Category: Literary Criticism

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

Review: Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (The Bloggess)

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (The Bloggess)

Be still my heart….finally someone who understands, finds humor in, and can articulate life’s little f-ed up moments that happen to us all…..well to some of us more than others!

The Bloggess is known for her sardonic quick wit and dark situational humor. She compiled a list of  “Things Most People Have Never Experiences of Could Have Ever Possibly Imagined, But That Totally Happened to Me” and woven these special little stories together creating a brilliant and hilarious novel.

This is a difficult novel to review, mostly because it is the kind of book you just have to read to understand how truly awesome this book is. It is truly a diamond in the rough.

Continue reading “Review: Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (The Bloggess)” →

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

Review: Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd

The name of the game is deception. Real or fake? Truth or lie?

This gritty war time novel takes us all over Europe on an adventure unraveling espionage and flushing out spies.

The novel opens in pre-WWI Vienna where London based actor Lysander Rief is taking a ‘holiday’ to resolve a ‘personal issue’ with a local psychiatrist.

Must of Lysander’s “treatment’ and “cure” involves the psychological term Parallelism. This concept plays a large role in the themes/plot of the novel and with it’s characters.

At his first appointment with the doctor, Lysander meets the frazzled, yet beautiful, Hettie Bull. He is immediately drawn to her but, since he is engaged and seeking treatment for a sexual issue, he quickly dismisses his attraction.

While Lysander might have forgotten about Hettie, Hettie doesn’t forget about Lysander.

Continue reading “Review: Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd” →

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

Review: Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1) by Leigh Bardugo

by The Lit Bitch6 Comments on Review: Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Sinister monsters lurk in the endless darkness of the Shadow Fold….a condemned fragment within the land of Ravka. On the Fold, Alina Starkov and her army regiment (which includes her best friend, Mal) are attacked by these evil beasts.

In the face of certain death and desperation, Alina reveals an ancient power that has been dormant inside her, which saves Mal’s life.

But once she reveals what she is, others conspire to steal her power but one intends to foster it–the Darkling.

The Darkling takes Alina under his wing, seducing her with promises of power and peace. Alina is captivated by him, like calls to like.

Continue reading “Review: Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1) by Leigh Bardugo” →

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

Review: Shades of Milk and Honey (Shades of Milk and Honey #1) by Mary Robinette Kowal

by The Lit Bitch3 Comments on Review: Shades of Milk and Honey (Shades of Milk and Honey #1) by Mary Robinette Kowal

Woven intricately out of the ether, Mary Robinette Kowal creates and exhilarating new world of enchantment that will please Jane Austen fans and illusionist fiction fans alike.

In the Regency era, Dorchester countryside, Jane and Melody Ellsworth are as opposite as any two sisters can be.

While Melody is beautiful and charming, Jane is plain and lacks the feminine charms to secure a husband.

Almost a confirmed spinster, Jane possesses other talents that might make her appealing to the right man…..she is a glamourist.

Well accomplished in the art of glamour, Jane captures the imagination of all that she meets….wow people with her skills, but it is Melody the eligible bachelors are fixated on. Continue reading “Review: Shades of Milk and Honey (Shades of Milk and Honey #1) by Mary Robinette Kowal” →

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

Review: Wizard’s First Rule (Sword of Truth #1) by Terry Goodkind

by The Lit Bitch3 Comments on Review: Wizard’s First Rule (Sword of Truth #1) by Terry Goodkind

Wizard’s first rule: people are stupid.

Richard Cypher is brooding over the murder of his father in the woods surrounding his house when he glimpses a woman blazing quite the trail behind her.

Intrigued, Richard starts following her. What he finds is an unexpected ambush meant to catch the lovely women, Kahlan, unaware.

On instinct Richard feels it is his duty to save her from the ambush and protect her.

There is no denying the confidence radiating from Kahlan. Though she is beautiful, Richard recognizes she is much more than just that. He is drawn to her strength…she is mesmerizing. He would love nothing move than to save her and ride off into the sunset somewhere with her….but she is clearly a woman on a mission.

Kahlan has been send through the Boundary back to Westland in search of an exiled wizard rumored to be hiding in Westland. After rescuing her, Richard agrees to help her find the wizard and take her back safely through the Boundary but they are going to need help….the only person Richard trusts to protect Kahlan would be his life long friend and mentor Zedd. Continue reading “Review: Wizard’s First Rule (Sword of Truth #1) by Terry Goodkind” →