Reading Brianna Karp’s memoir of losing her job, home, and family reminded me in many ways of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild. Except instead of embarking on a months-long solo hike, as Strayed did, Karp faces the challenges of living in a trailer in a Walmart parking lot. With no water or electricity. Frustration at Brianna’s “unwise” choices (surrounding her involvement with a fellow homeless gent) is always followed by a heart-wrenching family story that would have left me a gelatinous blob.
I am not naturally drawn to graphic novels, but am quite willing to dabble in them. And in doing so I’ve discovered gems like Will Eisner’s A Contract with God, David Small’sStiches, and Guy Delisle’s Shenzhen. Each is non-fiction, intriguing, and surprising in its delivery.
I am in love with this book. I never intended to even read it . . . just use the index and pick and choose certain elements, and browse the pretty pictures. It is so lovely I read it cover to cover. And I want to do it again.
Open this book anywhere and the two facing pages display a perfect marriage of text and image that illustrate watercolor concepts. From watercolor pencils, to pigments, to individual colors, and brushes, Scheinberger compliments his knowledge with talent.
The Sundown Speech is the twenty-fifth Amos Walker novel by Loren D. Estleman, and he still has it. He has set the story in Ann Arbor, a useful change of scenery for our private detective, who is usually based in Detroit.
Let me share a secret with you. I'm ashamed to admit, but I'm a total snob when it comes to wealthy characters. I generally find them unlikable, which I know is awful judgy of me. No matter how great John Green says it is, I wanted to barf all the way through The Great Gatsby.
Some memoirs are just necessary. They speak to some form of triumph that appeals to our own innate sense or hope that we, too, can overcome any kind of weird, unforeseen adversity life can hand us. Such is the case with Anna Lyndsey’s remarkable Girl in the Dark: A Memoir, an exceptionally well-written and unforgettable book that takes the reader into some truly dark emotional and physical territory that most of us fortunately can only imagine.
Leanne and Nichole are unlikely friends and confidants. When Leanne learns that her son Jake is cheating on his wife Nichole, she is sorely disappointed to find her son following in his father's footsteps. Sean, Leanne's husband has been cheating on her for years and up to this point she has just accepted and ignored his infidelity. After telling Nichole of Jake's indiscretion she admires the way Nichole instantly refuses to accept Jake's behavior and immediately moves to dissolve their marriage.
There are two things you know. One: You were there. Two: You couldn't have been there.
Wondering how that can be? So is Caden. Sometimes. When he stops to think about it. Often he just goes along and doesn't question things, just accepts that's the way they are. But other times he feels out of sync with his family, friends, and others around him. He feels confused.
Building up to the 2014 World Series, the Kansas City Royals were in third place in the American League Central, eight games out of first place with a losing record. But that was just the beginning. What followed was an amazing run toward their first World Series showing since 1985 and everyone's attention nationwide was on the 2014 Kansas City Royals. The team, led by manager Ned Yost, stepped up to the plate and captured a spot in the AL Wild Card game.
