Category: Book Review

Book Challenges, Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Gen Lit, Literary Criticism, Reading, Reading Challenges

Review: Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

by The Lit Bitch4 Comments on Review: Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James was literally DOA for me.

It really tears me up when I have to write and unfavorable review, but I do have to call them like I see them, it’s only fair to my reads, fans, and authors.

For me, Death Comes to Pemberley was a flatline. I really wanted to like it but I just could never really get into it which makes me very sad.

With every page that I read I was hoping it would improve but I found it confusing at times and the characters flat. James begins with giving the ‘ridiculous short version’ recap of the original Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice novel which gave me hope because it WAS a comical rendition.

Then the actual story itself starts a few years after the marriage of the Miss Bennets to Bingley and Darcy. Continue reading “Review: Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James” →

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

Author Interview: Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia

by The Lit Bitch4 Comments on Author Interview: Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia

I recently had the pleasure of reviewing Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia. Poughkeepsie is a moving story about love, life, and the human condition in a modern and often cruel world. It was an absolutely fantastic story and I am honored to be able to offer an E-copy for two lucky readers!

If you are interested in the giveaway it run through 1/11/12 and details can be found here.

Debra also agreed to do an interview with me as well, so without further ado please welcome Debra Anastasia to The Lit Bitch! Continue reading “Author Interview: Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia” →

Book Challenges, Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Gen Lit, Literary Criticism, Random, Reading, Reading Challenges

The Lit Bitch’s Year in Literature Wrap Up 2011

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on The Lit Bitch’s Year in Literature Wrap Up 2011

A Year in Literature Wrap Up–2011.

Here are my stats and a quick recap
  • 8 reading challenges entered
  • 6 challenges completed
  • 52 books read
  • 22,645 pages total

Want to see all the bitchin’ details about what I read this year? Click the ‘read more’ in this post to see the answers to all your favorite questions……. 🙂
Continue reading “The Lit Bitch’s Year in Literature Wrap Up 2011” →

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

Review: City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3) by Cassandra Clare

by The Lit Bitch3 Comments on Review: City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3) by Cassandra Clare

Epic.

In Cassandra Clare’s third installment of her wildly successful series, The Mortal Instruments (MI), City of Glass is just that…epic!

City of Ashes left off with the group of shawdowhunter warriors poised for a show down worthy of the OK Corral! Jace, Clary, Alec, Luke, Simon, Magnus, The Lightwoods….everyone was anxiously waiting for the day when Valentine would make his move and they could either fight and destroy him or submit to his demands. City of Ashes left readers tasting the looming battle…waiting for that day to come.

This book follows Clary’s journey to the shadownhunter ‘homeland’ of Idris. The whole Lightwood family, Jace, and Clary plan to attend a formal Clave meeting about what should be done about Valentine.

Just as Magnus opens the portal to send the Lightwoods and Jace though (without Clary), demons and forsaken attack them. Magnus throws the Lightwoods and Jace through the portal before anymore demons pass through and kill them….oddly enough Simon is there meeting with Jace about Clary and he too gets thrown threw the portal to Idris right along with them. Continue reading “Review: City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3) by Cassandra Clare” →

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

Review: Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia

by The Lit Bitch6 Comments on Review: Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia

There is only one word to describe Debra Anastasia’s novel Poughkeepsie…..elegant.

I feel absolutely privileged to review this novel, the cover alone is completely breathtaking and haunting…I couldn’t help but say yes to a review. When I first read the summary, I was not sure that this novel was entirely in my general review genre and I was not sure how the story would fit together as it sounded abstract. I am normally not a huge fan of contempo lit, let alone contempo romance, I feel like contempo lit generally leaves the reader feeling disturbed.

Many of the characteristics of contempo lit are feelings of hopelessness, questioning a world that lacks past assurances (happy endings etc). When I am reading I generally like to escape the real world and retreat into a world of happily ever after….I guess I’m saying I need to be in a mood to read contempo lit LOL :). Which was why I thought about waiting to review Poughkeepsie until after the new year….but I simply couldn’t forget the haunting cover and mysterious title….for some reason I just couldn’t get the book out of my mind, so I agreed to review.

Since this will probably be my last review of the year, I am thrilled to say I went out on a high note–the book was hands down phenomenal….one of the best I have read this year and I don’t say those sorts of things lightly. This book was so many additives it was hard to pick just one: spellbinding, elegant, lyrical, breathtaking, magical…..beautiful.

Poughkeepsie is a dark modern day Cinderella story with a distinct classic Romeo and Juliet feel. Continue reading “Review: Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia” →