Mohsin Hamid is a terrific storyteller. I read The Reluctant Fundamentalist several years ago and remember being captivated by it. As I listened to Exit West on audiobook, I was just as taken in! Saeed and Nadiya are the main characters in this story. They are living in a country that has been taken over... Continue Reading →
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware (a #RIPXII finish)
I didn't have high hopes for The Woman in Cabin 10 when I downloaded the loan from the library, but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed this one more than the previous book by Ware that I read. However, it should be noted that I finished each of these Ware... Continue Reading →
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
"Don't worry about your talent or capability: that will grow as you practice. Katagiri Roshi said, 'Capability is like a water table below the surface of the earth.' No one owns it, but you can tap it. You can tap it with your effort and it will come through you. So just practice writing, and... Continue Reading →
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
There was a time in my life when I could sit down with a book and not get up again until I'd finished it. I'm not in that season of my life anymore and I'm okay with that most of the time. But while I was reading Everything I never Told You, I wished that... Continue Reading →
Carthage by Joyce Carol Oates (a #RIPXII finish)
I checked out Carthage from the library because I wanted an audiobook that would qualify for the RIPXII challenge. I found this one hiding in the suspense category and was excited to pick up another Joyce Carol Oates novel because it's been a while! To be honest, I'm trying to decide how I feel about it. And... Continue Reading →
Manage Your Day-To-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus, & Sharpen Your Creative Mind; Edited by Jocelyn K. Glei
I can't get enough of these books lately. Whether it's because I'm itching to get to work on something or because I want to feel some control over my life, I'm not sure. I recently wrote about how I'm trying to set writing priorities, but am not sure what those priorities should be. These books... Continue Reading →
Swing Time by Zadie Smith
This has been one of the hardest posts I've written since starting my blog. This book has stalled my reading and blogging, so I'm glad to click "publish" today! I have to admit - I was relieved when I finished Swing Time. I usually love Zadie Smith and kept waiting for things come together, but... Continue Reading →
Thornyhold by Mary Stewart, a #RIPXII finish!
Yes, dear readers, I've reread Thornyhold-- my favorite fall read is finished for the year. I actually want to read it again this year, but I'll hold back and wait for next year. Gilly Ramsey is a lonely child growing up in England. After the death of her parents as a young adult, she receives... Continue Reading →
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
I believe that Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is technically Young Adult, but the topics it broaches are painful and relevant to nearly every one. This is a beautiful book - only made better with an audiobook narration by Lin-Manuel Miranda - that stopped me in my tracks and took my... Continue Reading →
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Night Circus was published in 2011, but somehow I am only just getting the memo about it. And I'm a little annoyed about that, to be honest! As I wrote in an earlier post, I listened to this on audio and it was narrated by Jim Dale, which made this an even more magical... Continue Reading →
The Cozy Burrow 