Admission: I didn't "get" why Middlemarch was considered such a classic back in 1974 when I read it for a "Women in Literature" seminar in college. I knew one had to read Eliot and I found the little I knew about her interesting. I'm sure I read an article about Eliot to supplement the novel. … Continue reading The Real George Eliot – Lisa Tippings →

I won an advance reading copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway, which I'm pleased about --because I can highly recommend this book. It feels a little mean to say this is a very entertaining read because Cheryl Diamond's life was way too chaotic -- to such an extent that she ultimately found out … Continue reading Nowhere Girl: A Memoir of a Fugitive Childhood – Cheryl Diamond →

Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton are icons for those of us who grew up in the "second wave" feminist movement. I always knew who they were, their perceived impact on women's literature and that they committed suicide. I read "The Bell Jar" in 1977. But this is a must-read book for so many reasons beyond … Continue reading Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz- Gail Crowther →

I liked these pieces, two separate stories that I would describe as "observational humor." I admit I signed on for what I figured would be the British version of Barbara Ehrenreich's "Nickel and Dimed: On Not Getting by in America," and while the social commentary is there, it's not the point of Urban Slave, the … Continue reading Urban Slave and Walking on Aire – Andy Owens (An e-book; Netgalley & Kindle) →

A thoroughly enjoyable read! Ellie McDonnell has been raised since infancy by her widowed uncle Mick, a locksmith and a safecracker. It's London, August 1940, Britain is in the war and Mick's two sons have been called to duty. Ellie already is trained in both sides of the family business, when she learns her skills … Continue reading A Peculiar Combination- Ashley Weaver (Electra McDonnell, Book 1) →

Don't know about you, but a lot of times I find that as my favorite historical fiction series progress through the decades, I lose interest or the writing quality goes down. Not so with Maisie Dobbs. We've seen her through great tragedy and great happiness, over several decades and she never fails to be interesting. … Continue reading The Consequences of Fear – Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs # 16) →

This was a fascinating read about the earliest investigative reporters ("muckrakers"), the pressing topics of the time, and the turn of the 20th-century publication, "McClures" conceived and established by S.S. McClure. Over the years, Ida Tarbell turned up as a character in historical fiction I read. I welcomed this chance to learn about her in … Continue reading Citizen Reporters: S.S. McClure, Ida Tarbell, and the Magazine that Rewrote America – Stephanie Gorton (Listened on Audible Audio) →

I came to this 1925 book because of John Waters' description of Compton-Burnett's writing in his 2010 book, "Role Models." He said to read any of her books and that they are a hard read, but witty and worth the effort. I went to Internet Archive and read her first. Waters and reviewers on Goodreads … Continue reading Pastors and Masters – Ivy Compton Burnett (1925) →

What can I say? I'm a fan and John Waters lets us into his brain here, describing his favorite people and sometimes the things his favorite people created (art, literature, pornography, music). I'm very happy I chose the audio CD. Prior to hearing Waters present at one of his spoken word events, I read a … Continue reading Role Models (Audio Read by Author) – John Waters →

This is a highly readable account of Stan Lee's involvement in the rise of comic books in the 20th century to superhero movies in the 21st century. Stan Lee lived from 1922 to 2018, carving out a highly visible role in comic book mythology. I am casually interested in Marvel and Stan Lee. The various … Continue reading Stan Lee: How Marvel Changed the World – Adrian Mackinder →