by Barbara the Bibliophage | Apr 22, 2023 | RELAX: Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi
Justin Cronin delivers a compelling and fantastic book with his new release, The Ferryman. He seamlessly blends psychology, action, character study, and dystopian elements. Plus, the twists kept coming during the entire second half. If that’s not enough, I can’t wait...
by Barbara the Bibliophage | Apr 11, 2023 | RELAX: Historical Fiction
The Dance Tree from Kiran Millwood Hargrave is thoroughly modern and intensely historical. It’s a personal story about four women, all experiencing differing moments in life. But it’s also a commentary on religion, patriarchy, and hopelessness. There are only a few...
by Barbara the Bibliophage | Feb 27, 2023 | RELAX: Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi
I realize I‘m one of only a handful of people (at least on Goodreads) panning the latest book by Samantha Shannon, A Day of Fallen Night. But after attempting to connect with it for six weeks and 55 percent of the book, I‘m tapping out. Here‘s why. I didn‘t connect...
by Barbara the Bibliophage | Jan 20, 2023 | LEARN: Chronic Illness
Cole Kazdin combines memoir and narrative nonfiction in her upcoming book, What’s Eating Us: Women, Food, and The Epidemic of Body Anxiety. It’s an excellent reflection of life with an eating disorder. But it’s also much more. For example, Kazdin investigates aspects...
by Barbara the Bibliophage | Jan 8, 2023 | RELAX: Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi
Arca is the second book in G.R. Macallister’s Five Queendoms series. It follows the main characters of her first book in the series, Scorpica, which was one of my 2022 favorites. These women are grappling with the changes happening in the queendoms. As rulers and...
by Barbara the Bibliophage | Dec 20, 2022 | RELAX: Historical Fiction
Trust by Hernan Diaz is everything I want in a historical fiction novel. And it’s no wonder the book landed on so many “best of 2022.” Diaz writes from four interconnected points of view while telling the story of a financial wizard and philanthropist. Set in the...
by Barbara the Bibliophage | Dec 10, 2022 | RELAX: Historical Fiction
Alias Grace is a character study written by Margaret Atwood. It also focuses on the burgeoning world of alienists, who pioneered the study of the mind, mental health, and psychology as we know it today. Just for good measure, Atwood throws in mysterious killings. This...
by Barbara the Bibliophage | Dec 2, 2022 | RELAX: Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi
Dawn, the first in Lilith’s Brood or Xenogenesis trilogy, is excellent Afrofuturism. It’s also Octavia Butler at her best. Although published in 1979, Butler envisions a future for the Earth that’s not just possible but probable. And amid the futuristic story, she...
by Barbara the Bibliophage | Nov 26, 2022 | RELAX: Mystery-Thriller
Red London, the newest Red Widow mystery from Alma Katsu, is set in a world that is both post-Putin and post-Ukrainian war. It focuses on the relationship of Russia’s new (and fictional) government with its oligarchs. And, of course, on Russia’s relationship...
by Barbara the Bibliophage | Nov 22, 2022 | RELAX: Other Relaxation
Emma Straub crafts a time-travel story for everyone who’s ever lost a loved one in her new book, This Time Tomorrow. As the story opens, we meet Alice. She’s a born-and-bred New Yorker with a famous author for a father. She works at the tony private school she...
by Barbara the Bibliophage | Nov 15, 2022 | RELAX: Memoir
Wendi Aarons is a blogger, humorist, mom, and unabashed woman over 50. The recently published memoir, I’m Wearing Tunics Now: On Growing Older, Better, and a Hell of a Lot Louder, is an excursion into her Austin, Texas, life. It’s also laugh-out-loud funny, especially...
by Barbara the Bibliophage | Nov 8, 2022 | RELAX: Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi
I read Dark Celebrations during the Halloween spooky season, but Calvin Demmer’s flash fiction collection is appropriate for horror fans to celebrate all year long. He takes typical holidays and events and turns them into extraordinary—and gory—celebrations. Honestly,...
by Barbara the Bibliophage | Nov 4, 2022 | RELAX: Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi
Ruth Emmie Lang explores family relationships with a solid dose of magical realism in her new book, The Wilderwomen. It’s a sweet and engaging exploration of sisterhood and the complications inherent in mother-daughter connections. Lang’s primary voices are two...
by Barbara the Bibliophage | Oct 31, 2022 | RELAX: Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi
Books about witches are the perfect fit for fall. I dusted off my copies of Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic series and embarked on a two-month project. Then I read a brand-new book from Megan Giddings with a unique and thought-provoking witchy premise. Combining all...
by Barbara the Bibliophage | Oct 15, 2022 | RELAX: Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi
Lestat de Lioncourt, arguably the world’s most famous fictional vampire, deals with turmoil among his kindred in Prince Lestat, the eleventh entry into Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. Because of her death last year, it’s a sentimental choice for me. Rice centers the...
by Barbara the Bibliophage | Oct 10, 2022 | RELAX: Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi
Bianca Marais creates a feminist witch story for the 21st century in The Witches of Moonshyne Manor. It’s about a group of 80-something witches trying to reverse events from thirty years ago. And they’re also trying to save their property from being bought by a bunch...
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