Review of “The Vows of Silence” by Susan Hill

This is Book Four of the mystery series by U.K. author Susan Hill involving Detective Chief Inspector Simon Serrailler and set in fictional Lafferton, a Cathedral city in the South of England. This is yet another book in which criminal and medical issues share the stage. In this book, there are two non-criminal issues that [...]

End of May, 1888 – Birthday of Jim Thorpe, One of the Greatest Athletes in American History

Jim Thorpe was an amazing sports phenomenon. In 1999, he was ranked third on the AP list of top athletes of the 20th century, but from his accomplishments, I think “third” might be selling him short! He was born in Oklahoma in extreme poverty to parents who were each part Native American. But the public [...]

Readalong – Review of “Tender Morsels” by Margo Lanagan

I decided to participate – sometimes – in the online book club (open to any who is interested) cohosted by Claire of Kiss a Cloud, Emily of Evening All Afternoon, Sarah of What We Have Here is a Failure to Communicate, Frances of Nonsuch Book, and Richard of Caravana de Recuerdos. Here’s a list of [...]

May 27, 1818 – Birthday of Amelia Jenks Bloomer

Amelia Bloomer was an American women’s rights and temperance advocate, who became best-known for her efforts to reform women’s clothing styles. In her bi-weekly publication The Lily, she wrote: The costume of women should be suited to her wants and necessities. It should conduce at once to her health, comfort, and usefulness; and, while it [...]

Arm Chair BEA – How Do I Get to Actual BEA Next Year?

What’s an Armchair BEA, Anyway? Armchair BEA is the “at home” version of actual attendance at the Book Expo America this week in New York City. So many bloggers who are going are excited about it, and so many who aren’t are sad, that several clever bloggers put together this program so that we all [...]

Sunday Salon – Review of “1864: Lincoln at the Gates of History” by Charles Bracelen Flood

This terrific recent contribution to Lincolniana manages to convey reverence for Lincoln without falling into the tempting trap of hagiography that so often characterizes books on Lincoln. Furthermore, although it’s a story familiar to many, Flood tells it in a most entertaining way, from a refreshingly objective perspective. Flood has said in interviews that he [...]

Review of “The City and The City” by China Mieville

China Mieville is a very unusual writer. If you are familiar with any of his other books, such as Perdido Street Station or The Scar, you know that he has an incredibly fecund mind that creates complex alternative worlds in which to set his stories. This latest book, his attempt at a “police procedural” (he [...]

Review of “The Risk of Darkness” by Susan Hill

This is Book Three of the mystery series by U.K. author Susan Hill involving Detective Chief Inspector Simon Serrailler and set in fictional Lafferton, a Cathedral city in the South of England. As in the previous two books in this series, although there are crimes aplenty committed, the focus is mainly elsewhere. In this case, [...]

May 17, 1903 – Birthday of James Thomas “Cool Papa” Bell

Bell was an American center fielder in Negro League Baseball, considered by many to have been the fastest man ever to play the game. Since he was not allowed to compete against whites however, we will never know. As Paul Finkelman writes in “Remembering the Negro Leagues,” an essay for the Oxford African American Studies [...]

Sunday Salon – Reducing Stress in the Blogosphere

There are many blogs I love to visit and take time to read the reviews. But as we know, time is limited, and we all want time to read books too! I happened to notice that I was secretly happy when the blogs I like to read didn’t post for a day or two. It [...]