Not many books "get" mental illness. I wrote several months ago about how Hyperbole and a Half handled depression, and I stand by my assertion that it is one of the best depictions of mental illness I've ever seen. That being said, Monica Byrne's The Girl in the Road is runner-up, beaten by Allie Brosh's graphic novel memoir by … Continue reading The Girl in the Road: A Review
I've read plenty of books with anti-capitalist themes, but not one has been so fantastic as John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. It was unexpectedly post-apocalyptic, at times funny, and it brought the finer points of my pro-worker politics to light. This, I thought, is perfect. This is why I feel the way I feel. … Continue reading The Grapes of Wrath: A Review
After watching Predestination, I knew I wanted to read "All You Zombies." That I am not a fan of Robert A. Heinlein is well-documented. However, the film's plot --- which was knit together in classic science fiction style --- drew me to the author for another go. Unfortunately, where the film is a thrill-ride through … Continue reading All You Zombies: A Review
When I wrote an article about rereading favorite books, I had To Kill a Mockingbird in mind. My decision to reread Mockingbird was somewhat controversial, from a personal standpoint, at least. After beginning this year's reading challenge with the expectation that I would read only new material, news of actor Jonathan Crombie's death compelled me … Continue reading To Kill a Mockingbird: A Review
I wasn't planning to reread Anne of Green Gables - or any book for that matter - this year, but the book began to call to me several months ago. Suddenly, Anne Shirley is everywhere. Just in the last week, I wrote about the life lessons I learned from Anne of Green Gables, and I … Continue reading Anne of Green Gables: A Review