Rebecca Hunter's Blog, page 16

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

Let's just start with these two basic premises about the Sookie Stackhouse series: 1.) These books are funny and clever and 2.) The series as a whole was appealing enough to be turned into a successful HBO show, True Blood. So why did I find myself skimming book #4? That, fellow reading writers, is the topic of today's post.   I'm going to answer this question with one words: expectations.   Ms. Harris has written an engaging book, some readers' favorite, in fact. However, I think there's an

Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

Last week was an exhausting, stay-up-late but fun kind of week, rendering me just about useless for the weekend. With this in mind, I decided that it was a great time to go on an all-weekend Twilight bender. I had read the first book in the series earlier in the week and was impressed by many parts of it - and I don't generally gravitate toward the paranormal genre. So why not continue?   First of all, the second book was quite a disappointment for reasons I won't get into right now. Suffice it

10% Happier by Dan Harris

I'm not a big self-help reader, and yet here I am, posting on a book that is essentially a guide advocating for meditation, mindfulness and a bunch of other Buddhist practices.   Yes, this book does sit squarely in the self-help section of the bookstore. But that's not why I'm writing about it.   In addition to its message, which, incidentally, I think is worthwhile, the book is essentially narrative non-fiction--really good, really funny narrative non-fiction. And that's why the reading writer

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

All right, I'll come right out and say it right away: I loved this book. Loved it.   The story follows Brooklyn-born Katy Kontent as she edges her way into New York society during the year 1938, first from a secretary pool and later in publishing. But work is rarely what's on her mind.  There's Katy, her friend Eve, Tinker, an old-money type they meet on New Years Eve, the event that shapes all of their futures, and the year that ensues. Actually the cover of this book so perfectly captures the