Category: Gen Lit

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

Review: The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

by The Lit Bitch3 Comments on Review: The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

I had my eye on this book when it was released in the UK and I was eager to read it once it was published in the US. I am absolutely in love with the UK cover….the US cover not so much but the UK one is totally eye catching and screams READ ME.

When it came across my desk for review I was totally on board, especially since I was kind of on a ghost story kick. A Victorian ghost story….count me 100% in.

When Elsie married handsome young heir Rupert Bainbridge, she believed she was destined for a life of luxury. But with her husband dead just weeks after their marriage, her new servants resentful, and the local villagers actively hostile, Elsie has only her husband’s awkward cousin for company. Continue reading “Review: The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell” →

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

Review: Arrowood by Mick Finlay

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Arrowood by Mick Finlay

I absolutely love the tagline of this book: London Society takes their problems to Sherlock Holmes. Everyone else goes to Arrowood.

That totally caught my eye when I was scanning Netgalley in search of new books to read this summer. An anti-Sherlock Holmes sounded refreshing and new. I have been watching the TV show Sherlock (which if you haven’t watched it, go right now to Netflix and start!) and I love the modern take on it, so I thought that something like an anti-Sherlock read would be complimentary.

The Afghan War is over and a deal with the Irish appears to have brought an end to sectarian violence, but Britain’s position in the world is uncertain and the gap between rich and poor is widening. London is a place where the wealthy party while the underclass are tempted into lives of crime, drugs and prostitution. A serial killer stalks the streets. Politicians are embroiled in financial and sexual scandals. The year is 1895.

The police don’t have the resources to deal with everything that goes on in the capital. The rich turn to a celebrated private detective when they need help: Sherlock Holmes. But in densely populated south London, where the crimes are sleazier and Holmes rarely visits, people turn to Arrowood, a private investigator who despises Holmes, his wealthy clientele and his showy forensic approach to crime. Arrowood understands people, not clues (summary from Goodreads).

Continue reading “Review: Arrowood by Mick Finlay” →

Books, Gen Lit, Reading

Announcement: BookTrib Features Live Chat with Anne Rice

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Announcement: BookTrib Features Live Chat with Anne Rice

See Anne Rice as you have never seen her before!

In case you weren’t able to attend ThrillerFest this year, ThrilllerMaster and Queen of the Dead, Anne Rice was interviewed by her son and fellow author, Christopher Rice during an amazing spotlight session.

BookTrib is hosting an Exclusive Screening and Giveaway, “A Conversation with Anne Rice and Christopher Rice at ThrillerFestVIII” which will air on August 5 from 8 to 12 p.m. ET on BookTrib.com.

BookTrib members will also have the opportunity to win a signed copy of THE WOLF GIFT!

Continue reading “Announcement: BookTrib Features Live Chat with Anne Rice” →

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

Review: Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth

by The Lit Bitch3 Comments on Review: Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth

A single choice can transform you. One choice can destroy you. On Choosing Day, the people of five different factions make a choice that will change their lives. You can choose to leave your old faction behind in favor of a new one, but you will forever be bound to your new faction so it is not a choice one makes rashly. If you fail to meet the initiation for each faction, you become Factionless.

Tris Prior is different. She is Divergent and her choices destroy her.

Tris is in a dark place. Shas witnessed unspeakable horrors and is struggling to cope with the destruction and choices she has made. She needs to find forgiveness in others and learn to forgive herself. To find forgiveness, Tris must find the truth.

Tris is not used to sharing her secrets and her pain with others. She wears her secrets, choices, and experiences like armor. Her inner struggle is one of the things that makes this book great. She starts acting selfish and makes poor decisions in regards to her life simply to numb the pain she is feeling. Her boyfriend, Tobias (Four) desperately tries to reach her and help her, but he can’t save her from her own self destruction. Continue reading “Review: Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth” →

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

Review: Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades #1) by E. L. James

by The Lit Bitch7 Comments on Review: Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades #1) by E. L. James

I decided it was time to indulge to my inner curiosity about the wildly popular series Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James. After all, what kind of book reviewer would I be if I didn’t at least glance at the best seller list once in a while?

This book has been burning up the Amazon bestseller list and the NY Times….to mention I get asked a million times a week if I have read the book. From the other reviews I had read, it seems as though you either like the book or you hate it.

There is no denying that writing a book like the controversial Fifty Shades trilogy takes guts. This book was disturbing yet oddly intriguing. I had to wait a couple of days to digest that book, I want to give it a fair review, but I was so bothered by the content that I needed to think on it for a bit.

Anastasia Steele (Ana) gets tasked with interviewing billionaire, Christian Grey for her college newspaper when her friend falls ill. As luck would have it, Grey is good looking, sexy, witty, and rich….and a total control freak. Continue reading “Review: Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades #1) by E. L. James” →