To turn youngsters into readers one must blur the edges, delve into unchartered territories and push boundaries to flame a life-long hunger for the written word.
Thankfully I have plenty of matches!
Read MoreI am a parent to no child but will evangelize to any young person I am in the vicinity of about how lucky they are in regard to the books available to them today. It’s a selection entirely too good to be left only for the young, we old folks are indulging in this bounty as well!
Read MoreDespite the setting of this locked room thriller being in a seemingly innocuous revamped hotel which was once a hospital, all kinds of red flags there, this story stood out. A gothic vibe and compelling characters set this one apart, albeit only slightly.
Read MoreA copycat killing of a teenager 25 years after the original murder reopens old wounds in a small town. At its core this novel is about how the past encroaches on the present and how oftentimes it becomes harder and harder to distinguish one from the other.
Read MoreA slow burn of a book that dispenses the unexpected in ways you might think are more benign to your sensibilities; but give it a minute.
Read MoreWhen her favourite true crime podcast host Rachel goes missing, Sera, a young woman adrift in her own life, sets out to investigate and plunges headfirst into her own dangerous obsession. The lure of a plot where the hunter becomes the hunted set against the true crime podcast culture should have delivered a better reading experience.
Read MoreWhat if you discovered your husband was having an affair with his wife? Yes, you read that properly. This book has a lot to love; weird science, murder, bad romance and the unspooling of enough twists to leave the reader with a serious case of whiplash.
Read MoreIf I could only choose one group social activity for the rest of my life it would be the dinner party. This intimate gathering of hand-picked individuals can be full of laughter and engaging conversation or high drama and the catastrophic unveiling of deeply buried secrets.
Read MoreWhatever you might end up saying for or against this book, the opening sentence certainly grabs hold.
“Ted McKay was about to put a bullet through his brain when the doorbell rang.”
Read MoreA profoundly moving exploration of the ways in which the decisions we make can have life changing outcomes, and almost never in the ways we expect.
Read MoreIf you are a regular purveyor of Cracking The Spine, you will undoubtedly have figured out by now that I love books on language, particularly those that focus on word play. This collection of expressions is the largest of its kind and is curated and categorized in unique and fun ways.
Read MoreThis is one of those books that fuses genres; it’s a little bit fantasy, a little bit dystopia and a little bit neo-western. The author traverses a minefield of prejudices that many have endured: homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, patriarchy and fascism, to name a few. All through a singularly fresh perspective.
Read MoreIf, like a gazillion Netflix watchers, you found yourself riveted by The Queens Gambit, I thought you might enjoy a literary foray into the world of Chess. No board or opponent required!
Read MoreIn 1974 Levi is a high school dropout with dreams of being a rock star when suddenly this seemingly impossible fantasy is within reach. Suddenly he believes he is being catapulted into the stratosphere of stardom, but nothing is quite what it seems.
Read MoreYou know how book quotes lean towards hyperbole? A knife edged thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat…a riveting page turner you won’t be able to put down…in the case of this book, believe the hype! A masterful read to start the year off!
Read MoreIf our memories make us who we are, who is a man without any? Our main character, who has assigned himself the moniker of Nameless, moves from town to town, righting atrocious wrongs in this propulsive series of short thrillers.
Read MoreThis is the story of a woman who has been held captive in a windowless cabin deep in a remote forest along with her children, or at least someone’s children. She has somehow managed to escape with the older of the two but finds herself on the way to the hospital and potential freedom after being hit by a car.
Read MoreOne of the joys of a book loving life is the curation and compilation of your to be read list. The new additions, the movement to finished and even the removal of some as interest wains. And the New Year’s list is where it all begins!
Here I have included a few that I am really looking forward to reading that won’t likely be on every single “new books releasing in 2021” listing you come across.
Read MoreI found myself smiling the entire time I was reading this, the characters where a delight and this book is an absolute gem! A charming change of pace from the popular thrillers crowding the bookstores.
Read MoreOkay…I really just have more that belong on the naughty list…it’s been that kind of year!
For my top picks I am sticking to pure escapist fiction! If you are looking for something with a bit more depth be sure to check out the Wish List features!
A pinch wicked, a smidge of mischief, a dash of sass and a bounty of entertainment!!
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