In the interest of full disclosure, I would like to make it known that this is the first murder mystery that I have read. Due to my unfamiliarity with this genre, I admit that I may not be fully skilled in appreciating the nuances. I think it’s important to note that this book contains descriptionsRead More
Holly reviews Alchemiya by Katey Hawthorne
This story takes place in Chrysopoeia, a land where the art of alchemy is a celebrated craft that is known and practiced only by the higher class clans. Each clan has a particular form of alchemy that they have honed through generations to produce vibrant dyes, textiles, fragrances, gems, and metals. Our protagonist is Eugenia,Read More
Holly reviews Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
When I was just 30 pages in, this is the review I was considering writing for Tipping the Velvet: This book is so sweet I can barely stand it. The end. At this point I had hoped that the entire book would be a drawn out tale of Nancy and Kitty falling in love, staying inRead More
Holly reviews Canary by Nancy Jo Cullen
In her first collection of short stories, Nancy Jo Cullen displays her talent for creating distinct characters and blessing them with the same insecurities that haunt the rest of us. Although each has their own unique personality, one commonality among all of the characters in this collection is their acquiescence to despair. From the despondentRead More
Holly reviews The Professor by Terry Castle
The Professor: A Sentimental Education collects personal essays by Terry Castle, author of The Literature of Lesbianism. Magnetic, self-flagellating, and sharp, her writing here blends personal, political, and academic thoughts on topics as diverse as teen angst and world travel. In these essays, she collects stamps, smokes pot, and talks for her slutty daschund puppy. If it sounds mundane,Read More
Holly reviews Dear John, I Love Jane edited by Candace Walsh and Laura André
Dear John, I Love Jane: Women Write about Leaving Men for Women, edited by Candace Walsh and Laura André and published by Seal Press, is a collection of personal essays about women who discover they’re lesbian/ bi/ queer/ otherwise in love with a woman a little later in life. For some, this means coming outRead More