Essays & Musings
What We’ve Been Thinking About
Thoughts on books, reading, culture, and the literary life.
the ask@AAR: What do we think about Kristan Higgins?
August 5, 2022We’ve reviewed Ms. Higgins 22 times at AAR. She’s received eight DIK grades, twelve B grades, and two C+s. Her last seven books have been women’s fiction rather than straight…
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I F**king Hate Cliffhangers. Do you?
August 3, 2022Whether it’s on TV–I am currently exceedingly annoyed at Virgin River, Tokyo Vice, and Stranger Things–or in books, I don’t like cliffhanger endings. Nope. Give me a story where–like the…
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What are you reading?
August 1, 2022It’s the first of August–where did this year go?!?! Goodreads tells me I’ve read 54 books this year–I don’t count re-reads which comprise about a third of my reading. I…
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the ask@AAR: What do we think of Susan Elizabeth Phillips?
July 29, 2022AAR’s reviewed Susan Elizabeth Phillips sixteen times–we’ve given her ten DIKs. The lowest grade she’s gotten here is a single C. (That book, Dance Away with Me, also got a…
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the ask@ARR: What do we think about Lisa Kleypas?
July 22, 2022AAR has reviewed Lisa Kleypas 41 times. We’ve given her twelve DIKs, the last of which was for Devil in Disguise in 2021. The lowest grade she’s ever received here…
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Looking back at the ask@AAR
July 18, 2022WordPress 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)?
July 15, 2022It’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?
July 11, 2022Dr. 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?
July 8, 2022Caroline’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?
July 1, 2022I’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!
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the ask@AAR: What’s the best audiobook you’ve ever listened to?
June 24, 2022For 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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