“The older you get, the less courage you have.” —William Keepers Maxwell I am in love with Maxwell’s writing. They Came Like Swallows (1937) is a reread for me. (And many thanks to my good friend Toni for introducing me to this lovely novel.) So Long, See You Tomorrow (1979) is a new read for me.... Continue Reading →
Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad (2016) tricked me for a moment. It portrays the famous underground railroad, a network of abolitionists and volunteers who helped slaves escape the south and head north in nineteenth century America, as an actual railroad with trains and tunnels. I thought that I had somehow missed something in history classes,... Continue Reading →
I began this novel with a sigh. After reading the first few pages, I thought, “Not another novel written from a female perspective that is all about how important her husband is.” I wanted to read something about an actual wife, not a wife just telling us about her husband. Well, it turned out that... Continue Reading →
American Housewife (2016), a collection of short stories by Helen Ellis, is the Literary Wives bloggers' pick for this month. It is witty, poignant, hilarious, dark, timely, and accessible. Please see more of the Literary Wives discussion at the following blogs. Naomi of Consumed by Ink Kay of What Me Read Lynn of Smoke & Mirrors Ariel of One... Continue Reading →
My friend Amy has been telling me to read Siri Hustvedt for about two years now. I finally borrowed her copy of What I Loved (2003). I borrowed it on a Friday afternoon and by Monday morning I had finished it. I could not put it down. It isn’t a thriller. Yet there are some... Continue Reading →
I saw this in Salt Lake City last week. It is my new favorite bumpersticker. And I have a feeling that the driver and I would be great friends. If you haven't read John Steinbeck, you should. Check out my past posts on Pastures in Heaven, East of Eden, and The Grapes of Wrath. I have... Continue Reading →
To see previous posts in this series, click here. This is my bookshelf. Here is a snippet of what’s on it, ten at a time. Breathing Lessons (1988) by Anne Tyler The Amateur Marriage (2004) by Anne Tyler All the King's Men (1946) by Robert Penn Warren Ethan Frome (1911) by Edith Wharton Madame de... Continue Reading →
While watching an old episode of The Good Wife on Amazon Prime the other night, Alicia Florrick commented that To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) made many lawyers. It reminded me that I had recently read Go Set a Watchman (2015), the newly released “prequel” to that classic and monumental American novel by Harper Lee. I know there’s... Continue Reading →
Yes, I’m obsessed with Laura Ingalls Wilder. It began when I was a young girl staying up late to read her books. It has grown since I’ve read those Little House books to my daughter. And now that I’ve visited her home at Rocky Ridge Farm in Mansfield, Missouri, I can’t stop reading about her.... Continue Reading →
To see previous posts in this series, click here. This is my bookshelf. Here is a snippet of what’s on it, ten at a time. Passing (1929) by Nella Larsen Quicksand (1928) by Nella Larsen Christy (1967) by Catherine Marshall Life of Pi (2001) by Yann Martel Of Human Bondage (1915) by W. Somerset Maugham... Continue Reading →
The Bookshelf of Emily J. 