February is Black History Month in the United States and I have always wanting to learn something about our history as Americans that I did not know previously. Well, I found out last month on the Rick Steves’ travel podcast about a travel guide published during the...
Wisdom from Kammbia: Diondray’s Themilys 1
by MHill | Feb 1, 2019 | Wisdom From Kammbia Column
A themily is a collection of thoughts written on a single sheet of paper that were meant to inspire, encourage, or admonish the audience. Diondray Azur, the main character in the Kammbia novels, writes themilys and performs them throughout his journey in...
Wisdom From Kammbia Book Review 2: Let Me Be Frank With You by Richard Ford
by MHill | Jan 25, 2019 | 2019 Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
I'm a reading completist. I did not realize completist was a word until I typed this review. I felt it's appropriate for my latest Wisdom From Kammbia review. In 2015, I read and wrote a review for The Sportswriter by Richard Ford, the first Frank Bascombe novel. I...
Wisdom From Kammbia Book Review 1: The Ivory and the Horn by Charles de Lint
by MHill | Jan 14, 2019 | 2019 Book Reviews, Charles De Lint, Marion's Favorite Books, Marion's Favorites, Newford, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
I ended my 2018 reading year with a short story collection by Charles de Lint. I enjoyed Dreams Underfoot and began my 2019 reading year with the second de Lint short story collection set in Newford. The Ivory and the Horn is a fifteen tale collection that continues...
Cassandra’s Revelation: A Kammbia Short Story
by MHill | Jan 12, 2019 | Wisdom From Kammbia Column
“Cassandra’s Revelation,” is about a chance meeting between Cassandra Applebaum, a sultry-voiced singer who hadn’t sung in years, and an old friend—one who saw Diondray stop a rainstorm. Inspired by her friend's account, Cassandra penned a new song, “The One Who Made...
My 2019 Reading List
by MHill | Dec 30, 2018 | Wisdom From Kammbia Column
I have spent a portion of today putting together my 2019 reading list. I have created a reading list since 2015 and it has helped tremendously in my reading life. However, I've always deviate from the list and made numerous changes. So for 2019, I plan to...
Book Review 150: Kissing The Beehive by Jonathan Carroll
by MHill | Dec 28, 2018 | 2018 Book Reviews, Jonathan Carroll, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
Jonathan Carroll has become an author on my must read list that includes Charles de Lint, Guy Gavriel Kay, & Jorge Amado. Carroll's brand of contemporary fantasy and surrealism is unique to the fantasy genre. I have read and reviewed four other Carroll novels:...
Book Review 149: Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint
by MHill | Dec 24, 2018 | 2018 Book Reviews, Charles De Lint, Marion's Favorite Books, Marion's Favorites, Newford, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
In nearly 150 reviews, I have not reviewed a short story collection. I do not have an explanation for this oversight other than I don't read a lot of short stories. However, I have reviewed one of my favorite writer's short story collections to end my reading year of...
Book Review 147: Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay
by MHill | Nov 19, 2018 | 2018 Book Reviews, Guy Gavriel Kay, Marion's Favorite Books, Marion's Favorites, Marion's Reading Life Blog, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
Guy Gavriel Kay is becoming one of my favorite authors and joining a list that includes Jorge Amado, Jonathan Carroll, and Charles de Lint Sailing to Sarantium will be the second Kay novel I have read this year and the third one in the past couple of years. Sailing to...
What Novels Would You Restart Your Library With?
by MHill | Oct 1, 2018 | Story is King, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
I had a reader asked me a question recently that I've been thinking about for several weeks. If you had to restart my library novels what would you choose? I had to discuss the parameters on how I would answer my reader's question. We agreed that series books would...