Tag Archives: books

On the banks of the Hudson, with Echoes of Wellesley

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Beth Parks Aronson

I have leap-frogged over a couple of reviews to discuss this one, because I found myself composing this post in the time remaining in my commute after the novel stopped playing. Something in Leah Hager Cohen’s writing made me … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Orange, Other Prizes | Tagged American Literature, books, Explo, Exploration Summer Program, Leah Hager Cohen, New York, The Grief of Others | Leave a comment

Facing War Trauma in Edinburgh

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Beth Parks Aronson

For one the challenges in a Goodreads book group, I finally got started on the Regeneration Trilogy by Pat Barker. The books in the series are on the 1001 list, have received awards and huge critical acclaim, but I was … Continue reading →

Posted in 1001 Books, Books | Tagged 1001 Books, Around the World in Books, books, British Literature, Conversion Disorder, Dream analysis, Europe, Historical Fiction, Pat Barker, psychoanalysis, PTSD, Regeneration, Scotland, shell shock, UK, WWI | 3 Comments

Grenada and Sweden on the Edge of My Seat

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Beth Parks Aronson

I just finished up the second of Stieg Larsson’s suspense novels, and I am going to keep this brief so I can start the third one! The novel definitely captured my full attention, and I was really glad to have … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Mystery/Thriller | Tagged Around the World in Books, books, Grenada, mystery, Stieg Larsson, Sweden, The Girl Who Played With FIre | Leave a comment

February Plans

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Beth Parks Aronson

Since I’m currently about four commute days away from finishing my next chunkster (The Girl Who Played with Fire), I’m not going to have reviews to post for a bit. I decided to share with you the results of my … Continue reading →

Posted in 1001 Books, 2014 TBR PIle Challenge, Booker, Books, Mystery/Thriller, Readathons | Tagged 1001 Books, Anne Perry, Around the World in Books, Booker Prize, books, British Literature, challenges, dystopian fiction, Execution Dock, Goodreads You'll Love This One, Margaret Atwood, Oryx and Crake, Pat Barker, Regeneration Trilogy, Stieg Larsson, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, The Girl Who Played With FIre, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo | Leave a comment

Traveling Back to East Texas in the 1960s

Posted on January 26, 2014 by Beth Parks Aronson

This summer I moved to Houston to take a job teaching in the psychology department of Lamar University, which is located 100 miles east, in the heart of East Texas. East Texas is a place you have to learn to … Continue reading →

Posted in Around the US 2013, Books | Tagged Around the US in Books, books, East Texas, LIar's Club, Mary Karr, Memoir, Texas, US | Leave a comment

The Journey of A Glass Church in New South Wales

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Beth Parks Aronson

Without intending to, I have immersed myself in mid-19th century Oceania with my most recent reads. This one was across the water in the marginally more settled New South Wales. The narration begins in the present day, with a narrator … Continue reading →

Posted in 1001 Books, Booker, Books, Other Prizes | Tagged 1001 Books, Around the World in Books, Australia, Booker Prize, books, Oceania, Oscar and Lucinda, Peter Carey | 1 Comment

Mystery and Gold in New Zealand

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Beth Parks Aronson

A quick apology: my reviews are probably going to be very short this semester. I’m ridiculously busy, so this is a place I am going to cut back a bit. You will still get a feel for what I think … Continue reading →

Posted in Booker, Books, Mystery/Thriller | Tagged Around the World in Books, Booker Prize, books, British Literature, Eleanor Catton, New Zealand, The Luminaries | Leave a comment

In Sweden, After A Long Delay

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Beth Parks Aronson

I predicted I would finish this Chunkster by Wednesday. It’s Monday night and I am ready to start book 2 of the series. I can’t believe it has taken me years to pull this one off my shelf and read … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Tagged Around the World in Books, books, Chunksters Challenge, Stieg Larsson, Sweden, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, thrillers | 1 Comment

Finishing the Divergent Series in Chicago

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Beth Parks Aronson

I altered my Chunksters list to get this book into the challenge, because a friend just loaned it to me. My Goodreads review follows. Allegiant by Veronica Roth My rating: 3 of 5 stars The third novel in the Divergent … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Tagged Allegiant, books, Chunksters Challenge, Veronica Roth | 1 Comment

In the Trees Near Genoa

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Beth Parks Aronson

Yes, I’ve already finished the first of the books in my TBR Pile Challenge. These short ones are a treat. I wanted to finish off Our Ancestors, a trio of novellas by Italo Calvino. I had read the other two … Continue reading →