A Good Marriage (Full Dark, No Stars) by Stephen King

Marriage is one of those relationships that, if you've never had one, is likely impossible to understand. Having never been married myself, I'd tend to agree. From an outside viewpoint and from witnessing the many marriages within my own family and circle of friends, it seems to create both a seemingly unbreakable bond and a … Continue reading A Good Marriage (Full Dark, No Stars) by Stephen King

Carnevale by Michelle Lovric

If I could go back in time, I would choose to live my life in Venice as a courtesan or as a Papal chef. Both of those professions seem to very romantic, though the reality is more difficult and disgusting than many fictional stories might indicate. Venice itself is an incredibly romantic, beautiful, decadent and … Continue reading Carnevale by Michelle Lovric

The City of Mist by Carlos Ruíz Zafón

If you haven't read any of the books of Carlos Ruíz Zafón, you're surely missing out on one of the true literary pleasures of this universe. A modern-day Cervantes, Ruíz Zafón spun stories about labyrinths, mysterious figures in black, magical pens, death and destruction and war, the beauty of love, the pain of romance, the … Continue reading The City of Mist by Carlos Ruíz Zafón

The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Reverte

"The Anjou Wine" is the first chapter in this rollicking adventure tale reminiscent of Alexandre Dumas, the famous French author of The Three Musketeers saga, and plays a starring role in this week's recipe, too. The Club Dumas, in short, is the tale of Lucas Corso, an antique book dealer who is sent in search … Continue reading The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Reverte

What Moves The Dead by T. Kingfisher

Being the former Goth girl that I am, I retain my love for all things dark, macabre, creepy, ghostly, horrific, and occasionally gruesome, which explains why I love this book so much. What Moves The Dead is a fantastic re-imagining of Edgar Allan Poe's story The Fall of the House of Usher, which is like … Continue reading What Moves The Dead by T. Kingfisher

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

The revolutionary era of Mexico seems to be a popular literary backdrop these days, which I appreciate because it shines a light on an era that I personally know little about. Growing up in New Mexico, the connection with Mexico was of course a significant part of our culture, and I have a vivid memory … Continue reading The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

Taste by Stanley Tucci

Stanley Tucci is a wonderful actor who has been in some of my favorite films, including Julie and Julia, The Devil Wears Prada, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Witches, Prizzi's Honor, and one of the best foodie films of all time, IMHO, called Big Night. If you call yourself a foodie and you haven't seen … Continue reading Taste by Stanley Tucci

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