Tag Archives: divinity

Blankets, by Craig Thompson

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Thistle

I didn’t plan to read Blankets so soon. I wanted to immediately after reading Darren’s review, but I held back. I have so many other books on my shelf and this was a 600-page graphic novel costing $30 plus tax. … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010, Adult, Visual | Tagged , | 2 Comments

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 Last Olympian, by Rick Riordan

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Thistle

This is a joint review with Morrigan, my son who will turn 9 on Sunday. You’ll see – we have very different opinions for the most part. Of course, he’s much closer to the intended age group for this series. … Continue reading →

Posted in 2009, Children's, Prose | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Battle of the Labyrinth, by Rick Riordan

Posted on September 12, 2009 by Thistle

The Battle of the Labyrinth picks up six months after the last installment at the beginning of summer camp. This time it’s Annabeth’s turn to go on a quest, with Percy, Tyson (the Cyclops), and Grover (the Satyr) by her … Continue reading →

Posted in 2009, Children's, Prose | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The Titan’s Curse, by Rick Riordan

Posted on September 11, 2009 by Thistle

The third installment of the Percy Jackson series (which began with The Lightning Thief) is The Titan’s Curse. Halfway between two summers at Camp Half-Blood, Percy gets roped into following a quest of fellow half-blood Thalia, daughter of Zeus. Kronos … Continue reading →

Posted in 2009, Children's, Prose | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

East of Eden, by John Steinbeck

Posted on August 8, 2009 by Thistle

East of Eden is too gigantic and un-plot-based to really have a synopsis. I suppose I can say it follows the sometimes-intertwined lives of the Trask family and the Hamilton family for many years, mostly in the Salinas Valley in … Continue reading →

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

Beneath My Mother’s Feet, by Amjed Qamar

Posted on June 26, 2009 by Thistle

Nazia lives in working class Karachi, Pakistan. Her family is not rich, but she and her siblings are still able to go to school, and her mother does not have to work outside the home. However, when Nazia’s father is … Continue reading →

Posted in 2009, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume

Posted on June 24, 2009 by Thistle

Margaret (age 11) has just moved from NYC to New Jersey, and is trying to cope with the change and to fit in at her new school. Already she’s different: Her parents do not have any religion and so Margaret … Continue reading →

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Death Comes for the Archbishop, by Willa Cather

Posted on June 23, 2009 by Thistle

It’s been awhile since I read a slow classic, over several days, and Death Comes for the Archbishop was just perfect for me: nicely paced, quiet and calm, evocative, and something that transported me to a different time. This was … Continue reading →

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

Cry, the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Thistle

A parson named Kumalo from a small town in South Africa is called by another parson to Johannesburg to help his “ill” sister (meaning she’s gotten into prostitution and illegal alcohol/drug distribution). Kumalo fears Johannesburg – every member of his … Continue reading →

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