Some books are unpleasant, disquieting, even painful. But maybe they should be read, anyway. Another Country, by James Baldwin (1924-1987), fits that description. It was a selection of my book club that I would have otherwise missed. I had heard of Baldwin, but had not read anything by him.
Twenty-five years ago, in 2001, Peace Like A River became a publishing phenomenon -- a book that came ‘out of nowhere’ -- as a debut novel from a 40-year-old author. At least that’s what ‘the press’ had to say about this novel by Leif Enger. I didn’t
An estimated two million people were killed, wounded, or went missing in brutal urban fighting in the Battle of Stalingrad between July 17, 1942 and February 2, 1943. A Russian correspondent, Vasily Grossman was an eye-witness to the battles of Moscow, Stalingrad, and Berlin. The Battle of Stalingrad is
Let’s start with a small confession: I read a Harlequin romance novel before I read my first Western. What it was doing in our little trailer in the early 1970’s I couldn’t say. I was a voracious reader and it was a book. Inside that paperback’s
Now that I have your attention, let me define my terms. By sex, I mean the array of activities that preceed, include, and follow intercourse. By literature, I mean books that are considered to have a high aesthetic value. Of course, in this era where value is thought to be
How, I wondered, did a novel written in 1920 about the elite families of New York City in the 1870’s become the first Pulitzer Prize winner for a female author? I recently found out when The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton was my book club’s March selection.
I see a lot of non-fiction in my recent book reviews. Some might see that as intellectually rigorous. Others might call it BORRRRRIIINNGG. Alas, I need to add one more non-fiction. But this one includes a love story, a true one. Once upon a time, there was a
I have had a few responses to my review of We Of Little Faith. Always hoped for. In this case, not entirely unexpected. More importantly, it was the genesis of several in person conversations. What struck me is that, while I am substantially the same person after posting the review
I joined a local book club a year ago to learn from fellow readers and to read great books that I might miss otherwise. And that has happened. Prior to Maya Angelou showing up as a book club selection for 2026, I only knew of her vaguely as a poet.
Or, at least find out what I'm reading!
Christians are people of a book – The Bible. As many of my Book Bound readers know (see About and Archive pages on Book Bound), I was raised in a Pentecostal Christian denomination. I said a prayer accepting Jesus at a very young age. I have read the entire Bible through
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