The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

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Dedicated to my father, David Baca. Oh, Hannibal Lecter! Probably one of my most favorite literary characters of all time, and definitely someone that all of us can relate to, on some level, anyway. Witty, cultured, and lives by his own standards of conduct, he kills those who offend him, offend his aesthetics, offend his … Continue reading The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

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The premise of this novel, The Little Paris Bookshop, is that books are medicine for the heart and the soul. I love that idea and believe it's true. Books have been my constant companion since childhood, my comfort when sad, and my solace when all hope seemed lost. I remember my grandmother, Nana Jean, reading … Continue reading The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

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For MGC, who turned me on to Kentucky bourbon whiskey. Here's to you, my dear. I've often thought F. Scott was the man of my dreams, albeit 50 years too early. The man could write, loved to drink, was a party animal, and as handsome as any man I've ever seen. I mean, what else … Continue reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (Outlander Series)

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So I won't bore you with my gushing adoration for the books of Diana Gabaldon. If you're a book lover, a lover of history, a lover of epic love stories, a lover of time travel, or if you watch STARZ, you've probably heard of the Outlander series by this marvelous writer, and hopefully, you also … Continue reading Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (Outlander Series)

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

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I don't normally go for "best sellers," mainly because I've found that what sometimes constitutes a best seller, such as Fifty Shades of Grey, is actually terrible literature. In this case, I was quite happy to be wrong. The Girl on the Train is wildly popular and being made into a movie, and is so … Continue reading The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

The Bible

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I find the Bible quite fascinating to read, as literature. Please don't stone me for saying that. I grew up Catholic and I have utmost respect for people's beliefs. But for me, The Bible, from my earliest memories of reading a made-for-kids version with lots of cool pictures that my dad bought me from some … Continue reading The Bible

The Golem and The Jinni by Helene Wecker

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This book, The Golem and The Jinni, is the literary equivalent of being in an opium dream. Strange creatures, lyrical and unusual prose, mad leaps of logic, fantasy oases in the desert, and food descriptions that are so real you can almost smell the scent of cinnamon and yogurt and herbs. The premise, a woman … Continue reading The Golem and The Jinni by Helene Wecker

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

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To say this book is my ultimate favorite is an understatement. I first read it in my 20s and was enthralled at the mixture of philosophy, medieval history, and the detective story at the heart of The Name of the Rose. Much like the labyrinth library navigated by Brother William of Baskerville and Adso of … Continue reading The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

Madeleine’s Ghost by Robert Girardi

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I've lost track of how many times I've read this book. My sister even comments when I tell her I'm reading it again, and she never comments on my books. "What? Madeleine's Ghost AGAIN? Haven't you read it like a billion times?" Not quite. I just love this novel. It hits me in the heart … Continue reading Madeleine’s Ghost by Robert Girardi

Strange Pilgrims by Gabriel García Márquez

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I've had a long-time passionate love for Gabriel García Márquez for years now, originally fueled by Love in the Time of Cholera and Of Love and Other Demons, and most especially, Strange Pilgrims. This book, a compilation of twelve surreal and dreamlike tales, tells of a woman who sells her dreams - speaking of which … Continue reading Strange Pilgrims by Gabriel García Márquez