Besides reading books, my other major passion is music. I got my master's degree in music business, and in addition to Amanda's Book Corner here, I've also run a music news site called Hidden Jams since 2014. So when my two passions collide, I get extra excited. One such collision is in Rachel Joyce's The... Continue Reading →
A couple of weeks ago, I was perusing the Barnes & Noble bookshelves when I happened across Eve Chase's debut novel, Black Rabbit Hall. Something about the title and cover invoked childlike magic and mystery, so I was excited to dive into it right away. Black Rabbit Hall follows two timelines, each focusing on a... Continue Reading →
I just picked up a new book last week, The Broken Girls by Simone St. James, and I flew through it. Set in Vermont, it describes a boarding school for unwanted girls called Idlewild Hall. But it may be haunted, and more than one girl meets a terrible fate there. It's a dual timeline novel,... Continue Reading →
One year ago, Min Jin Lee released her sweeping novel, Pachinko, which quickly became a bestseller and earned accolades. It captured my interest, and I finally picked up the book a few weeks ago. After finishing the final chapters today, I can say it fully lived up to the hype. Pachinko is a beautiful epic,... Continue Reading →
Paula McLain's Circling the Sun has been on my radar for a couple of years now. I finally bought it recently, and was eager to dive in. While I've read a lot of historical fiction in the last few years, this is one of only a few that has taken me to Africa. Here, we... Continue Reading →
I love a provocative title, so when I first saw The Idiot by Elif Batuman in the bookstore, I was intrigued. Its summary - multicultural, set against a backdrop of coming of age during college and traveling on your own for the first time - sealed the deal. I bought it, went home, and started... Continue Reading →
Full review to come! โ โ โ โ
We're only three months into the year, but I'm already certain that The Time In Between by Marรญa Dueรฑas will be among my favorites of 2017. Originally published in Spanish in 2009, The Time In Between has since become an international bestseller, and for good reason. The novel spans a decade as Sira Quiroga grows... Continue Reading →
Full review to come! โ โ โ
Review to come! The Girl From the Savoy by Hazel Gaynor. โ โ โ โ โ
At the store recently I came across The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide, translated from Japanese. I love cats and am going to adopt one soon, so I was excited to read this book about a cat who comes into the lives of a couple in Tokyo.ย This married couple has no cat of their... Continue Reading →
Amanda's Book Corner 