Hello! It’s been a minute—it’s funny how a more active social life means (slightly) less time to read. Plus, when you work at a uni like I do, the spring semester is hectic, to say the least. But it feels so good to be back, let’s dive in. As y’all know, I love getting book [...]
Oh my goodness, The Paris Wife by Paula McClain DEFINITELY kept me up past my bedtime. It’s been such a crazy week, I barely had time to read (sorry for the vlog lovers!) which was *a bummer* because this book was so emotionally evocative and compelling that I loved every minute. In case you didn’t [...]
This book...wow... I read, no, flew through Matt Killeen's WWII thriller in two days, I couldn't put it down. Orphan Monster Spy is just so...good! And terrible...and engaging, and cringe-inducing. It's so nuanced and complex, if you're a lover of historical fiction that has some dark overtones, this is possibly the perfect book for you. [...]
Imagine this--your kid is about to graduate and go off to "the real world," your favorite great-aunt-in-law dies, your spouse dies, and some historian writes you (it's present day, and as much as I love snail mail, it's not that common, let's be honest) about putting on an exhibition about your great-aunt. Well that's exactly [...]
I have to be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up Yonder (set to be published this May) by Ali Standish. I love the selection at The Wandering Jellyfish and their recs, but I don't read a ton of middle grade. On the flip side, as book seller Allie teases me, [...]
Hello and thank you for your patience! I've had a lot on my plate but am so excited to work with Fly on the Wall Press to bring you my thoughts on Ruth Brandt's debut collection of short stories, No One Has Any Intention of Building a Wall. By the way--check out Brandt's website here [...]
I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed Jan Eliasberg's WW2 historical fiction novel, Hannah's War! (Here's a link to the vlog review) Split between Germany, 1938, and New Mexico, 1945, readers learn of the work, and secrets, of Dr. Hannah Weiss. She's a brilliant Austrian-Jewish physicist who's been banished by her country, [...]
As a child, Jan Eliasberg could be found on her living room floor, reading the New York Times’ Sunday Book Review. She dreamed of writing, discovering her voice, finding stories to tell, and just maybe, getting her own books reviewed one day. “I think of myself as a storyteller,” she said. “Whether I’m directing a [...]
Wow, you guys, I didn't 100% know what I was getting into with Judithe Little's historical fiction novel The Chanel Sisters, but I am so glad that I picked it up and finally read it! (Real quick--here's the link to my vlog for this fantastic novel) Taking place between 1897 and 1921, Little takes readers [...]
I think it's safe to say that if I come across a historical fiction, I'm going to like it. Alina: A Song for the Telling is no exception. Author Malve von Hassell is a wonderfully creative and detailed writer, so the book was an absolute joy. (Psst, while I've got you, I also have a [...]
A Little Bit of Happiness 