Category: Literary Criticism

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

Review: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum

Every year I plan on reading at least one sort of holiday book for the season. Some years are better than others, I would like to read more but it’s always hard to work them into my review schedule but this year, it worked out for me to read a couple of holiday books!

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus was written by the same guy who wrote The Wizard of Oz! I had no idea that he wrote other works let alone holiday books so this was a real treat for me to read this holiday season.

This short, quick read is perfect for children and adults alike.Baum chronicles Santa’s life from his childhood in an enchanted forest—the same forest that is the source of all magic in the land of Oz—to his destiny of sharing gifts and spreading love to all he meets.

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

Review: The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century by Sarah Miller

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century by Sarah Miller

On August 4, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were murdered in their home in Fall River, Massachusetts in a most gruesome way…..someone took a hatchet to their skulls. And the prime suspect, their daughter Lizzie Borden.

The story quickly became the ‘story of the century’. There was no concrete evidence, but rather a lot of circumstantial evidence against Lizzie…..but enough that she was arrested for the crimes.

The trial that took place was front page news and was labeled ‘sensational’ by the press. But what was even more sensational was that Lizzie was found not guilty.

This book follows the murder, trial, and aftermath of one of histories most shocking and grizzly crimes that remains unsolved. Sarah Miller examines many aspects of the case and utilizes newspaper articles and trial transcriptions to present the ‘facts’ and basically let’s the reader draw their own conclusions about the case.

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

Review: Médicis Daughter: A Novel of Marguerite de Valois by Sophie Perinot

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: Médicis Daughter: A Novel of Marguerite de Valois by Sophie Perinot

Catherine de Medicis is one of my most favorite queens in history. I’ve read a lot of books on her…..I mean how could you not admire her in some ways? She was about as cutthroat and unapologetic as they come which I kind of admire in some of history’s most famous queens.

Her name is notorious so when this book came across my nightstand for review, I jumped on it. While it is not about Catherine herself necessarily, it’s about the Medicis so that was enough for me! Plus I don’t know much about her children, just about her, so I was really interested in reading this one.

Princess Margot is summoned to the court of France, where nothing is what it seems and a wrong word can lead to ruin.

Margo’s mother, Queen Catherine, is notoriously known as Madame la Serpente. Catherine is a powerful force in a country that is continually devastated by religious war. Margo must learn how to navigate the royal court. Margo is an obedient daughter and accepts that she will likely be a marriage pawn but she doesn’t plan on falling in love.

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Review: The Conqueror’s Wife: A Novel of Alexander the Great by Stephanie Thornton

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on Review: The Conqueror’s Wife: A Novel of Alexander the Great by Stephanie Thornton

This book was among my most anticipated novels of 2015. I adore Thornton’s novels because they are so unique.

One of the things I love best about Thornton is she writes about both famous and obscure women in antiquity….women that you may or may not have heard of but who have powerful stories.

I love that she has discovered an untapped market in historical fiction. There are shelves of books on the Tudors but not many on Alexander the Great’s Wife, Empress Theodora, or the Queens of Genghis Kahn!

So needless to say, having read so many of Thornton’s books, then I saw this one I was eager to start it!

The ancient world has been turned upside down……330s, B.C.E., Greece: Alexander, a handsome young warrior of Macedon, begins his quest to conquer the ancient world. But he cannot ascend to power, and keep it, without the women who help to shape his destiny.

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

Review: The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials #1) by Philip Pullman

by The Lit Bitch4 Comments on Review: The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials #1) by Philip Pullman

After reading Up To This Pointe earlier this month, I was dying to read something else set in the ‘north’ or in the ‘cold’.

The Golden Compass has been on my TBR shelf forever and now seemed like the perfect time to read it since it features the Northern Lights and the north pole as well as a host of other things!

Lyra Belacqua has been raised at Oxford’s, Jordan College, most of her young life. It is here that two very important people come to visit. the first is her uncle, Lord Asriel, who is an explorer and who has just returned from the north with some dangerous findings.

Lord Asriel suspects that there is an alternative universe on the Northern Lights which he believes he can access. Lord Asriel intends to venture back to the north to continue his research, immediately.

The other visitor is Mrs Coulter, who is put in charge of Lyra. Mrs Coulter is cultured, rich, and charismatic…..she too is an explorer and has a scientific operation in the north. Mrs Coulter intends to take Lyra to the north with her but not before she ‘grooms’ Lyra and gets her accustom to London society.

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