Three star review, originally posted here on March 3, 2019.   Unsurprisingly, this is NOT an easy read. No matter how beautifully written, no matter how clear it is from the very start that we’re not supposed to like the protagonist, it is still unpleasant to read a book about a pedophile. It just is. … More Goodreads Review: Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Four star review, originally posted here on February 26, 2019. I have no clue if this even counts as a “book,” but I’m counting it anyway cuz I need to inflate my stats after losing so much reading time already this year painfully slogging through the depressing mess that was Fear. Ugh. Anyhoo… This was … More Goodreads Review: Stephen Fry’s Victorian Secrets by John Woolf and Nick Baker

Three star review, originally posted here on January 2, 2019. Written way before he became famous, this book sheds some light on Pres Obama’s formative years and his family background. It’s the type of story that is made exponentially more interesting by the fact that the subject goes on to become the most famous person … More Goodreads Review: Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama

Four star review, originally posted here on December 28, 2018. I’m surprised to be ranking this book so high. I’ll start by admitting that I’ve never really liked Anthony Bourdain (may he rest in peace). He always struck me as arrogant- pretentiously bragging about how unpretentious he is. Blargh. But I also haven’t followed him … More Goodreads Review: Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain

Three star review, originally posted here on December 21, 2018. Well, here’s another one that everyone else seems to love the hell out of and I just can’t figure out why. I’ll start with the good… The basic premise is great! It’s creative and original and sets up a world that is full of promise … More Goodreads Review: American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Two star review, originally posted here on June 21, 2018. ** spoiler alert ** Well, this was a misfire on my part. I was hoping to grab an enticing yet fun summer read (like a Grisham novel), but didn’t feel like using up too much time or brainpower, so when this kids’ version of Grisham … More Goodreads Review: Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

Four star review, originally posted here on June 1, 2018. ** spoiler alert ** This book was divided into 2 very distinct parts. I would give Part One 4.5 or 5 stars and Part Two 3 or 3.5 stars, so 4 seems like a fair average. I believe that this is at least my 4th … More Goodreads Review: A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson

Three star review, originally posted here on May 21, 2018. People who are familiar with Alexandra Petri from her scathing political satire in The Washington Post and approach this book expecting more political satire will be disappointed. People who are expecting a hilarious collection of short stories and essays about life as a dorky awkward … More Goodreads Review: A Field Guide to Awkward Silences by Alexandra Petri

Four star review, originally posted here on May 15, 2018. If you feel like being infuriated, then this is the book for you! It’s not like anything in this book is surprising to anyone who has studied an ounce of American history, but it never hurts to get a reminder of just how jacked up … More Goodreads Review: Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America by Gilbert King

Three star review, originally posted here on April 24, 2018. I am… confused. Why is this book so insanely popular? I mean… it was fine. Chabon can craft some damn fine sentences. The basic premise of following comic book creators was interesting. Every now and then something legitimately interesting happened that sucked me in for … More Goodreads Review: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon