This is a sad, frustrating, yet compassionate story. In this book, is the main villain (I was going to write "antagonist", but villain is more appropriate) is alcohol that seduces and creates monstrous behaviour sympathetic characters. Although Agnes seems to be the main character, this is Shuggie's story. He is our anti-hero. For most of … Continue reading “Shuggie Bain” a novel by Douglas Stuart
Category: New books
Word Problems poem by Ian Williams
Word Problems poems by Ian Williams I was really apprehensive about responding to poetry. I don’t read a lot of poetry, I’m not sure why. I guess it’s because I don’t feel “qualified” to talk about it. That being said, one of my 2021 reading goals is to read more poetry and therefore my first … Continue reading Word Problems poem by Ian Williams
D (A Tale of Two Worlds)
by Michel Faber Apparently, this novel was written to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the death of Charles Dickens. . As such, Michel Faber wonderfully inserts little allusions to various novels written by Dickens. (ie. Beak House, Magwhich) If you’re looking for a good read-aloud for junior high D (A Tale of Two Worlds) is … Continue reading D (A Tale of Two Worlds)
Books That Teach Empathy
This week I felt compelled to compile a list of book titles that can be used to teach empathy. Before I share this list with librarians and teachers in my district I wanted to share my motivation for doing so... It is challenging being a teacher when traumatic events unfold. I taught 12th grade English … Continue reading Books That Teach Empathy
Reflecting on 2020 and setting goals for 2021
Welcome, 2021! Last week I reflected on my year of reading. The titles, the genres, the authors. Around March last year, I had to take the reality of my “COVID mindset” and my inability to focus into consideration and set a milestone much lower than I usually do at 50 books. As an English teacher … Continue reading Reflecting on 2020 and setting goals for 2021
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Adaline lives in 17th century France with 17th-century societal expectations- she must marry. Now Addie doesn’t want to get married. She wants to travel and learn and meet new people. She definitely doesn’t want to keep a home and have babies. So she does the only thing she can do to get out and makes … Continue reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Ok, I've read a lot lately about Matt Haig's books. I've meant to increase my exposure to speculative fiction, and Haig's books seem as good a place to start. If you look on Goodreads, almost all of his books have a 4+ star rating (not that Goodreads ratings matter. Ok, Goodreads reviews may gently nudge … Continue reading The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne
written by Elsa HartI am a reading fiend. I can read book upon book upon book upon book. Summer holidays usually offers the opportunity where I make up for the lack of time I had during the work year. But this year was different. You would think that with a quarantine one would have more … Continue reading The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne
Too Much and Never Enough
by Mary L. Trump Most of the audible books I download are nonfiction. "Too Much and Never Enough" is the second book I've downloaded regarding our "interesting" political leader to our south. Honestly, four years ago, I had a weird fascination with American politics, but now I just find it all too exhausting. I was … Continue reading Too Much and Never Enough
Legendborn
LegendbornTracy DeonnLove, love, loved this novel. From the first page until the last I was swept away in the story Deonn has written. I’ve always been a sucker for stories about secret societies that may or may not exist on campus, any campus. What would make someone special enough to be admitted to one? What … Continue reading Legendborn
Sin Eater by Megan Campisi
I went down the Google rabbit hole after I read this novel. I simply had to find out if there were, in fact, Sin Eaters that existed in history. And you know what? There was! “ A Sin Eater is a person who consumes a ritual meal in order to spiritually take on the sins … Continue reading Sin Eater by Megan Campisi
“It Will Just Be Us” by Jo Kaplan
It Will Just Be Us By Jo Kaplan Well, this book has all the trappings of a good gothic horror story: a creepy house, unsettled spirits, the ability to prophesize, and a madwoman (or is it mad women? You decide). Besides being creepy and downright unsettling, it also is a story about nature vs. nurture … Continue reading “It Will Just Be Us” by Jo Kaplan
The Heart and Other Monsters
The Heart and Other Monsters by Rose Anderson In this non-fiction piece, Rose Anderson writes of the death of her younger sister due to a drug overdose. Her sister’s death serves as the focus of this memoir, and around it, Anderson shares her own personal history. The memoir seems to serve as a means of … Continue reading The Heart and Other Monsters
Ink And Spine 