Category Archives: Prose

Impossible, by Nancy Werlin

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Thistle

How do I even begin to describe this book without giving anything away? Um…Lucy Scarborough is a seventeen year old girl with two wonderful, loving foster parents and a real mom who is completely crazy and who shows up randomly … Continue reading →

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by JK Rowling (+ Philosopher’s Stone)

Posted on January 8, 2010 by Thistle

I reread the Harry Potter series at least once per year, and have since I first read it in the summer of 2005, after the sixth book came out. For the first couple years after that first read, I actually … Continue reading →

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Summer, by Edith Wharton

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Thistle

Spoilers. Charity Royall is the child of “mountain people” adopted by a lawyer in the nearby small, poor town of North Dormer. One summer, she has an affair with Lucius Harney, an educated visitor to the town. Bad stuff follows. … Continue reading →

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Matchless, by Gregory Maguire

Posted on January 2, 2010 by Thistle

This was my first book of 2010. I bought it for Jason, who loves “The Little Match Girl,” and read it before I’d read the fairy tale. It’s a retelling and an expansion of “The Little Match Girl,” split into … Continue reading →

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Wake, by Lisa McMann

Posted on December 30, 2009 by Thistle

Short summary: Ever since she was young, Janie has suffered from a condition that forces her to experience other peoples’ dreams. When she moves from observer to participant, however, her life spins drastically out of control. I’m in two minds … Continue reading →

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Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Thistle

There’s no need to tell you the plot to this. First, it’s famous enough. Second, there isn’t really a plot. In fact, that’s one of the things that bothered me so much. I don’t understand this book at all. Maybe … Continue reading →

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The Painted Veil, by William Somerset Maugham

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Thistle

I’m reviewing this book together with my good friend Karen of Books and Chocolate. Amanda: Hi Karen! Thanks for buddy-reviewing with me! I think I want to start out by talking about William Somerset Maugham. I first read one of … Continue reading →

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The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Thistle

Renee is a concierge in her mid-50s. She’s spent most of her life maintaining her invisibility, hiding her intelligence under a mask of stereotypical peasant ignorance. Paloma is a super-smart twelve year old girl who lives in the building where … Continue reading →

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A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith

Posted on December 12, 2009 by Thistle

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a classic coming of age story set around the turn of the century in immigrant-heavy Brooklyn. It’s so much more than a coming of age story, though. This is the third time I’ve read … Continue reading →

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Asleep, by Banana Yoshimoto

Posted on December 9, 2009 by Thistle

Included in Asleep are three longer short stories by Banana Yoshimoto, translated from the Japanese by Michael Emmerich. Each in some way deal with sleep (whether physical or metaphorical). This is my first read by Yoshimoto, and I’m delighted to … Continue reading →

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