book review Archives

My Best Friend’s Exorcism

Quirky 80s Horror Author: Grady Hendrix Abby was the uncool kid. Her ET themed fifth grade birthday party was ruined when the popular rich girl hosted a party at the same time – one that everyone went to instead. Everyone except Gretchen. Gretchen came to Abby’s party, and they become instant and fast best friends. The problem? They’re in high school now, and things have changed. For example – Gretchen is possessed. Anyone who has read Grady Hendrix before knows that he has a unique approach to horror. It’s not quite the bombastic slapstick of Jeff Strand, who owns it and [...]

Frances Carden2023-03-18T23:32:27-07:00March 18th, 2023|Tags: 80s, 80s horror, book review, Comedy, Grady Hendrix, horror, read, reading|

Queen of Nothing, The

Of Snakes, and Exiles, and Queens Author: Holly Black The rise to power often results in a devastating fall. No one knows this better than Jude Duarte. She is back, exiled in the mortal world, a queen in name only. Her secret marriage to Cardan – and everything it was going to ensure – is now more than useless. It’s a cruel joke. The final parry in a game played for keeps. And Cardan won. Jude’s depression won’t keep the wolf from the door, however, and her stint in the world of faerie with The Shadow Court, an amalgamation of assassins [...]

Frances Carden2023-03-18T12:11:29-07:00March 18th, 2023|Tags: book review, Faerie, fairy tale, fantasy, fey, Holly Black, read, reading, ya|

Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation

A Practical, Thoughtful Guide for Western Christians Author: Rod Dreher I’m still experiencing the afterglow of reading this book and a surprising energy, a desire to ACTUALLY DO something. Indeed, after Dreher’s call for readers to get off their behinds and build the strong Christian community that they want to live in, instead of wasting time and efforts seeking solutions in politics, I started looking more closely for communities near me. Coming from someone who is a self-affirmed hermit, this is a true testimony to the power of The Benedict Option, both the book by Rod Dreher and the actual lifestyle. [...]

Frances Carden2023-03-12T10:37:54-07:00March 12th, 2023|Tags: book review, Christian, nonfiction, read, reading, religious|