I read this for the first time back in high school. The second time through was recent for me. I tore through this first installment fairly quickly, because it’s just as engrossing and well-written as the first time I read it. I was once warned by my pastor Grandpa not to read Philip Pullman’s HisContinue reading “The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials # 1)”
Category Archives: book reviews
Darius the Great Deserves Better
Intro. Darius’ life has changed since visiting his grandparents in Iran: He’s part of the varsity soccer team Darius has a great internship at a tea shop going for him Sohrab is only a Skype call away Darius and his dad are connecting again Landon is Darius’ first boyfriend! Darius still has depression, but he’sContinue reading “Darius the Great Deserves Better”
Les Miserables
“Another Story Must Begin” This is one of my favorite plays. I’ve memorized all the songs, and know the story quite well. But one thing was missing: I hadn’t read the famous book yet. A year ago now, I embarked on what was to be an epic journey: reading the translated English version of LesContinue reading “Les Miserables”
Real Life
Wallace is a Black, queer student attending a Midwestern university. He’s “at odds” with everything in his life: his (vastly) White peers, and his friends. Wallace hasn’t escaped the trauma of his youth; he’s gone straight from Alabama to college. Here, he’s singled out because he’s Black, because he’s not straight, and because he’s madeContinue reading “Real Life”
Saying Thank You to my Characters
Intro For the past 11 months, I’ve been working on a fantasy/urban fantasy novel. My main character Judeaus (Jude for short) is the upcoming ruler of the realm Tarlimain. He’s readjusting to his life in his parents castle after a traumatic event. When his aunt and uncle and their adoptive son Desmond show up withContinue reading “Saying Thank You to my Characters”
20 Things I did in my 20s
Birthday Girl Backstory March 1 is my birthday. I can’t believe I’m turning 30! (Squeals.) The big 3-0 isn’t just another number to me, it’s a testament to surviving a very premature birth. I was lucky because I had only a few things go wrong because I was born so early. I was supposed toContinue reading “20 Things I did in my 20s”
The Book of Longings
“I am Ana. I am the wife of Jesus ben Joseph of Nazareth. All my life, longings lived inside of me, rising up like nocturnes to wail and sing through the night. That my husband bent his heart to mine on our thin straw mat and listened was the kindness I most loved in him.Continue reading “The Book of Longings”
Little Fires Everywhere
In Shaker Heights, the Richardson family lives a comfortable life. They rent out their rental home to Mia and her daughter, Pearl. Mia and her daughter turn out to be interesting people, someone Mrs. Richardson can’t stop thinking about. She begins to obsessively hunt for clues about Mia’s life, determined to find out more. InContinue reading “Little Fires Everywhere”
Fahrenheit 451
Ray Bradbury’s classic futuristic novel focuses on a world in which firemen burn books instead of putting out fires. Guy Montag, a fireman, has his whole world turned upside down when he begins taking books from houses. He begins to question everything, thanks to his new neighbor Clarisse. Once he learns that books are sacred,Continue reading “Fahrenheit 451”
The Giver
Jonas lives in the Community. In the Community, there is no more hunger, or pain, or colors. When Jonas gets his assignment to be the new Receiver for his Community, he meets an older man called the Giver. The Giver will teach Jonas about the world he’s missing: colors and snow. But he will alsoContinue reading “The Giver”
The Nerdy Nook 