A Cineaste’s Bookshelf
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REVIEW: The Dead Letter
With mistaken identities, missing inheritances, mysterious disappearances, I cannot get enough of Victorian sensation novels. The Dead Letter can be counted as the first American detective novel.Read More »
REVIEW: Couple Found Slain
Mikita Brottman's deep dive into this suburban true crime goes beyond the 'whodunit', and even the 'whydunit' aspect. Instead, she focuses on the aftermath from the point of view of the murderer. Read More »
REVIEW: The Reason for the Darkness of the Night
The book is primarily a biography, but views its subject through the lens of science and writing efforts. Clear lines are drawn between Poe's life events, the scientific community's academic conversation, and Poe's literary output. From "Sonnet-To Science" to this cosmological treatise Eureka, Poe diligently worked to bring the ethereal nature of poetry and the tangible study of sciences.Read More »
REVIEW: The Madhouse at the End of the Earth
In 1897, Belgian explorer Adrian de Gerlache set out to map the the vast expanse of the mysterious continent of Antarctica. Their mission becomes one of merely surviving the long unforgiving months of Antarctic night. Read More »
Books for June
There seem to be a bumper crop of true crime primers and guides this summer. Grab these for some edifying and informative reads. Crack open one of these on the beach and it might even convince people to leave you alone...Read More »
REVIEW: The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley
As far as I am concerned, Natasha Pulley can do no wrong. I have loved every one of her books and this is no exception. She has an ability to make the fantastical seem not only realistic, but casually so. In her world, time travel and parallel universes are perfectly reasonable.Read More »
REVIEW: The Artful Dickens
Literary critic John Mullan investigates and analyzes the writing tricks of Dickens through a series of essays in The Artful Dickens. The essays are a fresh take on beloved writings and bring new enjoyment to old favorites.Read More »
REVIEW: The Crown Agent
There's a reason why this novel was shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year. A few reasons, really. It hits on just about every classic Scottish mystery element readers know and love. Read More »
Books for March
There's an Irish saying: "May you get all your wishes but one, so that you will always have something to strive for." I'd say the bookworm has this covered - there is always one more book to read.Read More »
Books for February
In addition to joining the #ReadChristie2021 book club, here are some of the titles I've read recently.Read More »
REVIEW: Dear Miss Kopp
In the sixth installment of the Kopp Sister chronicles, we see the adventures of the Kopps at war recounted via a series of letters written to one another.Read More »
Best Reads of 2020
I read a lot. All the time, really. A few years ago I finally learned to allow myself to stop reading books that I wasn't enjoying and move on to another title. The end of the year is an arbitrary marker but it's as good a time as any to look back and review the pages I've read. Here are eight books I enjoyed reading this year.Read More »
Books for November
I've been borrowing lots of library books lately. There are tons of titles from new writers and a library card is the best way to test them out. If you don't have a library card, why not? It's free and easy. Plus, librarians love it and circulation numbers help them stay open! Add these to your list for your next trip to the library.Read More »
REVIEW: Murder Maps - Crime Scenes Revisited
In addition to being an excellent reference, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of criminal investigation. It is beautifully designed and a joy to thumb through. Chock-full of tidbits and ephemera, it offers a new way to view old cases. Read More »
REVIEW: A Nervous Man Shouldn't Be Here in the First Place
Don't feel bad if you have never heard of Bill Baggs. He wouldn't have minded. In this biography, Condon's presentation of this little-known character is approachable, despite the deep dive she did into his complicated life.Read More »