Category Archives: Review

The Red Tree, by Shaun Tan

Posted on January 10, 2010 by Thistle

Fair warning – I want to discuss what this book means to me, which means I will talk about everything, including the end. While the book is more about the journey and less about what happens, if you don’t want … 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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Protected: Maus (vol 1), by Art Spiegelman

Posted on January 7, 2010 by Thistle

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

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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 →

Posted in 2009, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged , | 2 Comments

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 →

Posted in 2009, Adult, Prose | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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 →

Posted in 2009, Adult, Prose | Tagged , | 1 Comment

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 →

Posted in 2009, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments