Tag Archives: book-review

HALF HIS AGE by Jeanette McCurdy

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Well, reading this was a wild ride, and this case, I don’t mean that in a good way. The topic (and cover, quite frankly) of Waldo, a high school senior, lusting after her 40-year-old schlubby creative writing teacher (and succeeding) may turn off readers, but those who have read McCurdy’s bestselling memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, may be thinking of giving this a try. But here’s the thing: this is one of the most uncomfortable books I have read in a long time. I am not one to shy away from a controversial books and have a strong stomach for crude content (after all I read a pure porn novel in the 8th grade given to me by a classmate), but this has such graphic and disturbing sex scenes that I felt like I had to close my eyes (I can’t imagine getting through them in audio!). For a coming-of-age novel, it’s quite good, and there is some hope Waldo will come to her senses fairly soon, but I felt the author could have dialed down some of the graphic content a few notches and still gotten her point across.

This book is similar to two other novels I read about teacher/student relationships. My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell is about a male teacher grooming and developing a long-term relationship with a high school student (loosely based on “Lolita”), and Nampa by Alissa Nutting is a novel about a female teacher who has a penchant for 14-year-old boys.

Would I recommend anyone read Half His Age? Well, for some weird reason, I like reading controversial books. Tell me something that should be censored or is creating a sensation, and I’m on it, immediately wanting to see what all the fuss is about. So if you are like me, by all means, read this, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.

My Personal Reading Challenge for 2026

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I usually don’t plan on what to read over the year, but after perusing my loaded bookshelves, I plucked out a few that were calling to me and created my own reading challenge. Here is my list.

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough. I read this when it was released in 1977 and decided it was time for a reread since it’s always been one of my favorite romantic sagas.

Cashelmara by Susan Howatch. I don’t know how many times I handled (and caressed) the library copies of this dramatic family saga over the years, and it’s been on my TBR list for years.

Green Darkness by Anya Seton. This is another reread from my long-ago past. I first ran across this back in 1973 when I was hired to work at the West Salem Library. This was one of the first epic time-travel romantic sagas, and I continue to recommend it for those who like the Outlander series.

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann. I read this at age 13, which was a bit above my grade level, but I talked the librarian into letting me check it out. I was transfixed. I recently read Gill Paul’s SCANDALOUS WOMEN, a novel about Susann’s journey when writing this, so I decided it was time to do a reread to see if it would still be considered as sordid as I remember.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. I have read everything by this author except this, and I hear it’s one of her best, so I’ll definitely have a great reading experience.

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. This is a dense, odd, and complicated horror novel set in a haunted house. I’ve heard it will blow your mind and make you afraid, very afraid. However, I’m not sure I’m smart enough for this, as one reviewer said, “A love story by a semiotician. Danielewski has a songwriter’s heart as attuned to heartache as he is to Derrida’s theory on the sign.” Okaaaay…

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai. This is on the Booker shortlist and is loved by Ann Patchett, so what can go wrong? I do hear it’s long and fragmented, so we’ll see if I ultimately finish it.

The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty (Daevabad Trilogy). I’m not much of a fan of epic fantasy, but I decided to vary out of my lane a bit. This is the series that rose to the top when I queried my fellow librarians for a good, accessible speculative work of fiction.

And last but not least, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Clocking in at over 1200 pages, this has seen a surge in popularity. I need something to replicate the reading experience I had with the Seven Sisters series, so this may fill the bill.

Do you have any reading lists for the coming year?

Revisiting HELL HOUSE by Richard Matheson

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So this was an interesting read in a couple of different ways. Please forgive my rambling review.

I first read this in the 1970s, during my horror phase (which I guess I’m still in), when I read Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and Robert Marasco’s Burnt Offerings. I recall being impressed by how frightening this was and how effectively the setting was portrayed. For some reason, I decided to reread it to see if it affected me the same way it did 50 years ago, and here is what’s different — I don’t remember the obvious uncurrent of sexual tensions of the women, and at times, the lewdness of the house’s history. I’m not judging, I’m just surprised I didn’t remember that aspect of the storyline. However, that all being said, it was still very scary (Stephen King said it was, “the scariest haunted house novel ever written.” I’m not sure I agree with our friend Stevie, as I think The Haunting of Hill House was way scarier in its subtlety.) I did feel the anticlimactic ending went on too long.

I followed up by watching the 1973 movie, The Legend of Hell House, and it was reasonably well done, although somewhat condensed; however, the setting was perfect. (Fun fact: my spouse and I saw this at the local drive-in, probably in the mid-1970s. Near the end, the bathrooms were closed due to a sewer problem, and we had to pee so bad we had to leave before the ending, and it wasn’t until last night that I saw finale!)

And here’s one more observation that about drove me bonkers during my recent read. Do you ever read a book and notice a repeated term or description that a good editor should have caught? In this case, the word “hiss” (or hissing or hissed) was used sixteen times according to my Kindle!

Richard Matheson also wrote the time travel love story, Bid Time Return, which was adapted into the romantic movie Somewhere in Time, starring Christopher Reeve and Jayne Seymour. (Loved the book but never saw the movie.)

Anyhoodles, if a reader is looking for a good haunted house story, one can’t go wrong with this book as long as the content isn’t objectionable. However, for the best haunted house story ever written (IMO), you can’t go wrong with The Haunting of Hill House (and the original movie, The Haunting), and the sequel, Elizabeth Hand’s A Haunting on the Hill. For a fun look at horror novels from the 1970s/1980s, get a copy of Grady Hendrix’s Paperbacks from Hell (click on the title for my Goodreads review).

2025 MEMOIRS, PLUS A BIOGRAPHY (Part 1)

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I love a good celebrity memoir, especially if the author is candid and sprinkles a little dirt. Seven years ago, I wrote about memoirs, which you can read here, if you so desire. Here is a rundown of the memoirs I’ve read so far in 2025. Part 2 will arrive in a few days.

How to Lose Your Mother by Molly Jong-Fast. I read Erica Jong’s ground-breaking novel, Fear of Flying, when it was published in 1973, and then followed her career over the years. Turns out Erica was a bit of a narcissist and an alcoholic. When she started sliding into dementia, not only did Molly become her caregiver, but at the same time, Molly’s husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Compelling, although some have felt Molly got a little too whiny at times, but you know what? Molly deserved to be a wee bit chagrined over her situation.

Softly, As I Leave You by Priscilla Presley (publication date September 23). Well. This was verrry interesting. There is some repeated information from her first memoir, Elvis and Me, but this continues the story of their divorce and the raising of their daughter, Lisa Marie. Like many celebrities, there is an aggravating air of entitlement throughout, but what is most interesting is what Lisa Marie wrote about Priscilla in her book, From Here to the Great Unknown. While neither could be considered a reliable narrator, it’s interesting to compare what they said about each other — at least it is if you care about this stuff at all, and I do, I do!

Brooke Shields is Not Allowed to Get Old by Brooke Shields. Another entry into the menopausal memoirs by celebrities. It was interesting when Brooke talked about her career and life, but it got a little tedious when she delved into the “change of life” stuff; it’s like no one has ever gone through this before. If you like her, give it a try; otherwise, skip it.

Stay tuned for four more titillating stories by people who think readers want to hear their life stories. Here is a sneak peek:

ON THE HIPPIE TRAIL: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer by Rick Steves

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This was an easy-to-read and fun look at Rick Steves’ first foray into reporting on foreign countries outside of Europe. When he was 23, he took a break from teaching piano (who knew?) and, along with a buddy, decided to travel the “Hippie Trail,” a popular itinerary in the Middle East and South Asia among young people in the late 1970s. As he traveled, he kept a detailed journal, which he found years later and decided to lightly edit the entries and publish, along with providing numerous photos and journal samples.

Despite the “white male privilege” aspects, where his self-awareness went by the wayside a few times, Rick’s journey was fascinating. And while some have criticized his writing skills and observations, one must consider his age and limited life experiences. However, I found the narrative very appealing and think it could be enjoyable to listen to as he narrates the audiobook.

If you are a fan of Rick Steves, pick this up to enjoy the beginnings of his writing and traveling career. This would also make a lovely gift, as the print book features high-quality paper and numerous photos.

After writing the above review, I came across another book with the same itinerary set at the same time period, featuring a very similar cover. Strange Bewildering Time: Istanbul to Kathmandu in the Last Year of the Hippie Trail by Mark Abley was written two years ago. I haven’t read it yet (and am not sure I will), but he appears to have had many of the same experiences as Rick Steves’s, although his perspective includes more of a reflection on the trip and experiences. The reviews are mixed, with some saying it’s well-written (the author is a poet) and some saying it’s not, so who knows.

My Journey With the Seven Sisters (and Pa Salt) by Lucinda Riley

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Two years ago, after carrying the large paperback of the first book, The Seven Sisters, in my beach bag for six years, I finally set aside time to start the entire series, which consists of eight long books.

Well, I just finished the last book, Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt, and boy, what a journey that turned out to be!

Each book centers around one of the six sisters adopted by “Pa Salt,” a billionaire, with each one named after a star in the Seven Sisters constellation, also known as the Pleiades. Despite not being exceptionally well-written and sometimes needing a good editor, I enjoyed all the titles. They border on melodrama and were all a tad predictable, but I didn’t give a fig; they all hit the right note for warm summer days on the patio. These books with dual timelines are full of family dynamics, intrigue, and romance, and incorporate some historical figures and history in each exotic setting (Switzerland, Paris, England, Ireland, Australia, Africa, and Brazil), and one has to admire Riley’s research and imagination. If you decide to start on this series, be sure to have the next book readily available, as each ends with a cliffhanger.

My other minor gripe was that these sisters were all smart people, but throughout their upbringing, no one thought to ask their father, Pa Salt, his real name? (I know!)

If you’re a fan of epic novels by Diana Gabaldon, Sara Donati, Beatriz Williams, and Kate Morton, try these addictive books.