Howards End Howard's Bookstore and Noelke Gallery, Torrington February 2022 With used bookstores such rarities these days, I visit and write about some them on CTMQ if only because they'll likely be extinct by the time I die. Hoo boy, that was a rough lede. Sorry to bum you out. I'm sure some will … [Read more...]
Book Review: Fairfield County Chef’s Table
Gold Coast Star Fairfield County Chef's Table, Amy Kundrat (Photos by Stephanie Webster (2014) I suppose it's only proper to note that the author of this book is a friend of mine, but I did purchase it on my own at full price for what that's worth. So, there's probably no way I'm going to say that this book is … [Read more...]
Book Review: One of Windsor
Left Me Hanging a Bit One of Windsor, Beth M. Caruso (2015) I dunno... I'm just not a big fan of "historical fiction" I guess. I like good books on history, and I like good works of fiction well enough. But there's always something so awkward when the two genres meet and mingle. I'm sure there are countless … [Read more...]
Book Review: Connecticut Created Cars
Speed Reading Connecticut Created Cars By Paul Pellerin I read this book in about 20 minutes while standing at Bloomfield's Prosser Library one random weeknight after work. I had been looking for something else, saw this, pulled it out of its slot and said to myself, "Hm, I can 'read' this book in 20 minutes and … [Read more...]
Book Review: Empire of Pain
Genocidal Sociopaths Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty By Patrick Radden Keefe I don't know how I decided I wanted to read this book. For one, I was able to without tears or breaking stuff. I've not been personally touched by any opioid addiction. Not in my family, and not by any close … [Read more...]
CT Books, Movies, People, & Stories
Connecticut Books, People, & Essays I probably shouldn’t have ever begun reading and writing about Connecticut books. It’s just one of those lists that I can’t possibly “finish” in any meaningful way. But that’s fine, I don’t mind. If you’re is into books, I also review non-Connecticut hiking books and the Modern … [Read more...]
Book Review: Insiders’ Guide: Connecticut
Pssst! Come Inside… Insiders' Guide: Connecticut (2nd Edition, 2015) By Eric D. Lehman I know it’s weird that I review Connecticut travel guides. One could argue that you’re reading the best one that exists. (Although, if you wanted to put CTMQ in book form it would run several large volumes and be rather unwieldy … [Read more...]
Book Review: The Brittle Thread of Life
The Brittle Thread of Life: Backcountry People Make a Place for Themselves in Early America By Mark Williams Many years after reading this book, I had the chance to meet the author Williams at the then newly opened Wilcox House and Barn Museum. When I began putting together the CTMQ Town Guides in late 2016, I … [Read more...]
Modern Library’s Top 100 Novels
Just Read 2002 - 2039 or so Outside of all the regular CTMQ stuff, I have other goals. One of those goals is to read The Modern Library Top 100 English novels of the 20th century. If all goes well, I hope to finish the entire list around retirement age. This little scheme began in 2002 as an agreement with Hoang … [Read more...]
Top 100 Modern Library Books Tally
At the turn of the century, the Modern Library, whomever they may be, came out with a list of their Top 100 English Literature novels of the 20th Century. Criticism abounded and many more lists and counter-lists were developed. But I had met a girl in 2000 who agreed to tackle the whole list with me, plodding slowly … [Read more...]