Kat's Reviews

Susie Bright has the kind of life that memoirs were invented for—and finally she has written one! Chock full of “did-that-really-happen” moments and the fiercely intelligent and empathetic insight that she is known for, Big Sex Little Death is not to be skipped. Perfect for book group or class discussions

This book is an early contender for my favorite novel of 2012, and even though it’s only March, I doubt it will be strongly challenged. Debut author Liz Moore has written a piercing novel that is perfectly weighted with sadness and hope. Arthur Opp is a 500 lb former professor who hasn’t left his home in nearly 10 years, and has no plan to, until a student from long ago calls him, asking for help with her son. Magnificently heart-felt and beautifully written—don’t miss this one.

I started reading this on a lunch break, and ten hours later it had become my new favorite short story collection. Fallon’s stories take place around an enormous military base in Texas named Ft. Hood, and delve intimately into the lives of the women left behind when their husbands ship off to Iraq. The book manages to be neither political nor voyeuristic, but showcases incredible storytelling and character work. I cannot recommend it enough —and the New York Times loved it too!

I’m not much of a cook, but I adore a good memoir. Gabrielle Hamilton’s incredible Blood Bones and Butter sparked my literary and culinary appetite like few other books I’ve read. Hamilton is a spitfire and an amazing writer, and her journey from tedious catering gigs to creative writing classrooms to opening her first restaurant (the famed Prune in New York City) is un-putdownable from first page to last.

Andre Dubus III (House of Sand and Fog) has long been one of my favorite novelists. The pulse and threat of violence is a prevalent theme in his books, and his new memoir offers an illuminating glimpse into the way violence shaped his childhood. Dubus grew up in an entirely different world from his famous novelist father (Andre Dubus), in rough neighborhoods where fighting was commonplace. A thoughtful, electric memoir, and a must-read for fans of Dubus.

The world lost a powerful and important voice with Hitchens’ passing. In 2010, shortly after his diagnosis with esophageal cancer, Hitchens went toe-to-toe with Tony Blair to debate the role of religion in the world. This is a truly electrifying debate that has now been printed for your reading and referencing pleasure. A perfect companion to Hitchen’s other indispensible books.

I am the kind of person who pauses the movie when bookshelves appear in the background, so I can identify familiar titles. It’s fun! You should try it. So naturally I immediately adored this book, which features beautiful photographs of the bookshelves of famous writers, accompanied by interviews about how they collect and curate their books. A must-own for bookshelf aficionados.

This book takes a close look at an incredible story that happened right in our area. In 2008, a series of lightning strikes ignited hundreds of fires across California, and one of those fires threatened the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center in Big Sur, a place accessible by a single unpaved road and particularly vulnerable to fire. The story of how the center was saved by those who lived and worked there will leave you on the edge of your seat, as well as teach you about the many ways that zen teachings can prepare you for a wildfire.

If you love Eddie Izzard, Kate Beaton is your new soul mate. Like Izzard, Beaton loves to tackle subjects that most people think of as, well, kind of boring. Archaic Canadian history, Napoleon, Jane Austen...all are featured, and all are made hysterical by Beaton's sharp wit and creativity.