One of the pleasures of doing book reviews is getting to discover a new author and escaping into their fictional world. I have been hearing about mystery novelist Louise Penny on the What I Should Read Next podcast by several readers. Anne Bogel, the host,...
Book Review 105: My Mrs. Brown by William Norwich
by MHill | Apr 27, 2017 | 2017 Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books
"Nice things happen to good people." That quote sums up my feelings about My Mrs. Brown by William Norwich. This is the story of an elegant, elderly cleaning woman named Emilia Brown, who has a dream of buying an expensive Oscar de la Renta dress. Mrs. Brown, who has...
Book Review 104: Avenue of Mysteries by John Irving
by MHill | Apr 8, 2017 | 2017 Book Reviews
Sometimes you learn more about yourself as a reader when you read a book that gives you a myriad of feelings about it. Avenue of Mysteries by John Irving is such a book. The novel had me excited, disappointed, disdainful, and heartbroken throughout various stages of...
Book Review 103: The Land of Laughs by Jonathan Carroll
by MHill | Mar 27, 2017 | 2017 Book Reviews, Jonathan Carroll, Marion's Favorite Books, Marion's Favorites, Marion's Reading Life Blog, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
"Reading a book, for me at least, is like traveling in someone else's world. If it's a good book, then you feel comfortable and yet anxious to see what's going to happen to you there, what'll be around the next corner. But if it's a lousy book, then it's like going...
Book Review 102: Messenger by K.M. Tremills
by MHill | Mar 16, 2017 | 2017 Book Reviews
One thing, I enjoy about doing reviews is that I get to discover new authors. Taking a chance with a new author has been one of the easiest risks that a reviewer can ever make. I recently came across Messenger by K.M. Tremills. Tremills is an author that I have made...
Book Review 101: Meji Book One by Milton Davis
by MHill | Mar 2, 2017 | 2017 Book Reviews
I was asked to read and review two books for Black History Month and here's the review of the first book. It is Meji Book One by Milton Davis. Meji Book One is an epic fantasy in the style of Conan or Tarzan in an African inspired setting. It was a...
Wisdom From Kammbia 4.8: What Running My 1st 10k Has Shown Me About Writing and Running
by MHill | Feb 27, 2017 | Wisdom From Kammbia Column, Writing
I ran my first 10k race yesterday as of this blog post and I felt I have become a runner officially. I have spent the past couple of years of running as a way to have another point of connection with my wife. My wife began running a few years ago and at first I...
Wisdom From Kammbia 4.7: What 100 Book Reviews Has Taught Me
by MHill | Feb 17, 2017 | Wisdom From Kammbia Column
This blog post started out as two Facebook posts a few days ago and I decided that I want to expand on those original posts here. I posted my 100th review last week. My book reviews started out as a blog in 2011. I never thought I would have read and posted 100 book...
Book Review 100: The Lay of the Land by Richard Ford
by MHill | Feb 12, 2017 | 2017 Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
It's my 100th Book Review. I must admit I did not think I would have posted as many book reviews over the past 6 years. It has been a pleasure and learning experience with writing and posting 100 reviews. I want to thank all the readers that have reached out...
Wisdom From Kammbia 4.6: Diversity Reading Challenge
by MHill | Feb 1, 2017 | Wisdom From Kammbia Column
As January ends and we head into February, I was issued a reading challenge. For African-American History Month, I must read and review one novel from an African-American Male author and one novel from an African-American Female author. I have chosen for my male...