semester. How do you begin your writing process? I saw that Suzanne LaFleshe is a character in a story in Body Work. The story “The Strange Sad History of Suzanne Lafleshe” was … Read entire article »
Filed under: Author Interviews
Book Review: Flesh
I read Hollis Seamon’s novel Flesh while attending a workshop with her at my MFA residency. Maybe it was studying with Hollis in the flesh (sorry, had to), or maybe it was hanging out with so many writers for so many days, or maybe it was hearing the awesome faculty readings in the evenings–but I read this novel with an entirely different mindset than usual. Usually I meander through a story, perhaps enjoying the writer’s use … Read entire article »
Filed under: Contemporary Literature
Check out my story!
Happy Saturday, folks! My story, “Flight 393,” is today’s featured story on Fiction365. It’s about a girl suffering from Asperger’s syndrome traveling on a flight home from France that turns rather dramatic. While I’m on a self-advertising kick, I’d love it if you’d like Books Distilled on Facebook! (You can also follow me on Twitter if you haven’t already.) Once you’ve read about my neurotic character’s super-dramatic flight home–do it!–check out some other fantastic short stories, poetry, and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Announcements
About Me
Ever stand in the bookstore or library, gazing around blankly, overwhelmed by choices, jealous of the other purposeful browsers? This blog is for you.
I read. A lot.
Recent Comments