"In this day and age, it may seem anachronistic to aspire to eternal works, or to ask for help from God with a painting or a poem. But we do not have any chance of accomplishing the first without the second." E. Lily Yu wrote the above sentence in the last section of...
Wisdom From Kammbia Book Review 177: The City in Glass by Nghi Vo
by MHill | Nov 15, 2025 | 2025 Book Reviews, Wisdom From Kammbia Column, Wisdom From Kammbia Novella Review
It does not happen to me often when I read a work of fiction. With The City in Glass by Nghi Vo, I’m left uncertain about what I read or the novella’s true theme. Nghi Vo tells the story of Vitrine, a demon that loves the city of Azril. In some respects, she is the...
Wisdom From Kammbia Story Review 22: The Little Heidelberg by Isabel Allende
by MHill | May 4, 2023 | Marion's All-Time Favorite Short Stories, Marion's Favorites, Short Story Review, Wisdom From Kammbia Column, Wisdom of Kammbia Story Review
"The Little Heidelberg is a tavern a certain distance from the capital and located on a hill surrounded by banana groves; there, besides good music and invigorating air, they offer a unique aphrodisiac stew made heady with a combination of spices, too heavy for the...
My Favorite Books Of The Year
by MHill | Dec 30, 2022 | 2022 Book Reviews, Marion's Favorites, Marion's Reading Life Blog
It's that time of the year. 2022 is on the way out and 2023 is coming in a few days. The Best Of and Favorite Lists will be posted online at this time. I want to share my favorite reads of 2022. I have 5 novels and 1 non-fiction book as my favorite reads of the...
Marion’s 2022 Reading Challenge
by MHill | Dec 30, 2021 | Marion's Reading Life Blog, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
I have seen quite a few reading challenges on social media in the few past days. A new year is coming and readers are posting their challenges on how many books they want to read in 2022. Or what types of books they want to focus on reading in the new year and so...
Can an all-time favorite book be reread?
by MHill | Nov 1, 2021 | Marion's Favorite Books, Marion's Favorites, Marion's Reading Life Blog, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
Can you one of your all-time favorite books be read more than once and is still an all-time favorite? That's the question I've been coming to terms with after reading Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler for the third time recently. Parable of the Sower is on the...
Marion’s Favorites: Marion’s Favorite Reads of 2020
by MHill | Dec 22, 2020 | 2020 Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books, Marion's Favorites, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
2020 is mercifully coming to a close, and it has been probably one of the most challenging years that I can remember. A global pandemic. A contentious American presidential election. Big time celebrity deaths. So on and so on. Reading has been choppy. However, I...
Stuck on a Desert Island What 3 Authors Would You Read?
by MHill | Apr 12, 2020 | Marion's Favorites, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
I saw this post on my Facebook page by the local library three days ago. I have been thinking about how to answer the question since it posted. I provided a comment soon after they posted on Facebook. It was an interesting question and considering what we are...
Marion’s 25 April Fools Day Sale!
by MHill | Mar 31, 2020 | Marion's Favorites, Writing
Happy April Fool's Day! However, this is no joke. I know that a lot of people are stuck at home due to the COVID-19 (AKA Coronavirus) Pandemic. First of all, I hope everybody that reads this post remains safe,...
Marion’s 10 Favorite Reads of 2019
by MHill | Dec 28, 2019 | 2019 Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
As we come to end of 2019, there will be a lot of lists for the best reads of the year. Well, I have compiled my favorite reads of the year. Here are ten books across all genres and a non-fiction selection. I believe in reading widely and have the readers credo,...