Category: Book Critic

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Summer Country by Lauren Willig (Audible Edition)

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: The Summer Country by Lauren Willig (Audible Edition)

To say that Lauren Willig is a favorite author of mine is the understatement of the year. Everything she touches is like magic for me. She is hands down one of my favorite authors and an author I have on auto-buy. Lauren Willig is historical fiction at its best—plain and simple.

When I saw this book was coming out and that it was set in the exotic location of Barbados, I knew it was going to be glorious and I had it on pre-order almost immediately. I was also gifted and early ARC of this book as well, but I knew between the cover and the author, I needed the finished product to put on my shelf!

When it came, I was knee deep in all my other summer reading and I was impatient to start this one, but it was also lengthy. So I decided to get it on Audible as well, that way I could listen to it when I was running my errands and alternate between reading and listening so that I could get it in faster! Continue reading “Review: The Summer Country by Lauren Willig (Audible Edition)” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: A Stranger on the Beach by Michele Campbell

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: A Stranger on the Beach by Michele Campbell

Michelle Campbell is a new to me author, though I have had my eye on her debut novel, It’s Always the Husband, for over a year now. When this book came up for review, I was excited to try something by this author, even if it wasn’t the book that I had had my eye on for so long.

I enjoy domestic thrillers and this one sounded like it was going to be one of those books that I would devour in one or two sittings. And based on a number of other reviews that I had read,  most people would agree that this book could easily be read in a sitting or two since it was fast paced—like many domestic thrillers.

That’s why I needed up picking this book up rather late, I had it up for review on a Wednesday and started reading it on a Sunday afternoon with the hope that it would be a fast read that I would enjoy either at home or on the beach with my family. Continue reading “Review: A Stranger on the Beach by Michele Campbell” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Undertaker’s Assistant by Amanda Skenandore

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: The Undertaker’s Assistant by Amanda Skenandore

The setting of this book instantly caught my eye and made me want to read it. It is set in Reconstruction Era Louisiana and features an undertakers assistant as the heroine. As many of you know, my Masters thesis was on women in Civil War nursing specifically Southern nurses through the Reconstruction era.

So to say that this book caught my eye was an understatement—I was practically chomping at the bit to read it! I finished my Masters degree three years ago, and since then I have not read a ton of books set in the Civil War or Reconstruction eras mostly because I felt burnt out but every once in a while, a book catches my eye and I can’t resist it—hence this book.

The other thing that excited me about this book was the main character, who is a freed slave who returns to the South to work as an embalmer. I thought this was an interesting angle and was excited to see how it played out in the story. Continue reading “Review: The Undertaker’s Assistant by Amanda Skenandore” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: Crescendo: The True Story of a Musical Genius Who Forever Changed a Southern Town by Allen Cheney and Julie Cantrell

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: Crescendo: The True Story of a Musical Genius Who Forever Changed a Southern Town by Allen Cheney and Julie Cantrell

This was a book that I debated and debated and debated about. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to read it since it’s a non-fiction book. But then I also kept seeing so many great reviews about it that I felt like I was missing out on something wonderful.

I kept putting it off and ultimately decided to wait and see how my July reading shaped up and promised myself that if I had some time, I would try and squeeze this one in.

My mom is a pianist and its always such treat to hear her play so I felt like in a way, I owed it to her to read this book even if it is non-fiction—a genre that I rarely read. Not to mention the title of the book is so pitch perfect as is the cover. The fact that I kept thinking about it and wondering if I should read it, told me everything that I needed to know. I needed to find a way to fit this one in. Continue reading “Review: Crescendo: The True Story of a Musical Genius Who Forever Changed a Southern Town by Allen Cheney and Julie Cantrell” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Re-Post Review: Vox by Christina Dalcher

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Re-Post Review: Vox by Christina Dalcher

Last summer I had the pleasure of reading Vox and I can’t tell you how disturbing it was. I loved the book, but even now I remember with such clarity how uncomfortable it was to read because of the current political climate.

Dalcher is a powerful writer and with Vox she has captured a new and more modern look at society but with the same unease and terror as the classic dystopian novel, The Handmaid’s Tale.

I thought about this book long after I was done with it, and still think about it even a year later after reading it! Now it is out in paperback and I am re-sharing my review of Vox to celebrate the paperback release. I think this is an important book that women everywhere should read.

I also have a giveaway going on over on my Instagram page for a copy of this chilling book, so please come by and enter for a chance to win! Continue reading “Re-Post Review: Vox by Christina Dalcher” →