Marley is an imaginative tale about Ebenezer Scrooge’s business partner, Jacob Marley. If you’ll recall from A Christmas Carol, the ghost of Jacob Marley appears to Scrooge in his house as a prelude to visits from the three main ghosts. But other than that we don’t learn much about him. Marley imagines what his back story might be. Continue reading
Author Archives: mmelland
2020 Thoughtful Reading Challenge
Need a new year’s resolution? Look no further! The 2020 Thoughtful Reading Challenge is designed to indulge your reading habit while also nudging you out of the box of your usual genres. I really enjoyed the 2019 challenge and found myself loving books I wouldn’t have typically read, like Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry and The Martian by Andy Weir. Continue reading
Book Review: Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Case Histories is the first book in Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie series. I chose this novel because I was in the mood for a good mystery, plus I recently read Life After Life, also by Kate Atkinson, and liked the author’s writing style. Unfortunately, my craving for a good mystery was not satisfied. Continue reading
Book Review: Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck
Hello, everyone! I was able to squeeze in another book this month (mostly because it’s short), and it was a good one! My big project is winding down so hopefully I’ll be back in the swing of things soon.
I read Travels with Charley in Search of America (hereafter referred to as Travels with Charley) as part of the 12 Months of Reading Goodness challenge. November’s challenge is to read a book with a mode of transportation on the cover since Thanksgiving yields some of the busiest travel days in the US. Continue reading
Book Review: Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz
Odd Thomas is the first book in the popular paranormal / horror Odd Thomas series written by Dean Koontz. More quirky than creepy, this novel should appeal to a larger audience than hardcore horror books. Continue reading
Taking a Little Break
You might have noticed that I haven’t posted many book reviews recently. It’s for a really good reason – I landed a big freelance writing job with some pretty tight deadlines. Typing with my eyes is really cool technology, but frustratingly slow compared to when I could type with my fingers. I find this project is taking most of my time and with two kids approaching college age … well, it trumps my free reading habit. For now. Continue reading
Smash ALS!
Hello Everyone,
I was diagnosed with ALS 8 years ago. It was devastating, but the ALS Association made it a little less overwhelming. They sponsor multidisciplinary clinics, fund research, facilitate support groups and offer assistive devices, to name just a few of their services. Continue reading
Book Review: Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Life After Life explores the concept of reincarnation and how simple decisions can fundamentally alter the course of one’s life. Although I mostly liked it, the story got bogged down in the middle and ended ambiguously. Continue reading
Book Review: Mother Teresa: An Authorized Biography by Kathryn Spink
My prayer: Lord, please send us another Mother Teresa to save us from our stupid selves. Amen. Continue reading
Book Review: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Station Eleven, a National Book Award finalist, is a twist on the apocalyptic pandemic tale. It’s well-crafted, full of atmosphere and immerses you in a world that has been stripped of modernity. Continue reading
Book Thoughts from Bed 