These three books rose above the rest in February, making me feel all the things and think about life in a different way.
Author: kellyghaynes
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
I recently checked Leave the World Behind out from my local library's e-book app. Marin Ireland is one of my favorite narrators, and the premise sounded interesting enough. The book was available to download, so I jumped right in. It was perfect Friday night entertainment. Jump to Book Club Questions Buy on Amazon ★★★★ A [...]
Rouge by Mona Awad
Bride by Ali Hazelwood and the Paranormal Romance Penis
So, can we talk about the werewolf's penis, or no? I recently bought "Bride" by Ali Hazelwood on an impulse - Target had a special edition with a reflective cover. The bride's flowers and the werewolf's eyes shine when the light hits them. How am I supposed to resist that? Anyway, it is no secret [...]
A Soul of Ash and Blood by Jennifer Armentrout
January 2024 Reading Wrap Up: 5 Star Reads
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett
What sets Alperton Angels apart is that it is presented completely in the form of research notes and transcripts of text messages and emails. Most of the found footage is correspondence between two true crime "journalists" who hate each other but are forced to work together as they slowly reveal new facts about a strange [...]
Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
Whalefall is like no other book I have ever read. There's a pretty substantial literary history involving humans being swallowed by a whale. This is an effective literary tactic because it reminds us how small we are in the grand scheme of things. I mean, think about it - day after day, we face struggles [...]
The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis
Book Review + Free book club questions The Unsettled is an unforgettable novel by Ayana Mathis. The story follows Ava Carson and her son, Toussant, shortly after they are kicked out of their home by her husband, Abemi. Toussant's father, Cass, has been absent from their lives for some time, and Ava is somewhat estranged [...]
When McCarthyism Went After Books
Note: I authored this post for The Banned Bookshelf, a now defunct website - this is my writing. Early in 1953, Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin was conducting a sweeping congressional investigation to find communists among the American "elite." During this time, books by Communists were targeted for removal from State libraries, among others. Once [...]