“Chapter the 4th. She then proceeded to a Pastry-cooks where she devoured six ices, refused to pay for them, knocked down the Pastry Cook and walked away.”
Jane Austen, “The Beautifull Cassandra”
I was born in Yonkers and lived in the Bronx until I was six years old, when my parents packed up the troops and moved to Peekskill for a short stay before moving permanently to Central Florida. Raised in Central Florida amid the Mickeys and the Minnies and the lack of seasonal changes, I was determined to return to the land of my youth.
I left Florida for Manhattan and attended Fordham University at Lincoln Center, graduating in 2007 with a BA in Theatre Production and a minor in English. Before finding theatre, my true passion had been in the literary world. The Literary Gothamite was born out of that passion. I wish I could spend all the rest of my days in a book store or library.
At least, this is what I tell myself. I have still not given up my childhood fantasies of being an archeologist like Indiana Jones, or of being a concert pianist and vocalist. For the former, a library is actually a pretty ideal setting. For the latter, it's definitely not. However, as I can play all of three songs on the piano and spent most of the last 8 years on vocal rest, the library option keeps getting more and more bankable.
I enjoy reading (duh), writing (also duh), watching zoo web cams of penguins and beluga whales, shark movies, space movies, pretty much anything ocean-related, running in the rain...and reading while doing all of these things. With an hour long daily commute, I've got a lot of reading time, and a lot to say about it.
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Contact me!
I love hearing from fellow gothamites and bibliophiles alike!
Think of a book I'd enjoy?
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Review Policy
In the case of older publications, reviews will be posted within two days of my finishing the book (this is more for the reading I do at my leisure, rather than on a publisher's deadline); in the case of new books and editions, reviews are posted within a week of the publication/release date. If having the review by a certain date is somehow crucial, please let me know in your emailed request, so that I may take that into consideration.
Thanks!
If you intend to solicit a review, please keep these following guidelines in mind:
1. Acceptance of a book for review does not guarantee a positive review, though if I've sought out / accepted a book for review, it is generally in anticipation of my liking it.
2. I do accept self-published books.
3. I reserve the right to outsource the review of romance novels (trashy or no) to those of my acquaintance who will do those books justice. If you really want me to review them, expect eyerolling.
1. Acceptance of a book for review does not guarantee a positive review, though if I've sought out / accepted a book for review, it is generally in anticipation of my liking it.
2. I do accept self-published books.
3. I reserve the right to outsource the review of romance novels (trashy or no) to those of my acquaintance who will do those books justice. If you really want me to review them, expect eyerolling.
4. I don't believe in rating systems. I'll tell you what I think, but I'm not going to put a number on it.
5. I enjoy a wide range of literature. See my likes/dislikes below.
Likes - Fiction
Historical Fiction
Novels about writers or books (i.e. A.S. Byatt's Possession or Laurence Cossé's A Novel Bookstore)
Jane Austen continuations/alternate perspective (i.e. Pamela Aiden's Mr. Darcy, Gentleman trilogy)
Jane Austen anything (i.e. Janet Mullany's Jane and the Damned)
Novels by New Yorkers (i.e. Pete Hamill's Tabloid City)
Anything by John Connolly
Swashbuckling fiction (think Dumas)
Anything by Ian McEwan
New translations / new editions of the classics - this is why I love Europa Editions and NYRB
Gothic mysteries (i.e. Barbara Michaels' Sons of the Wolf)
Gothic mysteries (i.e. Barbara Michaels' Sons of the Wolf)
Likes - YA Fiction
Twists on the Classics (i.e. Pearson & Barry's Peter and the Starcatchers Series)
I prefer more Fantasy than Paranormal, if that makes sense... in other words, the Inkheart series over Twilight
Likes - Non-fiction
Concerning the 1700s/1800s (i.e. Richard Holmes' The Age of Wonder)
Concerning Books/ Literature (i.e. Simon Garfield's Just My Type or James Woods' How Fiction Works)
Concerning Sea Life (i.e. Philip Hoare's The Whale)
Concerning Theatre (i.e. Michael T. Gilmore's Differences in the Dark)
Dislikes - Fiction
Trashy Romance
Religious Historical Fiction
Pop-thrillers
Sappy stories about friendship and sisterhood (unless summer is coming and I need a beach pillow)... in other words, nothing that's already probably been made into a Lifetime Original Movie.
War
Anything by Marcel Proust
Dislikes - YA Fiction
Paranormal (i.e. vampires, werewolves)... unless it's a Jane Austen thing and then I am there.
Books about dragons (sorry, over it)
Dislikes - Non-fiction
Concerning the Middle Ages or Renaissance
Concerning War
Concerning Ancient Asian Cultures
Memoirs/ Autobiographies
Biographies
If you feel as though your book is a fit, please email me at the above listed address. Please include the title of your book, the author, the synopsis, the release date if it is not already released, and when you need my review posted by.
Thanks!
