Book Review
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The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
“She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom.” I didn’t remember much about my first time reading Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter years ago. I recalled a bit of dense writing, a picturesque Salem setting, and the piercing image of Hester standing on the scaffold, emblazoned with an embroidered “A.” I began this… Continue reading
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Dear THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO by Alexandre Dumas: A gold star for this year’s Big Book of the Summer
Dear The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas: For the past handful of summers, I’ve chosen a larger, more intimidating book to read over the summer months. Previous participants in this little challenge have been Moby Dick by Herman Melville, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, and War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy.… Continue reading
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Dear SUMMER CROSSING by Truman Capote: A triple-layered surprise
Dear Summer Crossing by Truman Capote: Lately it seems as though I’ve acquired a knack for picking up the most recent book an author has written or published without ever having read any of their other work. Although you were the first novel ever written by Truman Capote, you weren’t published until over fifty years… Continue reading
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Dear DIGITAL MINIMALISM by Cal Newport: Interesting from a pandemic perspective
Dear Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport: Given the current pandemic and ensuing lockdown measures, it’s not an overstatement to say that the majority of my daily communication for the past few months has been digital. From online classes and Zoom lectures to work emails and phone calls, I’ve gotten used to going about my day… Continue reading
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Dear LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE by Celeste Ng: What genre do you belong in?
Dear Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng: You’ve been one of the most recommended books on my TBR ever since I watched and enjoyed Big Little Lies a few years ago. I had never read anything by Celeste Ng up until this point, and numerous other bookworms recommended you both for your gripping story and… Continue reading
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Dear AS YOU LIKE IT by William Shakespeare: My favorite in a certain way?
Dear As You Like It by William Shakespeare: Shakespeare and I have always had a bit of a love-hate relationship. While I appreciate his clever wordplay and legacy as a writer, I’ve just never been a huge fan of his plays. I always maintained that I prefer seeing plays performed rather than reading them on… Continue reading
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Dear MY OXFORD YEAR by Julia Whelan: SO MUCH NOSTALGIA
Dear My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan: I apologize in advance for how nostalgic this letter will inevitably be. When I saw a secondhand copy of you on sale at a bookstore one day I knew I would have to buy you. The blurb on your back cover promised the story of a twenty-something woman,… Continue reading
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Dear SOURDOUGH by Robin Sloan: A new bizarre, heart-warming favorite
Dear Sourdough by Robin Sloan: I decided to listen to your audiobook on a whim one day after seeing its gorgeous cover design and reading its enticing blurb: a story about a software engineer at a robotics company in San Francisco who is given a seemingly magical sourdough starter and ends up uncovering a secret… Continue reading
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Dear THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA by C.S. Lewis: Some unexpected mixed emotions
Dear The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis: We have a bit of a long, complicated relationship, you and I. Unlike so many other people my age, for some reason I didn’t read you when I was younger. Instead, I started reading you for the first time a few years ago and, over the span… Continue reading
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Dear EDUCATED by Tara Westover: Worth the hype?!
Dear Educated by Tara Westover, You are one of the most hyped books I’ve read in a while. Not only did you appear on countless must-read lists, but you were also recommended to me by numerous bookworms online and friends in person. At first I was quite skeptical, I must admit. How good could you… Continue reading
About ME, Holly
former english major, current twenty-something book lover, allergic to nuts. drop me a line at nutfreenerd@gmail.com or on instagram.
nut free nerd 