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March 25, 2024

Articles by Katrina Stonoff



[Opinion] [Nonfiction] [Short]

Opinion

Review in Haiku: Liquor (2006-01-02) book review

If you want to know what Hurricane Katrina cost the nation, you could start by reading Liquor, by Poppy Z. Brite. A native of New Orleans, Brite paints a vivid picture of the New Orleans Katrina blew away, a place rich in flavor, personality and intrigue.

Review in Haiku: Raising Hope (2006-03-06) book review

Drawn together by the birth of baby Hope and the simultaneous death of Hope's mother, three women move into an uneasy house. None of them like the others; all of them adore the baby. On such unstable ground, a home is built in Katie Willard's tribute to women, womanhood and motherhood.

Review in Haiku: Shadow Baby (2006-04-10) book review

A fortuitious accident, Shadow Baby is delightful and funny and sweet. And bitterly, painfully sad. You will laugh, and grieve, and rage. But you won't be bored, not for a minute.

Review in Haiku: The Year of Magical Thinking (2006-05-08) book review

It's a rare memoir that keeps me up at night, but I read The Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Didion, in three days with little sleep. I felt a little voyeuristic reading this intimate peek into a marriage, but like any addictive habit, I just couldn't stop myself from peeping.

Review In Haiku: Grave Intent (2006-05-22) book review

This month I'm dabbling in genres I rarely read. And although I love thrillers, I never read horror. You have to realize: I don't read books any more than I watch movies. I live them. And nobody wants to live certain books or movies.

Review in Haiku: A Strong West Wind (2006-06-05) book review

I read A Strong West Wind, by Gail Caldwell (chief book critic for the Boston Globe), because I was interested in her agent, and it came highly recommended. Caldwell is a Pulitzer Prize winner, and the jacket calls it an "exquisitely rendered memoir."

Review in Haiku: A Family Forever (2006-07-31) book review

Katrina Stonoff tackles A Family Forever, inspirational romance by Brenda Coulter, wondering if she will be able to look herself in the mirror the next day. Will she be embarrassed?

Review in Haiku: Between, Georgia (2006-08-28) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews the book Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson, and finds it as tasty as an almond croissant.

Review in Haiku: The Night Journal (2006-09-25) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews The Night Journal by Elizabeth Crook, and has some observations that all authors would do well to hear.

Review in Haiku: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (2006-10-09) book review

"Snow Flower" is a rich, detailed texture of sisterhood. Although despised in childhood as extra mouths and valued in womanhood only as the mothers of sons, women created a subculture for themselves, a culture that honored sisterhood, women?s arts, and their personal relationships. Stonoff calls "Snow Flower" a "veritable time machine."

Review in Haiku: The Violent Friendship of Esther Johnson (2006-11-20) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "The Violent Friendship of Esther Johnson."

Review in Haiku: Never Let Me Go (2007-01-01) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro, and frankly, her review is driving the editor crazy enough to buy the book on the spot!

Review in Haiku: Water for Elephants (2007-01-15) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, a book that reveals the life of a circus more than the illusion, and which Stonoff calls "compelling, suspenseful, filled with characters I loved and hated."

Review in Haiku: A Long Way Down (2007-01-29) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews Nick Hornby's book, "A Long Way Down," and finds it a masterful example of the use of characters "voice" in a funny and fascinating tale of four suicides.

Review in Haiku: What Would Jackie Do? (2007-02-19) book review

Dust off your Chanel suit and find the other white glove -- Katrina Stonoff is reviewing the book, "What Would Jackie Do?" which claims to be "an inspired guide to distinctive living."

Review in Haiku: The Geographer's Library (2007-03-19) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "The Geographer's Library," a book about mystery and antiquities.

Review in Haiku: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2007-04-09) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews the "charming" book, "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith.

Review in Haiku: March (2007-04-30) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "March" by Geraldine Brooks, a book based upon the father character in Alcott's classic, "Little Women."

Review in Haiku: The Whole World Over (2007-05-14) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "The Whole World Over" by Julia Glass, a book held up as an example of a narrator that isn't a POV character

Review in Haiku: Freakonomics (2007-05-28) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "Freakonomics" by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner -- and is fascinated by this non-fiction book that uses economics to shed light on social questions.

Review in Haiku: Holy Blood, Holy Grail (2007-06-11) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln.

Review in Haiku: Gerald's Game (2007-06-25) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews Stephen King's suspenseful "Gerald's Game."

Review in Haiku: The Devil Wears Prada (2007-09-10) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "The Devil Wears Prada" by Lauren Weisberger, a novel made into the movie by the same name.

Review in Haiku: The Constant Gardener (2007-09-24) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews the highly recommended "The Constant Gardener" by John Le Carre.

Review in Haiku: Triptych (2007-10-08) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "Triptych" by Karin Slaughter and finds it unsettling, and a heart-pounder.

Review in Haiku: Company (2007-10-22) book review

A quick, quirky read, says Katrina Stonoff of "Company" by Max Barry, but one that you will think about when you look around at your workplace.

Review in Haiku: The Kite Runner (2007-11-05) book review

If there was one book Katrina Stonoff wishes she could assign everyone to read, it would be "The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini.

Review in Haiku: How To Be Lost (2007-11-26) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "How to Be Lost" by Amanda Eyre Ward and finds it a real page-turner.

Review in Haiku: The Effects of Light (2007-12-10) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews in haiku, and says this:"A lyrical and lovely book, 'The Effects of Light', by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore, will haunt you, just as the photographs in it haunt their subjects."

Review in Haiku: The Book of Flying (2007-12-24) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "The Book of Flying" by Keith Miller. A modern allegory, she notes, and a traditional quest.

Review in Haiku: Was It Beautiful? (2008-01-07) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "Was It Beautiful? by Alison McGhee, and finds it a finely crafted work of fiction about clinical depression.

Review in Haiku: Marley & Me (2008-01-21) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews the hilarious memoir, "Marley & Me" by John Grogan.

Review in Haiku: Waiting (2008-02-11) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "Waiting" by Ha Jin.

Review in Haiku: Sarah (2008-03-03) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "Sarah" by Marek Halter and has some reservations about the book.

Review in Haiku: The Mermaid Chair (2008-03-24) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews the novel, "The Mermaid Chair," by Sue Monk Kidd.

Review in Haiku: By Bread Alone (2008-04-14) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "By Bread Alone" by Sarah-Kate Lynch.

Review in Haiku: City of Glass (2008-04-28) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "City of Glass" by Paul Auster.

Review in Haiku: Falling Boy (2008-05-12) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "Falling Boy" by Alison McGhee.

Review in Haiku: Running With Scissors (2008-05-19) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "Running With Scissors" by Augusten Burroughs.

Review in Haiku: Trans-Sister Radio (2008-06-02) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews the book, "Trans-Sister Radio" by Chris Bohjalian.

Review in Haiku: The Crimson Petal and the White (2008-06-16) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews the book, "The Crimson Petal and the White," by Michel Faber.

Review in Haiku: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2008-06-30) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews the book, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon.

Review in Haiku: We Are All Welcome Here (2008-07-14) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews the book, "We Are All Welcome Here" by Elizabeth Berg.

Review in Haiku: The Bastard of Istanbul (2008-08-04) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews the book, "The Bastard of Istanbul," by Elif Shafak.

Review in Haiku: The Year of Fog (2008-10-06) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "The Year of Fog" by Michelle Richmond.

Review in Haiku: A Visit From the Footbinder (2008-10-20) book review

Katrina Stonoff remembers with delight and reviews the short story collection "A Visit From The Footbinder and Other Stories" by Emily Prager.

Review in Haiku: Falling Man (2008-11-03) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews the book "Falling Man" by Don DeLillo.

Review in Haiku: Divisadero (2008-11-17) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "Divisadero" by Michael Ondaatje .

Review in Haiku: The Sleeping Beauty Proposal (2008-12-01) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "The Sleeping Beauty Proposal" by Sarah Strohmeyer.

Review in Haiku: Dream When You're Feeling Blue (2008-12-15) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews "Dream When You're Feeling Blue" by Elizabeth Berg.

Review in Haiku: Plain Truth (2009-01-05) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews the book "Plain Truth" by Jodi Picoult.

Review in Haiku: Starting Out Sideways (2009-01-19) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews the book "Starting Out Sideways" by Mary E. Mitchell.

Review in Haiku: The Used World (2009-02-02) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews the book "The Used World" by Haven Kimmel.

Review in Haiku: The Birth of Venus (2009-02-16) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews the book "The Birth of Venus" by Sara Dunant.

Review in Haiku: The First Wives Club (2009-03-02) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews the book "The First Wives Club" by Olivia Goldsmith.

Review in Haiku: The Reincarnationist (2009-03-16) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews the book, "The Reincarnationist" by M. J. Rose.

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Nonfiction

Review in Haiku: The Madonnas of Leningrad (2006-09-11) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews The Madonnas of Leningrad, and finds it exquisite.

Care & Feeding of a Wife (2009-03-30) nonficiton essay spoof

Have you ever considered getting a companion pet to fill the lonely hours? Some people adopt a wife, but you have to know what you're doing ...

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Short

Review in Haiku: The Prestige (2007-07-23) book review

Katrina Stonoff, intrigued by Hollywood's version of the story, turns to the novel "The Prestige" by Christopher Priest to try to find out what really happened ...

Review in Haiku: Daughter of the Saints (2007-08-27) book review

Katrina Stonoff reviews Dorothy Allred Solomon's memoir "Daughter of the Saints," about being raised in a polygamist home.

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