Lori Duff Writes
Lullabies & Alibis: a novel Lullabies and Alibis by Stephanie Lewis is a fun read by the author of the hilarious “Once Upon Your Prime” column. Lewis’ columns are generally clever, light hearted, and silly. This book, by contrast, is full of death and delusion, insecurity and heartbreak. But it is a fun read –…
Landline: A Novel Rainbow Rowell is best known for her young adult novels like “Eleanor and Park” and “Fangirl,” both of which are fabulous reads no matter what your age. Like those young adult novels, “Landline” is a romance that doesn’t insult your intelligence (or the characters) or contain any gratuitous sex, drugs, violence, or…
Scythe (Arc of a Scythe) Neal Shusterman is known, at least by me, and by the myriad of prestigious agencies that have given him impressive awards, for his incredibly thoughtful and interesting premises. Written in the guise of young adult literature, there is nothing childish about his writing at all. In “Scythe,” Shusterman demonstrates his…
So, Anyway… So anyway….here’s my review of “So Anyway…” If you don’t know who John Cleese is, just stop reading here. Also know that we will never be friends in real life. So Anyway (haha), going on the assumption that you know who he is if you are continuing to read, I will not explain…
Chasing the Moon “Chasing the Moon” by A. Lee Martinez is a strange little book, highly entertaining, and laugh out loud funny. Don’t let its silliness fool you, though. There’s a lot of existential philosophy in there if you pay attention. In this book, all Diana wants is an affordable apartment. She finds one that…
Drop Dead Healthy: One Man’s Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection “Drop Dead Healthy: One Man’s Humble Quest for Bodly Perfection” by A.J. Jacobs chronicles the authors attempts to research and implement the best health advice out there. He starts out, in terms of health, your basic desk jockey. Aware of cholesterol and fiber and protein,…
The Rook “The Rook” by Daniel O’Malley is a wonderfully inventive, witty, thoughtful book that can be, at times, dead serious and laugh out loud hilarious. It is part spy novel, part whodunit, part fantasy, and all entertaining. Myfanwy (rhymes with “Tiffany”) Thomas awakens beaten and bloody in a London park surrounded by dead…
I read a lot – I average a book a week, sometimes more. I read a lot of good books in 2016, and when I do I try to share. Especially if those books are off the beaten path. New York Times Bestsellers have their own words of mouth and advertising budgets. But there are…
Midlife Happy Hour: Our Reward for Surviving Careers, Kids, and Chaos (Midlife Cabernet Book 2) Midlife Cabernet, by Elaine Ambrose, raises a glass to the advantages of late middle age. Young enough to still have fun, but old enough not to have too many responsibilities left, Elaine makes you wish you could move to…
The Gentleman: A Novel The Gentleman, by Forrest Leo, is a fun novel, creative and entertaining. In it, Lionel Strange, a fair-to-middling poet brimming with unearned self-confidence finds himself without enough money to keep the life to which he has become accustomed. To solve this problem he marries the beautiful and wealth Vivien Lancaster.…