I think it’s safe to write about sharks after Labor Day. I try not to do this earlier on in the summer for obvious reasons. It isn’t nice doing it early on. We all like sharks but we all like the beach too. I watched Jaws for the umpteenth time the other night and just thought, "Nope.” Susan Casey appears to not have these thoughts. She is an editor and sports writer for … [Read more...] about Literature in the Lymes: ‘The Devil’s Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among Great White Sharks’ by Susan Casey
Literature in the Lymes
Literature in the Lymes: ‘Piranesi’ by Susanna Clarke
I just know I can’t really do this book justice. I love it and writing about it immediately takes some of the magic away but I suppose if Susannah Clarke could do it, I can at least try. Who is Piranesi? Where is he? He is writing this book as a journal from a place that is both a world and a house. This house has tides. This world has floors and wings and grand halls. … [Read more...] about Literature in the Lymes: ‘Piranesi’ by Susanna Clarke
Literature in the Lymes: ‘In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife” by Sebastian Junger
Editor's Note: We are delighted to welcome Jen Petty Hilger back to LymeLine. She wrote a very popular 'Literature in the Lymes' column for us until 2014. One could suppose this is the afterlife of a book reviewer. Welcome to review Number 101 ... after a brief 10-year hiatus. Sebastian Junger is a very smart man. He is a well-educated man. He is a brave man, a … [Read more...] about Literature in the Lymes: ‘In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife” by Sebastian Junger
‘Dear Jen’ Debuts Today with Interior Décor Advice
We are very pleased to debut another advice column today. Unlike our popular 'Dear Cammy' column, which is targeted at middle-schoolers, this 'Dear Jen' column is for adults. Our very own Jen Mann, who has been our incredible book reviewer for more years than we can remember, is turning her hand to yet another thing that she does extraordinarily well. And that is dispensing … [Read more...] about ‘Dear Jen’ Debuts Today with Interior Décor Advice
100 … and Counting: Mann Completes a Century of Book Reviews
The amazing Jen Petty Mann continues her book review journey today with her 100th review! So this is a good time to look back on her previous 99 -- and if you see her about town or on Facebook (or anywhere else for that matter), take a minute to say a huge thank you to her for always delightful, witty and incisive reviews, which have graced these pages for many years. The … [Read more...] about 100 … and Counting: Mann Completes a Century of Book Reviews
‘House of Suns’ by Alastair Reynolds
OK. You know who you are, you purveyor of science fiction literature hereto unreviewed by me. You are now solely responsible for my little head wandering off to space. With a few exceptions (The Host (12/05/08), I don't read a lot of sci-fi and I think that’s about to change. Many, many brilliant minds (not pompously including myself here - just sayin’) write and read sci-fi … [Read more...] about ‘House of Suns’ by Alastair Reynolds
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
Right now my toenails are pink. They look very nice and I enjoy smiling down at them, but I can’t help feel a bit like a total spank. Cheryl Strayed lost six of hers. I’m guessing the remaining four were not visions of loveliness. Frankly, it's a small sacrifice to have made in light of the enormity of her accomplishment both internally and externally. She was lost and she … [Read more...] about Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
Анна Каренина by Leo Tolstoy
First off, sorry to anyone who was excited for a word from my dear mother, but she is a bit preoccupied at the moment, so I'll be doing the review this week. Some of you might remember me from our joint review of Hamlet (in which, to be frank, I wrote terribly.) but enough about me, let's get to the book. In a letter to a friend, Tolstoy wrote of Anna Karenina, stating that … [Read more...] about Анна Каренина by Leo Tolstoy
‘Explosive Eighteen’ by Janet Evanovich
Can you believe I have written almost 100 of these little buggers ( I mean, jewels)? You poor people. What have I put you through. Take note that the rest of my family * is in the paper this week too, so maybe I am not a total failure. I have read so many things lately that its really is hard to choose which to write about. Hollis was reading Dante while I was reading Diane … [Read more...] about ‘Explosive Eighteen’ by Janet Evanovich
“A Discovery of Witches” by Deborah Harkness
A Discovery of Witches is part one of a trilogy in progress about the human and non-human worlds of science, faith, and power. Add a pinch of lust and some evil - lots of wine and Oh, what fun! Escapism is always best when it has foundations in reality. Historical and scientifically-accurate (sort of) reality is especially appealing. Throw in non-humans descended from … [Read more...] about “A Discovery of Witches” by Deborah Harkness
The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry
April 1, 2008, I reviewed the stand out self published book by Brunonia Barry. I swooned. Read it, so I don’t have to repeat myself- we all know how anathema THAT is to me. (Boyfriend will hurt self rolling eyes.) With very high expectations I read her second book -- The Map of True Places. At first I was not enthralled. I hoped for more and put it down and picked it up … [Read more...] about The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry
“Every Last One” by Anna Quindlan
Anna Quindlan is such a good columnist (New York Times, Newsweek) that is constently thrills me that she also such a good and prodigious writer, Black and Blue, being my favorite among her novels... Every Last One is her newest and ... holy you know what. I walked into the library to fight with their fax machine (I damned mine to the basement for insubordination) and … [Read more...] about “Every Last One” by Anna Quindlan
“Anybody Out There?” by Marian Keyes
I know I should be reviewing something smarter, or more current, or hipper, but I can’t help myself. I am reading everything I am supposed to -- Cleopatra, Unbroken, some book about Voltaire’s mistress. This book really got to me though, so I just can't help but do this. I went to the Book Barn (akin to Harry Winston in my opinion for sheer delight and fabulousness) and … [Read more...] about “Anybody Out There?” by Marian Keyes
“Isobel’s Odyssey” by Ann Blair Kloman
Ah, the fates have intervened again and a long misplaced email has called a book to my attention. Ann Blair Kloman wrote a wonderful suspense novel last year (... longer? Who knows? I age without consent) and has now written another. And to think I almost missed it. Isobel’s Odyssey is a treat. Wonderfully reminiscent of my beloved Mrs Polifax series (Dorothy Gilman), … [Read more...] about “Isobel’s Odyssey” by Ann Blair Kloman
“Swamplandia” by Karen Russell
Swamplandia! The reviews of Karen Russell’s last book, "Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves,” are enough to make you pick this new one up and clutch it to your chest as you race from the shop ... “Run for your life. The girl is on fire.” (Los Angeles Times) Not even a page in and I was captivated by the ease and grace with which she writes. A pseudo-real Indian tribe on … [Read more...] about “Swamplandia” by Karen Russell