For The Book Obsessed
[ad_1] The enemies-to-lovers trope is my jam. Is there anything more delicious than watching two people dance back and forth over that line between love and hate? That moment of “you annoy me so much oh no suddenly we’re kissing” is one of my favorite things to read—and write. It’s one of the reasons that … Read more
[ad_1] I’ve never understood the term “nonfiction novel.” For one, stories are either true or they’re not. Readers deserve a clean distinction between fact and fiction. But more than that, the term seems to arise from a misguided assumption that only novels can move and thrill readers, while nonfiction educates and informs them. And only … Read more
[ad_1] I was lying in a hospital bed and, according to my doctor, there was a good chance I wouldn’t make it through the night. I’d been having massive intestinal bleeding and they couldn’t pinpoint the source. I thought of my children, and the prospect of not seeing them grow up, of the beautiful palm … Read more
[ad_1] In The Comeback, I explore the impact of early stardom and abuse on a young Hollywood actress, Grace Turner. There are multiple power dynamics explored in the book, including the connection between Grace and her audience, who think they own part of her; the dysfunctional relationship Grace has with her parents, who feel both … Read more
[ad_1] “Eating and reading are two pleasures that combine admirably.” —C.S. Lewis Take a seat at the table, get comfortable, and let’s talk about the magic of food in fiction. No matter how our memories come to us—whether an involuntary sensorial moment (explained best in Marcel Proust’s famous tea-soaked madeleine episode from In Search of … Read more
[ad_1] I remember when I was younger, and the possibility of sitting for an hour and diving into a favorite book was nearly the most enjoyable thing I could imagine. Just to carve out a bit of time for reading was all I wanted. In fact, there was a time in my early thirties when … Read more
[ad_1] When I turned forty, my best friend from college, Annette, and I decided to do it up big and have a girls’ weekend in New Orleans. We planned it for months. Being married with kids, this was the getaway we had earned. I was flying in from Phoenix, she was coming from Connecticut. I … Read more
[ad_1] Ever since I was a newbie until now, as a seasoned writer, fantasy has called to me as it has so many other people. Dragons, wizards, becoming more than you are… It speaks to our need for order in a chaotic world, that there is a balancing force between good and evil, even if … Read more
[ad_1] As much as I enjoy reading about two people falling in love, I am always intrigued by the relationships that exist outside a budding romance––the connection between a character and their family. I want to know the issues that complicate these relationships––perhaps a complex mother-daughter dynamic, meddling relatives, secrets, or unwavering cultural expectations. Whatever … Read more
[ad_1] When it comes to adaptations of books, some people claim a book is always better than its adaptation and I completely see their point. On the other hand, I totally disagree. One of the beautiful things about being a reader is the way written language sparks one’s ability to imagine a new reality. The … Read more