Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

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Thanks to JG for the photography. Set in a slightly alternate universe, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell has been touted as the Harry Potter for adults. It's far more than that, however. Set in England during the Napoleonic wars, its a lengthy book that delves deeply into the mythology of Faerie. One thing that has … Continue reading Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

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Thanks to JG for the photography. I first heard about The Help when the movie, with Octavia Spencer and Cicely Tyson came out, and wanted to read the book first. The storyline, in a nutshell, is the story of two African-American maids - Aibileen and Minny in 1960s Mississippi - and how the lives they … Continue reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Dune by Frank Herbert

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Thanks to JP for the photography. I remember discovering the planet Arrakis when I was about 11 years old and nosily poking around my uncle Greg's apartment. He lived in a guest apartment behind my grandparent's house and had a taste for the music of The Police and sci-fi fiction, both of which he passed … Continue reading Dune by Frank Herbert

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

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Photography by me. The reason I love Sarah Waters' books is because there is always a sense of pervasive menace throughout her pages. Her settings are innocuous: British post-war, large rambling houses, upper-class families who have fallen on hard times and must economize in ways they never had to before, and a way of life … Continue reading The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather

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Photography by me. I'm kind of embarrassed to admit this, but I never liked Death Comes for the Archbishop, probably because it was required reading when I was in the 6th grade. Anything forced is never something I want to do, even when it comes to reading. Isn't it amazing, though, how different it can … Continue reading Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather

The Devil’s Larder by Jim Crace

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Thanks to Dr. H for the photography. Not so much a novel as a dreamily connected series of 64 short vignettes, The Devil's Larder tells of the many differing viewpoints about, from, on and against food in our culture. It's a pretty twisted read in many ways, subversive against so many deeply held beliefs about … Continue reading The Devil’s Larder by Jim Crace

Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken by Monica Bhide

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Thanks to TB for the photography. I have a thing for books that present food as medicine. Chocolat, Like Water for Chocolate.....and now Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken, are absolute favorites. Written by the acclaimed food writer turned novelist Monica Bhide, it extols the pleasures of friendship, giving back to those who have … Continue reading Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken by Monica Bhide

A Scandal in Bohemia (Sherlock Holmes) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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Thanks to JRB for the photography. Who doesn't love the adventures of the erstwhile Sherlock Holmes, and his faithful sidekick Dr. Watson? So ingrained in our culture are these two literary detectives that the image of a deerstalker cap and pipe, the phrase "elementary, my dear Watson," and the address 221-B Baker Street in London, … Continue reading A Scandal in Bohemia (Sherlock Holmes) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk

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Thanks to TB for the photography. This book took me five years to read, but not because it's particularly long or boring. No, My Name is Red is one of the most entertaining and complex murder mysteries I've ever read. The book is told from 12 different viewpoints, including the murder victim himself - a … Continue reading My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk

Homme Fatal by Paul Mayersberg

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While digging through my bookshelves the other day, I came across Homme Fatal, a pop fiction novel I'd bought years ago and held onto because the story was so fascinating.  Though quite a smutty novel, I primarily held onto it because the story, told about the same events from two viewpoints, had a sleazy, 1940's … Continue reading Homme Fatal by Paul Mayersberg