I think I agree with a quote in the New Yorker, that this graphic novel feels a little like a bit of an act of revenge by Sattouf at his father for his childhood being dragged to Libya and Syria. His father is conveyed through Sattouf as a child narrator who blindly repeats his father’s arrogant, misogynistic, xenophobic, homophobic, sexist and naive rants without comment and… Read More

This is a YA novel that doesn’t disappoint. It was on a list of 24 Books That Make You Stay Up Late Reading, and while I don’t agree with all the choices, this one had me literally reading till the early hours this morning.  Which recalled Stephen King’s devilish desire to mess with his readers lives because of “the gotta, as in: “I know I should be starting… Read More

Ah, I have not managed my post a day challenge! But I am back and this time with my list of 134 High School Recommended Books 2018, (many would be enjoyed by adults also!) There is some crossover with the Middle School and Prep Recommended novels, but a vast majority are not on both lists. Again, I have placed the suggested novels on a wish list at… Read More

I finished Irmina today and thoroughly recommend it. It was slightly unexpected in that it turns its focus on our, at times, unsympathetic heroine’s disappointments rather than the tragedy and significant events of WWII. Yelin follows Irmina’s struggles from 1934 London where she studies to 1983 Stuttgart. The cut from 1943 Berlin to 1983 Stuttgart was a little jarring, but to explain the leap would be a… Read More