CBRIII-6: Mockingjay – Suzanne Collins

NOTE: Mockingjay is book 3 and the finale to The Hunger Games series. The books are impossible to discuss without revealing the plot of the preceding books so do not read further if you intend to read book one, The Hunger Games or two, Catching Fire but have not yet done so. Although Katniss, Finnick, [...]

CBRIII-5: Catching Fire – Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire is book 2 of The Hunger Games trilogy and plot discussion will necessarily reveal story details of The Hunger Games. Review for The Hunger Games can be found here: The Hunger Games Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have come home to District 12 as heroes. They emerged as co-victors of the 74th Hunger [...]

CBRIII-4: The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins

After a series of disasters and upheaval the United States falls. In its place rises Panem, an interconnected set of 13 districts, each feeding the ruling city Capitol with their commodities. When the districts rise against the authoritarian rule of the Capitol they are beaten down and district 13 is obliterated. The 12 remaining districts [...]

CBRIII-3: Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk – David Sedaris

David Sedaris newest collection of stories uses anthropomorphized animals to deliver compact fables hitting on very human themes like racism, religion, terrorism, domestic violence, friendship, family, etc. Few of the tales are longer than 6 pages yet each gets its point across in the time allotted and none overstay their welcome. Sedaris is best known [...]

CBRIII-2: A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a classic for a reason. It is simply constructed, but loaded with details and inflections that make the story come alive. I’ve seen most versions of the story told in film. My favorites are the George C Scott movie from the 80’s, Scrooged with Bill Murray, and the Muppet’s [...]

CBRIII-1: In the Woods – Tana French

The mark of a truly great book is one that you both don’t want to end but can’t wait to finish. The kind of story that has your eyes skipping to the opposite page just to get a glimpse at what happens next, because the tension of what you are reading is almost too much [...]