A Cineaste’s Bookshelf
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Top Ten Tuesday: Beach Reads
We’re gonna go for five titles today — I’ve never been one for flashy, empty airport reads like The Abacus Conundrum. And I cringe at the categorization of “beach reads.” Still, I admit that there are books that are quick, fast-paced and comparatively easy reads — books that don’t require rumination or notes in the margin.… Read More »
REVIEW: THE LIE TREE by Frances Hardinge
Faith is the daughter of a preeminent naturalist and reverend. Suddenly, she and her family are uprooted and move to a remote island off the coast of England. The Reverend Sunderly is supposedly there to assist in an excavation near some sea caves that might uncover new fossils. Faith begins to suspect there is something… Read More »
REVIEW: LOST AND GONE FOREVER by Alex Grecian
This is the first book I’ve read by Alex Grecian, though it is the fifth in the series that began with The Yard. [I tried to read The Harvest Man (#4) but I just could not get into it.] The novel begins with the escape of a nameless man and for a few chapters the reader isn’t… Read More »
ACCENT: THE PIER FALLS by Mark Haddon
Best known for his novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Haddon returns with a collection of short stories. Using spare language, Haddon writes small sketches with echoes of old fairy tales and fables. The title story is perhaps the strongest in the collection. A completely omniscient narrator floats between a buckling beam… Read More »
ARMCHAIR BEA 16: Wrap-up
Thank you, everyone, for a wonderful week of reviews and bookish thoughts. I’m all … This year, I volunteered to help with the whole outfit and hosted a Twitter party yesterday. I highly recommend people volunteer to keep Armchair BEA going. There are lots of ways you can help and they all contribute to the… Read More »
ARMCHAIR BEA 16: Giveaway #5
ast giveaway for me, during this Armchair BEA. Be sure you go enter all of my giveaways. This title sounds truly magnificent. Thank you, Leila at Penguin Random House, for the copies. from the publisher In the ten years since her beloved, groundbreaking Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, New York Times bestselling author Amy Krouse… Read More »
ARMCHAIR BEA 16: Giveaway #4
rab this new title from a debut novelist. It’s vintage and deadly — and doesn’t hit shelves until August. Thanks to Leila at Penguin Random House for the title. from the publisher Fiona Davis’s stunning debut novel pulls readers into the lush world of New York City’s glamorous Barbizon Hotel for Women, where in the… Read More »
ARMCHAIR BEA 16: Giveaway #3
ow about a humorous, nonfiction travelogue that takes place in one of the most secluded countries in the world? Thank you to Kelly for this daring title from Rosetta Books. from the publisher Most people want out of North Korea. Wendy Simmons wanted in. In My Holiday in North Korea: The Funniest/Worst Place on Earth,… Read More »
ARMCHAIR BEA 16: Giveaway #2
nother title to win! Love YA fiction? Be sure to enter. This one is hot off the press from HarperTeen. Thanks, Kelly. from the publisher We Were Liars meets Looking for Alaska in a uniquely funny and heartbreaking teen novel about a passionate-yet-doomed friendship set against a backdrop of wealth and glamour. Willa Parker, 646th and… Read More »
ARMCHAIR BEA 16: Giveaway #1
ime to get free stuff! Armchair BEA has been hosting giveaways all week. Now is the time for bloggers to post items to win. Be sure to check out all the blogs for lots of great stuff. My thanks to Katie at Putnam for this title. from the publisher… MONSTERS introduces Stacey Lane, a published poet… Read More »
ARMCHAIR BEA 16: Surviving fictional worlds
Today we’ll talk about surviving fictional worlds. We all know that sometimes, the worlds we love in fiction, can be dangerous. Which fictional worlds would you want to live in? Which worlds are you content to stay behind the glass, so to speak, rather than wishing to dive through the page? And once you get… Read More »
ARMCHAIR BEA 16: Beyond the books and the blog
Beyond the traditional form of the novel, what are your favorite alternative forms (graphic novels, audiobooks, webcomics, etc.)? Do you have any favorite works within these alternate forms? How do you think the changing format affects the reading experience? How do you engage in talking about books outside of your blog? was lucky enough… Read More »
ARMCHAIR BEA 16: Aesthetic concerns in books and blogs
How often do you judge a book by its cover? How often are you surprised by what you find? Do you strategize and make sure every book in your series has the same cover design (as far as you are able to) and type? How important is it for the visual art on the outside… Read More »
ARMCHAIR BEA 16: Diversity in publishing
The second topic focuses on diversity in books and the publishing industry. Whose voices do we hear? Whose voices do we need more of? Where do we find representation lacking and what can we as bloggers do to address that? What about negative or stereotypical representation? sing digital formats and self-publishing becomes easier every year.… Read More »
ARMCHAIR BEA 16: Introduction
nce more into the BEA, my friends! Even those of us who must celebrate from a distance can enjoy the week of new authors, titles and swag. ¶ Call me Meaghan. It’s pronounced like Megan or Meghan — not Meegan. I’ve been blogging about books for longer than I care to remember. Maybe 8 or 9… Read More »