“Hillbilly Elegy” is an insightful social commentary about the struggles currently being faced by members of the white, Appalachian working class. Its author, J.D. Vance, is uniquely qualified to provide this commentary because he was raised in this socioeconomic group and overcame serious obstacles to attend Yale law school as well as build a strong, healthy marriage. Continue reading
Author Archives: mmelland
Book Review: What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
What Alice Forgot is a very well written novel that explores what happens to our personalities, priorities and relationships as we age and mature. Continue reading
“Gray Mountain”, by John Grisham
Coal mining is at the center of “Gray Mountain”, John Grisham’s latest legal thriller. In it, a young New York attorney takes a temporary internship in a small Virginia coal mining town and is reluctantly drawn into a battle against some of the area’s large coal mining companies. Continue reading
Book Review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Charm. This book has loads of it. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is set right after the end of WWII and tells the story of a woman author who discovers a unique group of people on the island of Guernsey and the story of how they survived the German occupation of their homeland. Continue reading
“The Scorpio Races”, by Maggie Stiefvater
“The Scorpio Races” is a beautifully written, young adult fantasy novel that explores love, courage and loyalty against the backdrop of an island culture that largely revolves around the carnivorous water horses that emerge on its beaches every autumn. It’s an excellent read and, happily, not just for young adults. Continue reading
“The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain”, by Bill Bryson
“The Road to Little Dribbling” contains Bill Bryson’s most recent humorous musings about his travel experiences. This time he is back in Great Britain and he has a lot to say about a lot of things, much of it having nothing to do with travel. Continue reading
Book Review: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
A Man Called Ove is a story that reminds us that everyone has a personal history that has shaped them, most everyone has redeeming qualities that you can uncover if you try hard enough, and life isn’t so bad if you let other people in. Continue reading
“Tricky Twenty Two”, by Janet Evanovich
I needed a good laugh, so I turned to an old friend, Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. “Tricky Twenty Two” is the latest book in this series and it delivered the silly humor I was looking for. Continue reading
Book Review: 11/22/63 by Stephen King
11/22/63 is a fascinating tale about an ordinary man who is asked to do an extraordinary thing – travel back in time and prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Continue reading
Kids and the Classics
I’ve decided to take the week off from reading anything “blogworthy”. I just finished a long book (“Playing to the Edge”) and I’m getting ready to tackle an even longer one (Stephen King’s “11.22.63”), so I’m resting my brain.
Instead, I’m hoping to have some dialogue about something that’s been on my mind for several months now: classic books that today’s generation of kids will enjoy. Continue reading
