This got good reviews, and I didn’t go out looking for it but when I saw it on the “new books” table at the public library, I picked it up along with five other books. Although it was an easy read I somehow didn’t like the writing. And this is the type of book whose worth is entirely based on the quality of the writing, as there’s not much of a plot. I finished it in one day, actually just a few hours ago, and not much is sticking with me except the nagging impression that (REVEALING DETAIL ALERT): there’s no way she could have learned that much sign language in less than one semester.

A good idea for a book, but the execution was not my cup of tea.

I am a sucker for 19th century NY tales. Perhaps the gruesome parts were a bit much but in general this was very fun. I’ve now read the two extant books in this series and I hope there will be more…

I thought I had consumed all of the canon but it turns out not. Already I’m laughing, in the out-loud way.

But the writing is nowhere near as sucky as Dan Brown’s: http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/000844.html

my review: eh.

Quite possibly my favorite piece of music ever.

Reading this for a class; although it’s not my primary field I’m really enjoying the course. The cd accompanying the book is also extremely useful.

A house on my block was recently sold, and the people moving out have been setting boxes of books and other objects on their stoop periodically to “donate” them to the neighborhood. I picked up this one because I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for spy novels and Le Carre has not disappointed in the past. Also I was on my way to the train and wanted something to read.

It’s always nice when a required book is one you wanted to read anyway.

You sort of have to suspend disbelief that a novel about Aaron Burr could be called “riveting, highly entertaining.” But apparently that’s what’s going on here.

I’m actually reading this in French for my term translation project.