Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

So yes, this is totally a chick-lit book. I admit it. I also admit that I rather enjoyed it. So go ahead and judge me, all you literary snobs. Oh wait, I'm the literary snob! I forgot! Anyway, Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen is totally a rip-off of Alice Hoffman's wonderful book Practical Magic, … Continue reading Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Duma Key by Stephen King

I have never much cared for Florida, which I realize is an unpopular opinion. But aside from the massive amount of bugs, the dreadful humidity, the terrible hurricanes, and the fact that Mar-a-Lago is located there, Florida just has never been my cuppa tea. It's a beautiful place, certainly, but it has always had a … Continue reading Duma Key by Stephen King

Episode 7, Season 2 of “Cooking The Books” Podcast Now Available!

The latest episode of the Cooking The Books podcast just dropped! We're taking on the big, bad granddad of monsters, Count Dracula himself, my favorite guest Allie Pino returns to discuss Gothic literature and food, and we give Keanu Reeves some much-needed respect for his role as Jonathan Harker in the film adaptation of Dracula, … Continue reading Episode 7, Season 2 of “Cooking The Books” Podcast Now Available!

When In Florence by Richard Cortez Day

This is one of those books that I just love, in which several stories tie together a myriad of characters who interweave throughout each other's tales, with one minor character in one story becoming the major player in another...and the best part? It's set in another one of my favorite cities in the world - … Continue reading When In Florence by Richard Cortez Day

Velvet was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Having read pretty much everything that Silva Moreno-Garcia has written, including a few of her most excellent short stories, I was prepared to love Velvet was the Night, if only for the noir-ish title and the gorgeous cover. I love noir in both literature and film, and of course I fell madly in love with … Continue reading Velvet was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Burning Última:  Rudolfo Anaya and the Impact of Book Bans on Democracy Article for the NM Humanities Council

I'm pleased to share my latest article for the NM Humanities Council on the subject of book banning and its effect on democracy and my dear friend and mentor, Rudolfo Anaya whose novel Bless Me, Última, was banned many times. Check it out at: https://nmhumanities.org/?blogId=1926

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

I'm a sucker for any fiction set in the world of college academia, and I don't know why. It's maybe that romantic, old-world sense I get when reading about Ivy League universities or the dreaming spires of Oxford. I suppose it's also because they are so removed from the very modern universities and colleges that … Continue reading The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

Episode 6, Season 2 of “Cooking The Books” Podcast Now Available!

April is National Jazz Month, and although we're nearing the end, there's still time to talk about one of my favorite books in this episode! Jay Gatsby is one of American literature's most tragic heroes, and I interview Dr. Eddie Tafoya on this pivotal novel. We talk symbolism, the role of WWI and how it … Continue reading Episode 6, Season 2 of “Cooking The Books” Podcast Now Available!

Journal: The Short Life and Mysterious Death of Amy Zoe Mason by Kristine Atkinson and Joyce Atkinson

So this was an unusual little read for me. I normally don't much care for what you might call "interactive" reading, although I did love the Griffin and Sabine books. If you enjoyed that series of graphic novels, you'll like this book, which is very much in that vein. The story itself is told epistolary … Continue reading Journal: The Short Life and Mysterious Death of Amy Zoe Mason by Kristine Atkinson and Joyce Atkinson

Fish Not Flesh: Symbolism of the New Mexico Lenten Feast Article

(Image courtesy of http://www.iamnm.com) My latest article for the New Mexico Humanities Council is available online at: https://nmhumanities.org/?blogId=1889&fbclid=IwAR1sdhsRtE0YsYOlfjqaBTmPwyBv_d4x7uI_357C-r9lSozpqTsFd9ewnlo The article talks about the unique Good Friday Lenten meal that New Mexican Catholics traditionally eat each year, and notes the similarities between these foods and the Jewish Passover Seder meal, so check it out and let … Continue reading Fish Not Flesh: Symbolism of the New Mexico Lenten Feast Article