Book Review: The Gift

The Gift by Richard Paul EvansMy rating: 2.5 of 5 starsI have a complicated relationship with Richard Paul Evans. Some of his Christmas books I found very enjoyable (Like Mistletoe Inn, Lost December, and A Winter Dream), while others I was ambivalent towards (Mistletoe Secret) or downright detested (Grace shudder). This book joins the ranks …

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Book Review: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum My rating: 4 of 5 stars I remember having this book read to me as a first-grader and being surprised at how different it was from the movie. Beyond that, I only had a vague recollection of the plot, so I thought it was time I …

Book Review: Loki: Where Mischief Lies

Loki: Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars The problem with writing a book about one of the most popular characters in the MCU is that every Loki fan goes into the story with high expectations of how they want their boy to be written. As a fan of the …

Book Review: Teach Like a PIRATE

Teach Like a Pirate: Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity, and Transform Your Life as an Educator by Dave Burgess My rating: 3 of 5 stars I'm not entirely sure for whom this book is intended. I read it in hopes of improving my technique and building more enthusiasm in certain difficult/jaded students, but the …

Book Review: The Second Worst Restaurant in France

The Second Worst Restaurant in France by Alexander McCall Smith My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars I will be the first to offer plaudits to the genius and gentle humor of Alexander McCall Smith. However, this sequel to the free-standing My Italian Bulldozer reads like it was the product of the publishers, not the author. …

Book Review: The Rosie Result

The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion My rating: 4 of 5 stars "I had observed that neurotypicals criticised autistic people for lacking empathy -- towards them -- but seldom made any effort to improve their own empathy towards autistic people."Boom. What a statement, and so incredibly true. My sister is totally empathetic, yet neurotypical people …

Book Review: Jeremy Poldark

Jeremy Poldark by Winston Graham My rating: 3 of 5 stars This novel is what we refer to as a "bridge" book or a "filler" book. There is very little plot that happens, but it wraps up story lines from the previous two novels as well as sets up some events that will resonate in …

Book Review: Fowl Play

DuckTales Vol. 4: Fowl Play by Alessandro Ferrari My rating: 4 of 5 stars Ducktales: Fowl Play continues the comic tie-in to the wildly popular reboot TV show. This collection seems to have a theme of "family," as various members of the McDuck and Duck tribe realize what their family means to them. These comics …

Book Review: My Italian Bulldozer

My Italian Bulldozer by Alexander McCall Smith My rating: 4 of 5 stars Reading an Alexander McCall Smith book is like returning to one of your favorite haunts after months or years away and remembering why you liked the place so much to begin with. The atmosphere is relaxed and gentle, despite whatever pedantic prodding …

Book Review: One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn My rating: 4 of 5 stars I feel this book would be a great one to make Western high schoolers, who are convinced of the "evil fascism" of their country, to read. They can whine all they want about how "totalitarian" their government is, …