Category: Literary Criticism

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

Review: Come From Away by Genevieve Graham

by The Lit Bitch8 Comments on Review: Come From Away by Genevieve Graham

I love when new authors find me and think that I will like their books. I am always intrigued because with the internet it’s hard to get a feel for people sometimes so when an author asks me if I would like to review their book or they think it’s something I will like—it always makes me pause.

I can honestly say that I give every single book that comes across my desk for review, my full and complete consideration for this reason. Authors, publishers, friends on social media…..I read all the pitches. Now that doesn’t mean that I review them all, but if it truly is something I’m interested in reading and I have time then I’m usually in.

That’s how I stumbled on to Genevieve Graham. She found me and asked it I would review her book, TIDES OF HONOUR, back in 2015.  I was blown away by the subject matter, characters, and the historical period as well as the added Canadian perspective in WWI.

I was thrilled when she asked if I would be interested in reading her latest novel, COME FROM AWAY, and I didn’t even hesitate….absolutely! Continue reading “Review: Come From Away by Genevieve Graham” →

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

Review: My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

by The Lit Bitch4 Comments on Review: My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

Hamilton is everywhere thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda! All of a sudden US History is cool again and everyone wants to get their hands on the hottest tickets in town!

Currently the musical is playing in Portland which is near where I live and tickets are going for $400 a pop. I’ve been trying to enter the giveaway thing that they do for tickets but never seems to win—does anyone???

So like so many other Americans I too have jumped on the Hamilton train and plan to ride it all the way until I can see the musical which will likely never happen at this rate but a girl can dream!

That’s where this book comes in. Since I am not able to see the musical, why not just try a new hot trendy book about Hamilton? Full disclosure….I have my masters in US History so I should be able to tell you more about Hamilton beyond the fact that he was a founding father and was shot by Aaron Burr (thank you 1993 Got Milk commercial!!)…..but beyond that all I have are crickets. Continue reading “Review: My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie” →

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

Review: Too Close to Breathe (Frankie Sheehan #1) by Olivia Kiernan

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Too Close to Breathe (Frankie Sheehan #1) by Olivia Kiernan

Lately I’ve been trying to branch out and read more thrillers, especially more modern thrillers. They are usually quick reads for me and I sometimes get stuck in the ‘past’ reading a bunch of historical mysteries that I think it’s 1880 rather than 2018 so, breaking things up is a good thing for me.

This one came up and it’s from an author that I have never heard of but I saw that the book was set in Dublin which I thought made the book sound different and interesting. I have also seen it compared to IN THE WOODS, I’ve not read IN THE WOODS yet, but I’ve heard great things about it and I was excited to see read something that was similar but yet uniquely it’s own and maybe a little more off the radar.

In a quiet Dublin suburb, within her pristine home, Eleanor Costello is found hanging from a rope.

Continue reading “Review: Too Close to Breathe (Frankie Sheehan #1) by Olivia Kiernan” →

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

Review: The Secret to Southern Charm (Peachtree Bluff #2) by Kristy Woodson Harvey

by The Lit Bitch3 Comments on Review: The Secret to Southern Charm (Peachtree Bluff #2) by Kristy Woodson Harvey

I have a soft spot in my heart for southern literature. In college I had to read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and that book actually revived my interest in reading. At that time I hadn’t picked up a ‘for fun book’ in about five years so when I read that book even though it was for a class, I remembered how much I loved books.

One of the things that I loved about that book was the unique southern charm. Now that book was obviously not chick lit or women’s fiction and I am most certain that it was not meant to be ‘charming’ but the setting really stuck with me and since then I have read a number of books set in the south which brings me to this book and the Peachtree Bluff series!

So many things about this series scream southern charm! The characters, the setting, even the covers just remind me of sweet tea! When the first book in the series came up for review, I couldn’t say no. It just sounded so summery and fun and I absolutely fell in love with it. I have read other books by Woodson Harvey and she writes with such confidence in the genre that it’s hard for me to pass on any of her books! Since reading her first book, Lies and Other Acts of Love, then I have been eager to read anything by Woodson Harvey!

Continue reading “Review: The Secret to Southern Charm (Peachtree Bluff #2) by Kristy Woodson Harvey” →

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

Review: The Anatomy of Death (Dr Dody McCleland #1) by Felicity Young

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: The Anatomy of Death (Dr Dody McCleland #1) by Felicity Young

This book caught my eye right after Christmas. I was coming off of a historical mysteries binge and I was eager for another new heroine. I was so excited to read this one but I had to get through a couple of other books on my review calendar before I indulged.

Then the urge disappeared and I didn’t pick it up again for a couple of months. I was finally ready for something new and was eager to get to know Dr Dody McCleland. Not only is this book based in the Edwardian era (my favorite) but Dody is also a medical examiner and I thought that would be an interesting angle for the series.

At the turn of the twentieth century, London’s political climate is in turmoil, as women fight for the right to vote. Dody McCleland has her own battles to fight. As England’s first female autopsy surgeon, not only must she prove herself, she must prove that murder treats everyone equally… Continue reading “Review: The Anatomy of Death (Dr Dody McCleland #1) by Felicity Young” →