I’m certainly not the first person to read and review this book – it’s already the first in a bestselling series of fantasy books that have become a television series, joining the likes of HBO guilty pleasures “True Blood,” “Entourage,” and “Rome.&rdquo… Read full post »

Friday was the Grand Opening of Long Beach's newest art retreat, Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum, or PieAM for short. I did not attend the Grand Opening celebration Friday, but I did visit the museum on Sunday, when admission was free for its first weekend.

Though small, the museum was… Read full post »

Bret: LA is only 500 miles from here.

Elizabeth: Wow, I just got a chill.

Bret: Could be because the A/C is pumping.

The first chapter of Everything Lovely, Effortless, Safe feels like it'll turn into the kind of cliché story where people take chances, make mistakes, and fulfill their dreams. This debut novel from Jenny Hollowell surprises readers with an honest view of what sometimes happens when we follow… Read full post »

I finally did it.

I had the "I can't find a job" breakdown today. It consisted of half an hour of crying to my mother on the phone and saying "I don't understand" over and over. My mom couldn't say much to help, other than giving me a few sentences… Read full post »

Yesterday marked the first time I've ever ridden a motorcycle.

About two weeks ago my roommate bought a motorcycle and has been pressuring me to let him take me for a spin, knowing I've never ridden one.  I've been really reluctant because I know how dangerous they can be, but I… Read full post »

It’s 10 p.m. on my first night in our apartment. I’m staring out the living room window, which is totally empty and huge at this point, with only a few bags in one corner, and some of our junk in the middle. Two half-full wine glasses are behind me, along with… Read full post »

“Up in the Air” is a work that stands on its own for its wit and storyline. The novel’s protagonist is a man I neither liked nor despised, but just followed along for the ride. At times I laughed with him, and at other times I doubted his… Read full post »

“Among Other Things, I’ve Taken Up Smoking” is Aoibheann Sweeney’s debut novel about self-discovery and family secrets. The novel details Miranda Donnel’s reluctant first steps away from her sheltered childhood on Crab Island, off the coast of Maine. It is on this i… Read full post »