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Month: September 2021

Book Review: The World’s Wife by Carol Ann Duffy

Book Review: The World’s Wife by Carol Ann Duffy


The World’s Wife by Carol Ann Duffy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The World’s Wife is utterly fascinating. I’m not commonly a consumer of poetry, though I tend to enjoy it when I do think to pick it up. But this collection is unlike any poetry I’ve ever read. The theme here, peering into the minds of fictional, classical, historical women, often overshadowed by their more famous spouses, or gender-bent versions of famous male characters, is incredibly unique. And every single poem in the collection delivered something witty or clever. They made me think, which I think is one of the best compliments I could give this type of work. I’ve never reviewed a book of poetry before, so the thoughts below are a bit… untamed, if you will. So I’ll sum up my thoughts like this: if you’re looking to dip your toes into the waters of poetry and you happen to love fantastical stories with a strong female voice, The World’s Wife is the collection for you.

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Book Review: Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian

Book Review: Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian

 

 

Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Published: 9th September (Vintage)

 

 

It’s her first day at college, but Chloe Sevre isn’t nervous at all. She has a plan. Get rid of Mom, take the best room before her dorm-mate arrives, make 6-8 new friends before 4pm, and find Will. If you’re thinking ‘how sweet’, she must be looking for her boyfriend, you’re dead wrong. Will’s days are numbered (literally, the book includes a countdown), because the main reason Chloe came to John Adams University is to kill him. And she doesn’t plan on giving up till it’s done…

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Book Review: The Widow’s House (The Dagger and the Coin, #4) by Daniel Abraham

Book Review: The Widow’s House (The Dagger and the Coin, #4) by Daniel Abraham

The Widow’s House by Daniel Abraham

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Dagger and the Coin (Book #4 of 5)

Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy

Pages: 531 pages (Kindle edition)

Published: 5th August 2014 by Orbit


A penultimate installment filled with war, tactics, and intrigues. The stage for the conclusion of the series has been established nicely.

“These are the weapons that greater forces use against each other. Put two boys to fighting each other with sticks, and the boys may come away well or poorly, but the sticks will always be shattered.”

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Book Review: Warriors of the Storm (The Last Kingdom, #9) by Bernard Cornwell

Book Review: Warriors of the Storm (The Last Kingdom, #9) by Bernard Cornwell

Warriors of the Storm by Bernard Cornwell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Last Kingdom (Book #9 of 13)

Genre: Historical fiction

Pages: 325 pages (Kindle edition)

Published: 8th October 2015 by HarperCollins


Warriors of the Storm has violence, funny moments, and an engaging turn of events.

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Book Review: Revival Season by Monica West

Book Review: Revival Season by Monica West


Revival Season by Monica West
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Revival Season is not the kind of story I can read completely objectively. My faith is a huge part of my identity. I’m a Christian, and I’ve attended Baptist churches my entire life. When something is so integral to who you are, it’s difficult to remove yourself from a story that centers so profoundly around that trait or belief. And that was one of my biggest problems with this book. There were so many religious red flags that I wanted to take the whole fictional family to counseling. This was a twisted, maimed version of my faith staring back at me from the page, a funhouse reflection of what I believe.  I just wanted to look away.  I didn’t.  I finished the book.  But it was a struggle for me.

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