12/23/2009
Once in a while a book finds its way into your life and you wonder how you existed without it. When I received Carver, a collection of short-stories and essays written by 20th century American writer Raymond Carver, I discovered compelling, insightful and provocative writing.
12/4/2009
A significant contribution to the literary world
Once in a while a book finds its way into your life and you wonder how you existed without it. When I received "Carver," a collection of short-stories and essays written by 20th century American writer Raymond Carver, I discovered compelling, insightful and provocative writing.Carver's trademark is...
11/7/2009
A comprehensive examination of manuscripts rich in art and language.
Farber on Film, The Complete Film Writings of Manny Farber, an encyclopedic collection of three decades of film and art reviews, columns and essays dating back to 1942, is a comprehensive examination of manuscripts rich in art and language.
Faber's criticisms utilize a complex art form that...
10/6/2009
A little dazzle around true historical events and characters.
I call fast paced novels with enough intrigue to sustain me during long unbearable flights 'airplane food.' Christi Phillips' romantic mystery, The Devlin Diary, is a satisfying quick fix for a booklover who likes a little dazzle around historical events and characters.
10/6/2009
A straightforward guide through a complex system.
Warning: If you are unlucky enough to develop cancer and require treatment, you need a fat wallet, an uncomplicated form of the disease and shouldn't feel inclined to file a lawsuit says Dr. Mark Fesen in his new guidebook, Surviving the Cancer System. It's shocking, but probably not surprising...
9/14/2009
More like a travelogue than an account of spiritual discovery.
Think Jay Leno, alone and unrecognized, walking with pilgrims from all over the world.
8/10/2009
A complex story of greed, corruption and rampant crime linked to the rose business.
Did you ever think a bouquet of roses could destroy an entire ecosystem? In January 2006, filmmaker, naturalist and conservationist Joan Root was shot to death in her bedroom by two masked men armed with AK-47s. Although the crime remains a mystery, most believe she was killed because of her...
6/13/2009
For anyone laboring under the misconception that prostitution is a
Canadian investigative reporter Victor Malarek's second book, 'The Johns', is a disturbing revelation that dispels common perceptions of prostitutes. Malarek says he was programmed to believe women 'chose to be in the so-called profession.' After hearing personal accounts and doing extensive...
5/6/2009
A novel contrived around modern technology.
A novel contrived around modern technology-iPods, chat rooms, instant celebrity tracking systems-is intriguing. However, Arthur Phillips's characters in The Song Is You are unrealistic and the dialogue falls flat, unable to carry the story line to its intended suspenseful conclusion. The main...
5/5/2009
A diversity of writers who open up a world of interesting characters.
The Pen/O. Henry Prize Stories 2009 edition is rich with global stories, from Russia, China, Korea, and Japan. It includes stories from the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, South Africa, Scotland and North America. This collection features a diversity of writers who open up a world of interesting...
