January 2019
The Rōnin’s Mistress by Laura Joh Rowland, book review
The Ronin's Mistress by Laura Joh Rowland. Excellent characters, exciting plot, and well-written historical setting make this a good addition to the Sano Ichiro detective series. But the outlook on life feels bleak and hopeless. 4 stars.
Top 5 Unusual Writing Places for Novelists
My top 5 places to write when I'm not at home. Some may be obvious but others are more unusual. The mall food court, anyone?
Dangerous Personalities, by Joe Navarro, book review
Review of Joe Navarro's book Dangerous Personalities. Identifies 4 types of dangerous personalities, the narcissist, the emotionally unstable, the paranoid, and the predator. Includes ways to escape their influence. Quick, easy read, gives broad overview of topic. 3 stars.
The Snowman by Jo Nesbo, book review
The Snowman by Jo Nesbo, translated by Don Bartlett
Confession: I have a soft spot for Scandinavian crime fiction. I’ve enjoyed every author I’ve read (thus far) in this subgenre. […]
Beneath the Darkest Sky, by Jason Overstreet
Review of Jason Overstreet's historical thriller Beneath the Darkest Sky. There's a lot of info-dumping and an ineffective dual timeline. However, Overstreet's story about an African-American man in a Soviet gulag accurately portrays the time period and brutality of the 1930s Stalinist regime.
The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey, review
The Widows of Malabar Hill, by Sujata Massey
Set in early 20th century Bombay, The Widows of Malabar Hill centers […]
Year of the Asian Reading Challenge
Hi, everyone! I found a cool reading challenge for this year, one that is in line with my goal for this book review blog. It is the Year of the Asian Reading Challenge, […]
5 African American writers you should read
Five books by African-American writers you must read. These have influenced my thinking. All are absorbing, compelling books.