The 2013 TBR Pile - Progress Update

With the year officially half over, I thought it appropriate to take a look back at my 2013 TBR Pile, and how I've fared against my plans.A Look BackI accomplished exactly what I intended to in January, wrapping up the Wheel of Time saga with Jordan & Sanderson. While I found the final volume disappointing (see my review), and felt Sanderson was really stretching the material to fill three books, it was a satisfying kick-off to my plans.February...

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The Prose and Perils of a Christian Nation (#bookreview)

Something a little bit different this morning - a dual review, looking at Frederic C. Rich's debut novel from two very different perspectives . . .When I first read the synopsis for Christian Nation, I was excited. It sounded like a fantastic alternate history/future dystopian novel, built around a premise far more plausibly terrifying than aliens, zombies, or vampire plagues. What I found in its pages is really two books, both of which are...

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Some Decent but DNF Titles (#bookreview)

I seem to be in a bit of a rut lately, and I suspect it's because I've been reading too far (or perhaps just too much) outside my core comfort zone. I've been dabbling a lot in genres that I generally enjoy in small doses, and finding that you really can have too much of a good thing.The following books are not 'bad' by any means - if they were, I'd politely shelve them away and never say another word - they just didn't work for me. Hopefully, by...

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Through A Hole In The Universe with Catfish McDaris (INTERVIEW)

Catfish McDaris is an American poet and author, born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who has written poetry and prose for the past 20 years. An ex-G.I. Joe who hopped freights and hitchhiked across the country, he's built adobe houses, tamed wild horses, made cattle troughs, worked in a zinc smelter, and even painted flag poles.Our very own Donald Armfield sat down for a chat with Catfish, to talk about his writing and his career, drawing an...

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Waiting On Wednesday - Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:Doctor Sleep by Stephen KingSept 24, 2013 (Scribner)Stephen King returns to the characters and territory of one of his most popular novels ever, The Shining, in this instantly riveting novel about the now middle-aged Dan Torrance (the boy...

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Stacking The Shelves & What I'm Reading

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme being hosted by Tynga's Reviews, while Mailbox Monday is being hosted by Dolce Bellezza this month (see Mailbox Monday for each month's host). Both memes are all about sharing the books you've added to your shelves - physical and virtual, borrowed and bought. It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey, and it's focused on what's in your hands, as opposed to what's on your...

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