reviews

Dates with darkness... Author:  David Baron Astronomical destiny approaches.  On August, 21st, 2017 the very tip of the moon’s shadow will travel across the face of the Earth, zooming across North America in less than two hours.  The states of Oregon and South Carolina will serve as entry and exit points respectively, the first total solar eclipse contained entirely within the contiguous United States in its 241 year history.  In American Eclipse, journalist and solar eclipse fanatic David Baron has written about an earlier event that had a profound effect on the development of science in America.  It was July [...]

Coffee, Killings, and Crazy Driving  Author: Cleo Coyle Back in the mood for coffee and killings, I dived into Coyle’s decadent A Brew to a Kill. Life is complicating for Clare. We last left her struggling with the reality of her relationship with Mike Quinn, terrified of the serious aspect of potential next steps (and another disappointing marriage.) Still battling with her internal fear, Clare’s cruising along all right despite it all, making lattes and thwarting the advances of her womanizing ex whose new marriage is a little too open for comfort. Meanwhile, the coffee house is suffering from some local [...]

If Monty Python Dealt With Race. . . Author: Paul Beatty  Following on the heels of the disturbing bestseller Underground Railroad which used magical realism to capture decades of slavery and racism in America, my book club selected The Sellout, a twisted “satire” of modern day America and the invasive and everlasting nature of racial definitions and stereotypes. The Sell-Out is the first book by an American author to win the Man Booker Prize (which it won in 2016) and has been on everyone’s radar and the bestseller list since, breeding a whole host of confused reviews which nervously laugh along with Beatty while at the same time [...]