Allison Pittman

I have my MA in Literature with a focus in Victorian Lit and I really appreciated the way this book was written. That is not to say that you need a degree to understand it, that's just my way of saying I am very picky about literary interpretations, and this book did not commit any crimes in my view. I don't agree with all of Pittman's interpretations of A Christmas Carol, but I thought she did pretty good connecting the story with biblical passages and personal anecdotes. Sometimes the balance of those three things wasn't great, but I would say the majority of the chapters were very well done. I also really appreciate that Pittman addressed author intent at the end and made the case that even if Dickens didn't mean to put all of the Christian themes in the story, we can find them there nonetheless.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.… (mais)

Interesting book!

I really enjoyed this book! It's based on one of Laura Ingall's students, Mariah. Trixie, Mariahs's great granddaughter is called to her bedside in what is believed to be her final days. During that visit, Trixie learns some things about her past that she never knew. Mariah was in love with a man named Oscar ( Cap Garland) but her was in love with Laura. Mariah has many struggles including marrying a man she doesn't love but she becomes stronger through her difficulties. This strength she passes on to her great-granddaughter. This book has themes of love, family and strength.… (mais)

I really enjoyed this book. It had a different feel to it then a lot of books I read. It goes back and forth between present day and chapters of a book that was written by a woman who lived at the Menger Hotel in 1915. In present day Dini is a magician who is fascinated by/obsessed with Hedda Krause. Hedda claimed that a ghost lured her from her room and when she returned all of her jewels had been stolen. Dini meets Quin who's ancestor was the detective that investigated the robbery. Together they try to figure out what happened.
I found this book very interesting and a bit creepy at times but highly enjoyable and hard to put down.
This book was reviewed on the Literary Club Podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1984185/episodes/12732054… (mais)