Tag: Gen Lit

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

Review: The Bride of Lammermoor by Sir Walter Scott

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on Review: The Bride of Lammermoor by Sir Walter Scott

Beware the Ravenswood!

Sir Walter Scott’s, The Bride of Lammermoor is a must read for fans of the genre….a classic gothic romance! This is your ultimate indulgence gothic romance fans…honest and truly.

This ridiculously over the top tale has it all…witches, women going mad, a family fallen from grace, degenerative castles, ruined fortunes, Byronic heros, star crossed lovers, a dark prophecy, ominous symbology….everything!  It is MacBeth, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Wuthering Heights all rolled into one.

The novel is introduced as a tale based on a true story, set in Scotland at the time of Queen Anne (early 1700’s). Lord Ravenswood is dead and all that remains of the Ravenswood family is Master Ravenswood (Edgar) and the ruin known as Wolf’s Carg castle.

The Ravenswood family blames their demise on Sir William Ashton who profited at the Ravenswood’s expense….the Ravenswoods have been stripped of their titles after the rebellion and have subsequently lost their estates/fortunes as a result of a legal scheme gone awry. Continue reading “Review: The Bride of Lammermoor by Sir Walter Scott” →

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

Review: Pierre and Luce by Romain Rolland (a short story)

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Pierre and Luce by Romain Rolland (a short story)

On the war torn streets of Paris 1918, two lovers meet by chance on a subway. Pierre is a modern day ‘Hamlet’….depressed, hopeless, and disillusioned by the world in which he lives–in his reality, he is an 18 year old middle class boy who has just received his conscription papers.

But when he sees Luce on the subway, she is his ray of hope–a promise of  a better life than the one destine to be his future.

But does she see him? Does she know? Does she feel it too? Why would a girl so full of hope and life look twice at him? Before he can make his introduction, she exits at the next subway stop and the train departs before he can follow.

He spends the next couple of days searching for her–longing to see her again. He doesn’t know what it is about her that draws him in but she is his destiny–of that he is sure. Continue reading “Review: Pierre and Luce by Romain Rolland (a short story)” →

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” →

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Review: Letters In Cardboard Boxes by Abby Slovin

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on Review: Letters In Cardboard Boxes by Abby Slovin

How do you want to be remembered? How would others see you? How would you see yourself? What if you didn’t remember who you were? That is precisely what happens in Abby Slovin’s novel Letters in Cardboard Boxes.

Parker’s beloved grandma has suddenly become a stranger to her….confused and rapidly declining, Parker must face an alarming reality: her eccentric, loving grandmother is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Throughout her life Parker has come to rely on her grandma. While her parents have all but abandoned her, Parker has felt awfully alone with no one to shield her but her grandma.

Parker’s grandma helps her cope with the abandonment of her parents by writing letters…make believe letters from various exotic locations around the world….fantasy worlds far away from the one Parker is living in.

Throughout the story, there aren’t just letter from Dotty (grandma) to Parker and Parker to Dotty–there are also love letters between her grandma an unknown boy  from Dotty’s youth….Parker begins to see an entirely different Dotty than the one she has grown up with. Continue reading “Review: Letters In Cardboard Boxes by Abby Slovin” →

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

Review: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on Review: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

Like music to a readers ear, Jennifer Egan’s novel A Visit from the Goon Squad flows lyrically from page to page. The story, character, words, and tone of the novel come together  in perfect harmony from beginning to end.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jennifer Egan at Portland’s book festival, Wordstock, this past month where I had her sign my copy of Goon Squad. Not only was she charming and polite in person, she was also very ‘real’ and down to earth, smiling and greeting every fan and answering all their questions with genuine interest.

I had heard lots of great things about this novel, not to mention its won numberous awards including the Pulitzer Prize. Needless to say, Egan was the author I was most looking forward to seeing at Wordstock. My husband and I listened to her reading from Goon Squad and it’s hard to NOT like a book that so clearly challenges social acceptance and norms. Listening to hear reading the except from her book, it was even harder for me NOT to be excited about reading the book.

I started reading the book shortly after Wordstock, and it was very clear that I was reading something special and different. The book whole tone of the book is gritty, hard boiled….almost a film noir style book. It is set in punk rock era NYC (as well as a host of other cities and locations)…..where the underground music scene rules this vibrant city. Continue reading “Review: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan” →