Review of “When the Wind Blows” by Raymond Briggs

When the Wind Blows is a 1982 graphic novel depicting a nuclear attack on Britain by the USSR from the point of view of a benighted retired couple, Jim and Hilda Bloggs. Although some reviewers have complained that it is dated because the Cold War is over, I think one can easily imagine the same [...]

June 29, 1900 – Birthday of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, born June 29, 1900 was a French writer and aviator. He is best remembered for his novella The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince). He also wrote books about aviation adventures, including Night Flight and Wind, Sand and Stars. During World War II, he joined the Free French Forces, and disappeared on a [...]

Review of “Resurrection Men” by Ian Rankin

I violated one of my basic rules of neurosis by skipping FIVE books in the Inspector Rebus series. I suffered for it too, by this vague feeling that there were things I had missed out on. It isn’t Rankin’s fault: he purposely designs his books so that each can stand alone. I skipped ahead to [...]

June 26 – National Chocolate Pudding Day

As you may know, I do like to mark the celebration of holidays. This one is perfect for a Saturday. (Not to mention, the other days of the week.) Grab a large mug (preferably the inanimate kind), and start cooking! Ingredients: 4 tbsp self rising flour 4 tbsp sugar 2 tbsp cocoa 1 egg 3 [...]

Review of “Still Life” by Joy Fielding

This quick suspense read has a good premise: Casey Marshall, a 32-year old successful, happily married woman is injured in a hit and run goes into a coma. (No, that’s not the good premise! That comes next!) She can’t see, she can’t move, she can’t talk, and yet she can hear. No one knows this [...]

Review of “Blood Oath” by Christopher Farnsworth

I must start by saying that I have bone spurs on my spine. This means that whenever I jar my body, either from a fall or through a too vigorous application of the pick-axe (a.k.a. “gardening in the desert”), I knock these bone spurs into the nerves, which is extremely painful. It is then that [...]

Review of “Border Songs” by Jim Lynch

I loved Jim Lynch’s first novel, a coming of age story about a boy, a girl, and the creatures of the sea, called The Highest Tide. There is a passage in The Highest Tide in which a reporter asks the young protagonist Miles why it is that he’s always finding things no one else does: [...]

Sunday Salon – Review of “The Rock and The River” by Kekla Magoon

In this absorbing coming of age story, you will learn along the way something about why this country has had a vested interest in deifying the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. and in vilifying the reputation of his activist rivals for power in the black community. In the late 1960’s, Dr. King was battling [...]

June 19, 2010 – Juneteenth Day

Juneteenth Day commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19th, 1865, Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger came to Galveston, Texas and announced the end of the Civil War and freedom for black slaves. This is the first time that some slaves heard the news, and the first time [...]

2nd Annual NerdsHeart YA Tournament Review Competition: Medina Hill by Trilby Kent vs Alligator Bayou by Donna Jo Napoli

The Second Annual Nerds Heart YA Tournament for Underrepresented Young Adult Literature is organized this year by Michelle (Galleysmith), Jodie (Book Gazing), Trish (Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin?), and Amy (My Friend Amy). The central focus of the tournament is diversity. The books competing meet the following criteria: Were published in 2009 Have received minimum press [...]