Book Review: Blue Nights
The Blue Nights Joan Didion’s new memoir Blue Nights is stunning. The title comes from a phenomenon that occurs in northern latitudes in the spring, when the light at twilight is blue. Didion’s nephew shot a video of her reading from the prologue and second chapter of the book. Tell me this doesn’t make you want to read it: The Blue Darkens and Fades The book is serious, but not heavy; piercing, but not stricken. It picks up where … Read entire article »
Filed under: Contemporary Literature, Nonfiction
Book Review: What It Is Like to Go to War
Why This Book Should Be Required Reading After reading Karl Marlantes’s new book, What It Is Like to Go to War, I firmly believe it should be required reading for every U.S. citizen. Extreme? Possibly. But, I believe, necessary. Here’s why. Marlantes was a lieutenant in the Marines during Vietnam. His book centers not on his experiences there, though they provide a vivid backdrop and touchstone for his philosophical ideas about war. The thesis of the book is … Read entire article »
Filed under: Nonfiction
Book Review: Tolstoy and the Purple Chair
Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading is the account of Nina Sankovitch’s year of reading and reviewing one book every day. That’s right, folks, in one year she read and reviewed 365 books (check out her site, Read All Day). Check out Nina’s favorite books! The reason for this madness? Sankovitch’s sister died three years previously, and she spent those years trying to cram her life full enough to honor the fact … Read entire article »
Filed under: Nonfiction
Book Review AND AUTOGRAPHED GIVEAWAY: Teaching 2030
I’m reviewing a different type of book today than the usual literary fiction / memoir. Stay tuned until the end of the review, because you have the chance to win your very own autographed copy!! Last spring I had the pleasure of working at a fantastic nonprofit in North Carolina, the Center for Teaching Quality (CTQ). It’s staffed by a great group of people working alongside teachers to transform the American education system into one that … Read entire article »
Filed under: Nonfiction
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.
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