Goodreads Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Three Star review, originally posted here on May 13, 2016. Continuing my couple-decade-late attempt to catch up with this whole Harry Potter phenomenon… Okay, I have to admit that Rowling is starting to lose me at this point. My favorite thing about the first two books was being introduced to the magical world of magic. … More Goodreads Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

The Making of a Dziesmu Svētki, Part 1: The Beginning

Originally posted here on May 5, 2016.   Every single day, at almost every single hour, members of the Baltimore Dziesmu Svētki (Latvian Song Festival) organizing committee are hard at work on any one of various issues, concentrating on the website or the budget, the ticket sales or the schedule, the fundraising or the marketing. … More The Making of a Dziesmu Svētki, Part 1: The Beginning

Goodreads Review: Cause Celeb by Helen Fielding

Three-star Review, originally posted here on January 13th, 2015. There was plenty to like about this one, and plenty to not like. In the end, this book was just kinda there for me, completely neutral. It definitely felt like Fielding was testing out her noveling legs with this one, and the growing pains of this … More Goodreads Review: Cause Celeb by Helen Fielding

Goodreads Review: Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore

Three Star review, originally posted here on December 5, 2015. Well, it was sure to happen at some time or another… a point wherein it comes time to review a book that was recommended to me by a dear friend who can see my Goodreads reviews, and when I (sigh, sorry, you know who you … More Goodreads Review: Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore

How to America: Tales from the Train: part 2

Well, this year’s NaNoWriMo ended yesterday, and  with it, my hopes and dreams of adding another “win” to my list. You can check out my stats here: http://nanowrimo.org/participants/blondieoz/novels/how-to-america-tales-from-the-train/stats As you can see, my final word count was 43,355, a whopping 6,645 words short of the finish line. Despite technically not winning, I’m still glad I … More How to America: Tales from the Train: part 2

Goodreads Review: A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn

Four Star review, originally posted here on November 3, 2015. This book took me forever to finish. It’s dense, repetitive, long, and dry. I wound up basically reading one or two chapters every month or so every time I finished some other book. If you’re looking for a can’t-put-it-down page-turner, or for flowing prose, this … More Goodreads Review: A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn