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A New York Tate of Mind
A New York Tate of Mind
In which this reader and explorer reviews books, muses on literary (and other) matters, and shares some of her adventures.
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My 1-5 rating system:
1 = I did not like it and would not recommend it.
2= It was fine. Read it if the subject matter interests you.
3 = I enjoyed it and would recommend it.
4 = I really liked it, and think you should read it!
5 = One of the best books I've read.
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Review: How High the Moon
3/5 stars How High the Moon, by Karyn Parsons (2019) It's 1943 and young Ella lives in South Carolina with her grandparents, and her...
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Sep 5, 20222 min read
Review: Patron Saints of Nothing
3/5 stars Patron Saints of Nothing, by Randy Ribay (2019) I liked this book as a YA novel - decent plot, relatable teenage characters,...
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Aug 16, 20222 min read
Review: The Liar's Dictionary
3/5 stars The Liar's Dictionary, by Eley Williams (2020) You need to love learning about language and, more specifically, the etymology...
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Jul 20, 20222 min read
Reviews: Eight Perfect Murders / The Hotel Neversink
4/5 stars - Eight Perfect Murders, by Peter Swanson (2020) 3/5 stars - The Hotel Neversink, by Adam O'Fallon Price (2019) Two very good...
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Jun 3, 20223 min read
Review: What's Mine and Yours
3/5 stars What's Mine and Yours, by Naima Coster (2021) I enjoyed this story, though I don't think it's going to stick with me. It was a...
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May 24, 20222 min read
Review: Under the Banner of Heaven
3/5 stars Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, by Jon Krakauer (2003) I recently visited Salt Lake City (SLC), Utah for...
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May 2, 20223 min read
Review: The 12 Lives of Samuel Hawley
3/5 stars The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley, by Hannah Tinti (2017) Tinti's The Good Thief was the first book that my book club read in...
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Apr 11, 20222 min read
Review: Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore
3/5 stars Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore, by Matthew Sullivan (2017) TW: Suicide & murder I thought this was a really fun,...
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Mar 18, 20222 min read
Review: Call Us What We Carry
3/5 stars Call Us What We Carry, by Amanda Gorman (2021) Like everyone else, I was introduced to and blown away by Amanda Gorman when she...
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Jan 25, 20222 min read
Review: The Grisha Series
3/5 stars (some of) The Grisha Series, by Leigh Bardugo (2012 - 2016) TW: Graphic violence, Allusions to rape Of the seven books in this...
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Jan 21, 20224 min read
Review: Nowhere Boy
3/5 stars Nowhere Boy, by Katherine Marsh (2018) This should be required reading for all middle grade students (middle school, or higher...
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Dec 18, 20211 min read
Review: Firekeeper's Daughter
3/5 stars Firekeeper's Daughter, by Angeline Boulley (2021) TW: grief, suicide, murder, drug addition, & rape Despite the heavy nature of...
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Dec 17, 20212 min read
Review: Conjure Women
3/5 stars Conjure Women, by Afia Atakora (2020) An impressive debut of historical fiction, the book is set on a large plantation in the...
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Oct 12, 20212 min read
Review: If We Were Villains
3/5 stars If We Were Villains, by M.L. Rio (2017) A murder mystery for fans of Shakespeare! It's a very dramatic, literary, theatrical...
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Oct 1, 20212 min read
Review: Detransition, Baby
3/5 stars Detransition, Baby, by Torrey Peters (2021) TW: Trans- and Homophobia, Miscarriage/Abortion, Suicide, Sexual Content & Violence...
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Sep 12, 20212 min read
Review: Nights When Nothing Happened
3/5 stars Nights When Nothing Happened, by Simon Han (2020) This book is a slow, ponderous burn. I found myself feeling distracted at...
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Sep 3, 20212 min read
Review: Prison Diary of Ho Chi Minh
3/5 stars The Prison Diary of Ho Chi Minh, by Ho Chi Minh (1943) Translated from the Vietnamese by Aileen Palmer My mom is going through...
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Aug 20, 20212 min read
Review: Once Upon a River
3/5 stars Once Upon a River, by Diane Setterfield (2018) This book is a mythical fairy tale of magical realism. Suspenseful at times,...
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Jun 30, 20212 min read
Review: Southern Reach Trilogy
3/5 stars overall Southern Reach Trilogy: Annihilation, Authority, & Acceptance, by Jeff Vandermeer (2014) Rating this was tough because...
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Jun 25, 20213 min read
Review: Homegoing / Transcendent Kingdom
3-5/5 stars - Homegoing (2016) & Transcendent Kingdom (2020), by Yaa Gyasi I just finished reading Transcendent Kingdom, and realized...
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May 25, 20212 min read
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