book reviews

Reviews of books by relationship gurus, dating experts, and cautionary tale-tellers.

Book Review: The Cure For What Ales You by Ellie Alexander
In number 5 of her Sloan Krause series, our heroine is preparing for Maifest in Leavenworth, Washington. With her Nitro partner, Garrett, they are debuting a new craft brew, Lemon Kiss ale. Despite the overwhelming preparations, Sloan has an unexpected visitor named Marianne, who claims to be her aunt, arrive at her cottage in a state of hysterical alarm. At Marianne's hotel, in her room, there has been a murder, and Marianne is convinced that Sloan and her family are in immediate danger. While at the hotel, Sloan discovers there have been a string of thefts, including Marianne’s own proof of identity. Sloan must decide if she believes this complete stranger from her past before any one she loves gets hurt.
By Caitlin Gonya5 years ago in Humans
Sam Patch, the Famous Jumper
The boy was a circus without a tent. He took his first jumps more than 200 years ago, though he was not the first to do them, there was something about the way Sam did it. He had something that made us all watch. Yes, he was a drunk much of his short life. Yes, he owned a pet bear and pandered it as such. Yes, you can look at him in the light of today and say he was just looking for trouble, subverting for his own prideful game. If you lay those threats on his character, then you miss wide his points for subversion. He called out to the misshapen masses at the bottom, ‘You can be more!’ He was the first stunt man, he was Johnny before Knoxville. Sam Patch used his abatement of fear to thrill thousands in live spectacles and millions more that shared his story.
By Jordan J Hall5 years ago in Humans
Never Stopped Giving . Top Story - July 2021.
My mother read me all kinds of bed time stories growing up. Ones with Princes and Princesses most likely from Disney books and others such as “Little Critters,” “ No, David”and “Madeline” and so many others. The one bed time story that stood out to me the most out of all the others, was the one that brought tears to my eyes and still manages to at least make them watery to this day. “The Giving Tree” written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein is a picture book story about a boy and his relationship/friendship with a tree as he grows from little boy to elderly man, written and structured for children. The Book was published on October 7, 1964 and the story is considered by, if not all, many as a sad story that is able to capture messages that can be interpreted in many ways. Such a story felt too so sad for publishers to categorize the book as a children’s story and it almost did not publish due its simple written form yet honest slice of life. However, thanks to and published by Ursula Nordstrom, this book was able to go on shelves. A decision that would impact all readers of all ages.
By Emiki Vee5 years ago in Humans
The Velveteen Rabbit
Reading was a favorite past-time of mine as a little girl. The days were mundane and long. I waited to blossom into a beautiful self radiating with confidence. I did not want to remain trapped in my cocoon. I wanted to fly.
By Eugenia Fain5 years ago in Humans
The Fan Man Review
While there are many novels which could be considered classics, perhaps none of them reach the caliber of William Kotzwinkle's The Fan Man. Published in 1974, this overlooked classic brings readers into its world in the most phantasmagorical way possible. Originally published in Esquire Magazine in 1973 as a short story titled, Horse Badorties Goes Out, Kotzwinkle's novel adds more to the narrative and life of Horse Badorities. While not exactly a sequel, The Fan Man could be at best seen as an expanded continuation. In other words, further chronicling the misadventures of our deranged, loopy protagonist.
By Halden Mile5 years ago in Humans
Illness and Isolation
Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" and Lu Xun's "Diary of a Madman" both follow the plight of illness and disability as the main character suffers from a sort of illness, alienating themselves from their families both directly and indirectly. These short stories delve into isolation caused by mental illness and disability, how that affects the main characters, and how their friends and family see them.
By Miss Ghoul5 years ago in Humans
The Lion, The Witch And The Giving Tree. Top Story - July 2021.
Introduced to the world of books by a mother who was an insatiable reader, I had never felt reluctant in choosing books over anything else.
By Annabella5 years ago in Humans
Breadcrumbs for Girlhood.
Sometimes, it is the quiet stories that speak the loudest. Perhaps that's why I never fell in love with the Harry Potter series like so many others. I had no trouble suspending my disbelief for magic and mystery, but few characters from the series stuck with me. They were either too awkward, too talented, too proud, too evil, or too good. Moments that were meant to resonate with children coming-of-age always seemed to miss the mark. Every single character 'fit,' even if they made a blunder or were an outsider, they all belonged on the chessboard, with their unique moves.
By Lucy Richardson5 years ago in Humans
Fairy Tales of Truth
We live in a practical world. It’s very much geared towards the key pillars of the workplace; our lifestyle, our past-times, our education, they’re all very… vocational. The modern curriculum is heavily in favour of the STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths. Other areas such as the Humanities, Arts, and Social Studies are often seen as fluffy, impractical subjects, Friday afternoon fillers in the classroom, even though they’re the keys to critical thinking. And critical thinking is the key to figuring out who we are as individuals, as people, as a society, and what sort of society we want.
By Michael Darvall5 years ago in Humans
The Most Selfless Character in a Book
I almost entitled this “The Most Important Elephant to Have Ever Fictionally Existed”, then I thought of Dumbo. This will not be a debate about which character means more to the world because I do not have the heart to compare the two.
By Jada Ferguson5 years ago in Humans
There's A Witch Under The Stairs
There are facets of my personality I have forgotten. Parts of myself that I thought were non-negotiable and non-refundable. The night used to be my nemesis. An unrelenting enemy that ravaged my sane thoughts and sent me plummeting into negativity nightly.
By Jada Ferguson5 years ago in Humans
The Little Prince
I’ve always enjoyed books. In elementary school there was a reading program in which we could earn points based on the number of books read. Then win rewards based on the points you gained from completing each book. I was an avid reader and used this as a sort of super power to attain items that I could not afford with money. I had a fifth grade math teacher who always came off as strict and reserved, a person who had very little patience for such things as children. So I was very surprised when she noticed my love of books and recommended "The Little Prince". This book would become a subconscious staple for me throughout my life. It forced me to ask myself questions many people aren't faced with until their adulthood. The story has taken on new meaning for each phase of my journey, giving me new understanding and hope.
By AvalonWrites5 years ago in Humans