Category Archives: 2008

The Diamond of Darkhold, by Jeanne DuPrau

Posted on October 7, 2008 by Thistle

The Diamond of Darkhold is the fourth and final book of the Ember series by Jeanne DuPrau. The book takes the people of Ember, joined with the people of Sparks from book 2, through their first winter together. It’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008, Children's, Prose | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Giver, by Lois Lowry

Posted on October 3, 2008 by Thistle

You know, I’d thought that, as a kid, I’d read a lot of Lois Lowry. I didn’t recall which books specifically, but I remembered her name. A quick check on Wikipedia, however, reveals to me that before Number the Stars, … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008, Children's, Prose | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The Cellist of Sarajevo, by Steven Galloway

Posted on October 1, 2008 by Thistle

The Cellist of Sarajevo is a fictional account of four people during the siege of Sarajevo in the early ’90s. First, there is the cellist, who witnesses an attack that kills 22 people outside his window as they waited in … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008, Adult, Prose | Tagged | 3 Comments

The House of Mirth, by Edith Wharton

Posted on September 27, 2008 by Thistle

I remember reading something by Edith Wharton in 11th grade. Ethan Frome, I believe. I don’t remember particularly liking her style, which is why, when my book club at the library chose House of Mirth for our October selection, I … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008, Adult, Prose | Tagged | 2 Comments

Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams, by Sylvia Plath

Posted on September 22, 2008 by Thistle

Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams is a collection of short stories, essays, and journal entries by Sylvia Plath. Altogether, 20 stories, 5 essays, and 5 journal collections grace this book. I must say that it’s extremely difficult to … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008, Adult, Prose | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Killing Mr. Griffin, by Lois Duncan

Posted on September 8, 2008 by Thistle

I first read this book fifteen or more years ago. I was on a real Lois Duncan streak then. I loved her works, especially Down a Dark Hall, which had a profound effect on me – I reread it last … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Dr. Zhivago, by Boris Pasternak

Posted on September 6, 2008 by Thistle

Spoilers. Ugh. What else can I say about this book? It’s nearly 550 pages of ugh. Somewhere awhile back we** were talking about loss in translation. I think this book is the perfect example of that. Not just because it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008, Adult, Prose | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Nine Lives to Murder, by Marion Babsen

Posted on August 21, 2008 by Thistle

Spoilers. This book was…okay. Not my favorite, but then again, I’ve not read anything in the mystery genre since my youngin’ days of R.L. Stine’s The Babysitter (not the best recommendation for the genre, I might add). I was therefore … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008, Adult, Prose | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Pale Fire, by Vladimir Nabokov

Posted on August 20, 2008 by Thistle

Wow. I say that in the most respectful, perfectly awed tone possible. This is, without a doubt, the most difficult book I’ve ever read. Harder by far than Don Quixote and Anna Karenina and Madame Bovary. Harder than any other … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008, Adult, Poetry, Prose | Tagged , | 2 Comments

The Prophet of Yonwood, by Jeanne DuPrau

Posted on August 9, 2008 by Thistle

The Prophet of Yonwood is much, much better than The People of Sparks, though not quite as good as The City of Ember. It is, like Sparks, definitely a juvenile book, complete with sections of fact completely brushed over. But … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008, Children's, Prose | Tagged , | 1 Comment