It’s June. Time to find a quiet beach and something to read. After a great college class about the history of religious movements in America, I’ve always been fascinated with the activity that grew out of the so-called “Burned-Over District.” And as a frequent volunteer at a Shaker Village I know there is a great deal to…
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…
As much as we all want several hours on end to read that massive epic novel, it’s not always realistic. Especially when the laundry needs folding and sometimes (only sometimes) you need to sleep. I’ve found it to be a great way to ignore the fact I’m doing chores or to relax when I just…
Somehow, June is already nearly half over. Summer is well and truly underway. Time to find the shade of a tree or a lazy hammock and do some reading. And in the spirit of relaxation, here is some lighter fare to enjoy on a quiet summer day. JAMES THE CONNOISSEUR CAT by Harriet Hahn…
Gregory Maguire, best known for his Wicked books, is back with another revisionist fairy tale. This time, he weaves together classic Russian elements — Baba Yaga, Faberge eggs, endless train tracks, snow laden countryside — in this middle grade novel. Elena is a young girl who lives in a dying country town. There is no…