Educated – Tara Westover

I read a lot - around 50 books a year. Each year, there are usually about fifteen books that I really like, and five or six that are great. If I'm lucky, one or two will be truly spectacular. Last year, I read All The Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy and was blown over by how gorgeous … Continue reading Educated – Tara Westover →

In Praise of Harry Potter (and in criticism of other recent YA works)

Over the summer, I spent many lonely nights in Chicago and Mexico re-reading the Harry Potter series. Okay, so maybe the nights weren't lonely at all, but I was alone, and Harry Potter kept me great company - same as he did when I was a teenager, when the first books came out. It's been … Continue reading In Praise of Harry Potter (and in criticism of other recent YA works) →

Jesus Land – Julia Scheeres

I walked past a tray of books waiting to be re-shelved at the Merida English Library, and the name "Jesus Land" jumped out at me. The words "A Memoir" were also written on the binding. An almost certainly tragic memoir that sounds like it came from Fuckyourcousinville, Kentucky? Sold! Like a fly to shit, my … Continue reading Jesus Land – Julia Scheeres →