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Thoughts on books, reading, culture, and the literary life.

Looking back at the ask@AAR

Looking back at the ask@AAR

July 18, 2022

WordPress tells me I’ve written 138 the ask@AAR posts. The first one, published on September 6th, 2019, asked what did you think about cartoon covers? Reading through the comments, it…

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the ask@AAR: What’s your favorite easy summer dish (to make)?

the ask@AAR: What’s your favorite easy summer dish (to make)?

July 15, 2022

It’s mid July in the Carolinas and it is sticky and hot. On a good day, I find cooking somewhat onerous. (My excuse? Decades of making meals for four kids…

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What to watch after The Lost City?

What to watch after The Lost City?

July 11, 2022

  Dr. Feelgood and I (finally) watched The Lost City (6.1 rating at IMDB) and enjoyed it. I, of course, beamed through all the love for romance novels. If you’ve…

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the ask@AAR: What’s your favorite book set in a foreign country?

the ask@AAR: What’s your favorite book set in a foreign country?

July 8, 2022

Caroline’s fabulous blog–DIKS set in every state–got me thinking about romances I love that take place foreign locales.  I’m ruling out England from the list because there are what seems…

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the ask@AAR: Who is the greatest athlete of all time?

the ask@AAR: Who is the greatest athlete of all time?

July 1, 2022

I’ve been on a family vacation this week and we’ve been watching–which I, as a UNC graduate and an NC resident have OF COURSE already seen– The Last Dance, the…

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This month’s best sellers!

This month’s best sellers!

June 29, 2022

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the ask@AAR: What’s the best audiobook you’ve ever listened to?

the ask@AAR: What’s the best audiobook you’ve ever listened to?

June 24, 2022

For the last week, I’ve been transfixed by Tom Hanks. Not his acting or any of his movies–my favorite is Saving Private Ryan–but rather his narration of Ann Patchett’s Pulitzer…

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Celebrating Emma Holly

Celebrating Emma Holly

June 19, 2022

AAR was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Emma Holly, who was a trailblazer of erotic romance. For writers and readers alike, her books expanded the definition of…

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the ask@AAR: What was the last book you bought?

the ask@AAR: What was the last book you bought?

June 17, 2022

I don’t buy a lot of books–I am the romance reader version of Billy Mack: I became the Publisher of AAR and now they give them to me for free!…

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Whatcha reading?

Whatcha reading?

June 13, 2022

I read two to three books a week.. Goodreads tells me that this year I’ve read 45 books–this is probably low as I don’t keep track of re-reads. I’ve tried…

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Blast from the Past: Mr. Darcy: Douchebag or Dreamboat?

Blast from the Past: Mr. Darcy: Douchebag or Dreamboat?

June 12, 2022

originally posted on July 14, 2014 Welcome to the AAR “Douchebag or Dreamboat” series, in which AAR staffers take famous literary heroes to trial for perceived slights, misdemeanors and otherwise…

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the ask@AAR: Are we reviewing the books that interest you?

the ask@AAR: Are we reviewing the books that interest you?

June 10, 2022

A recent comment at AAR made me wonder, for the thousandth time, if AAR reviews the novels our readers are interested in. My very cursory assessment of  this year’s reviews…

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