Emma

Although I was one of those awesome nerds in high school that loved Jane Austen and truly read all the books by her we were assigned, I am not sure that I have actually picked up an original from her since then. I have both read and watched many adaptations and retellings (some repeatedly…2005 Pride…

Beloved

I am 31 years old, an avid reader, was the nerdy kid in English class who always actually read the books assigned, and yet…this is the first of Toni Morrison’s works that I’ve ever read. I’m disappointed in both myself and all the school systems I went through. But it’s never too late to correct…

The Left Hand of Darkness

This is one of those classics that I have been meaning to read for years and years and just never have. It’s a bit sad, really, considering how much of a fantasy/sci-fi fan I am, though to be fair, I do lean more fantasy than sci-ci. Regardless, Le Guin is an institution on par with…

Like Water for Chocolate

I read this more years ago than I’d like to admit, in a Spanish class at some point. Having taken Spanish from middle school all the way through majoring in it in college, I cannot remember exactly when. I any case, many years have passed and, since I first read it in Spanish (not my…

Rebecca

I have never read anything by Daphne du Maurier before, though this book (and others of hers) are considered classics and she is known as one of the greatest shapers of popular culture and modern imagination (or at least, that’s what “back of the book” blurbs say about her). But seriously, I knew her work…

We Have Always Lived in the Castle

I am a huge scaredy-cat. HUGE. I can’t read or watch scary books or movies because otherwise I can’t sleep afterwards. When I finally really do need to sleep, I can’t be alone and the lights need to be on and there must be music. And even then...I ruined a CD of traditional Celtic music…

Murder on the Orient Express

Confession time: this is my first Agatha Christie. Yup. I’m almost 30 and reading is my self-professed favorite way to spend time, but I have never read the Queen of Mystery before. It took this most recent screen adaptation to get me to pick one up. I’m a little embarrassed, BUT better late than never, I…

By the Book

I am pretty much always down for a retelling, and particularly a retelling of classic lit by one of my fav women: Jane Austen. She and the Brontës are pretty much my “lady writers of history” goals. I realize that’s a very specific category. I have lots of lady goals. Regardless, this book is right…

A Little Life

I don’t know if this title was supposed to mean “here is a story about a little bit of life” or “here is the story of one small life” but honestly it doesn’t matter. Because either way, this is a story of a life that is nothing short of a masterpiece. This has been on…