“Egg and Spoon” by Gregory Maguire

Reading Western fiction set in Russia, or some version of Russia, is always a little off-putting for me, and at first I didn’t know what to make of “Egg and Spoon.” It’s certainly a Western take on Russia, but it’s a gorgeous, multi-layered confection for all that. It’s set sometime shortly before the Revolution, if […]

“The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds” by Selina Siak Chin Yoke

“The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds” is a fascinating story about a culture I knew very little about prior to reading this book, and I really appreciate it bringing Nyonya/Baba culture to my awareness. However, that is not the only reason to like it: it’s also a well-written and heartfelt account of one woman’s struggles […]

“Who is to Blame?” by Jane Marlow

As a professional Russianist, I approached this book with both curiosity and trepidation. I’m always excited to see a Western book with a Russian theme, but at the same time, I’m so often disappointed in the execution. “Who Is to Blame?” definitely reads more like a Western take on a Russian theme than like actual […]

“Blood Divine” by Greg Howard

“Blood Divine” is a Southern Gothic vampire/ghost story with a bit of a twist. Cooper has been running away from his special abilities for the past decade, trying to silence his problems by throwing himself at every boy-toy he can find. But. as so often tends to happen, his past catches up with him. As […]

“Shiva XIV” by Lyra Shanti

A fascinating science fantasy tale about Ayn, a young intersex person (this book follows him from birth to adolescence) who is believed to be the second incarnation of his society’s great leader, and has been raised accordingly. His sheltered life is thrown into chaos by a terrorist attack, and Ayn has to flee for his […]

“All Men’s Space–In Space!” by CB Archer

Good Lord! Just when I think this series can’t get any goofier, it raises (or lowers) its game! This latest installment features a game full of Star Trek/Star Wars/Doctor Who/Sherlock (and was there also a passing reference to Red Dwarf?) allusions, sure to delight fans of any of those franchises. Providing you don’t mind a […]

“The Redemption of Erath: Consolation” by Satis

A rich and evocative high fantasy novel about a boy who, unlike in Faust, is always willing good but keeps doing evil. Brandye is orphaned as a baby and raised by his grandfather, one of the few who has ever ventured outside the land of Consolation. Brandye finds he doesn’t fit in amongst the others […]

“Lily” by Anna K. Payne

Lily is a three-time divorcee and now single mother struggling to make ends meet, who happens to witness a murder. As the story unfolds, she must stay ahead of the murderer, figure out where she stands with the undercover police officer who is protecting her, and come to terms with her flawed past and her […]

“Eyes Open” by Snow Patrol

It recently occurred to me that I could analyze albums as if they were lyric cycles, so I started doing so for albums I really liked. Then even more recently it occurred to me that I could post those reviews on my blog like any other review, so here’s my latest effort: As I continue […]

“The Fall of Lisa Bellow” by Susan Perabo

One day 13-year-old Meredith runs into her arch-rival at the deli–only instead of cutting each other dead, both girls find themselves lying next to each other on the floor as the deli is robbed at gunpoint. What follows is Meredith’s attempts to make sense of what happened, and her parents’ struggles to relate to a […]