Category: Literature

The Farolitos of Christmas by Rudolfo Anaya

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Thanks to TB for the photography. Welcome to December, and a month of holiday-themed books and food! Those who know me know my great and abiding love for the books of Rudolfo Anaya. He's called the Godfather of Chicano literature for a reason, and it's his novel Bless Me, Ultima, that catapulted him and our … Continue reading The Farolitos of Christmas by Rudolfo Anaya

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

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Thanks to AL for the photography. Don't you love a story told from an unexpected viewpoint, or from a character who has traditionally been portrayed in a certain way? It gives a much-needed shift in perspective, I think. Seeing things in only one way is both boring and limiting. It's good to expand your worldview … Continue reading Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes

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I was lucky enough to have inherited my dad's version of this marvelous treasure of a book, Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, and which has notes in his handwriting, making it even more precious. My undergraduate degree was in Spanish, and as part of my graduation requirements, I had to read Part II … Continue reading Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes

Grimm Tales by Phillip Pullman

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Thanks to TB for the photography - and the duck tureen! I think I've mentioned this previously, but I'm a sucker for fairy tales. I still have the picture books from my childhood that transported me to magical kingdoms of princesses who dance their slippers to pieces every night, poisoned apples that send one to … Continue reading Grimm Tales by Phillip Pullman

The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper

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Thanks to CHC for the photography! October winds to a close, and all the spooky, scary things that went bump in the night are on their way out, ushering in the holiday season. The supernaturally-themed book that I raced to the October finish line is a new favorite, a little gem of a novel which … Continue reading The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

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Thanks to KRB for the photography. The title was the hook for me with this book, not to mention the book cover. Yes, in this case, I did indeed judge the book by its cover, and I was pleasantly surprised. Though nominally a book for young adults, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a … Continue reading Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

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Thanks to KMQ for the photography. We continue with our month-long Halloween theme and a particular favorite book of mine. I'm always excited to reread "The Witching Hour" which is on my top 10 absolute most favorite books in the world. I first discovered Anne Rice one summer when I was 12, visiting my aunt … Continue reading The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

The Shining by Stephen King

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Thanks to CHC for the photography. I don't think Stephen King has ever been accused of being a foodie, though he is most certainly the most visceral writer I've ever encountered. I've been reading his books since my early teens, starting with The Shining, as well as many others. But the story of the Torrance … Continue reading The Shining by Stephen King

Dracula by Bram Stoker

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Thanks to TB for the photography. It's October! The month of peculiar things that go bump in the night, the season of the witch, of ghosts and haunted houses, of vampires and demons. And very appropriately, we kick off this month of Halloween-themed blog posts with the bad-ass granddad of all vampires books, Dracula, and … Continue reading Dracula by Bram Stoker

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim

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Dedicated to my dear friend Kate Parker. "Well, this is Italian rain!" I came across the book The Enchanted April while browsing on Amazon.com one afternoon when I should have been working. Having loved the film so much, I decided the time had come to see how faithful to the book it had been. The … Continue reading The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim