View Mobile Site
Home › Archives › Alison Reeger Cook

Archive By Author - Alison Reeger Cook


Off the Shelves: Is blogging damaging our literary critiques?

With the advent of user-friendly websites such as Blogger and Wordpress, just about everyone at one time or another has created an online blog. It is an easy way for people to share their experiences, their interests, and their opinions on a worldwide scale.

October 07, 2012 | Alison Reeger Cook | Columnists


Off the Shelves: ‘Origin’ a tantalizing science fiction tale for teens

In "Origin," Jessica Khoury's debut young adult novel, the author explores a well known theme - the quest for immortality - and puts a new variation on it: What is the value of one's life, and the lives of others, to someone who is already immortal?

September 23, 2012 | Alison Reeger Cook | Columnists


Off the Shelves: Author’s family history captures readers in ‘Catching the Eagle’

I have great admiration for those who preserve the chronicles of their family ancestry. Our modern world is so infested by sound bites and fleeting images, much of the time people don't bother to contemplate on the rich complexity of the past.

September 09, 2012 | Alison Reeger Cook | Columnists


Off the Shelves: An earnest look at death and its effect on psyche

I had the pleasure of walking into my local bookstore a few weeks ago to meet a former death investigator doing a book signing for his recently released novel, about the cases he had encountered while working in Atlanta.

August 26, 2012 | Alison Reeger Cook | Columnists


Off the Shelves: While not pure gold, ‘Auraria’ has some shining moments

In his debut novel, Tim Westover welcomes readers to Auraria. Based on an actual Georgian ghost town, it is inhabited by moon maidens, a water guardian, a piano-playing poltergeist named Mr. Bad Thing, headless highwaymen, a giant terrapin who enjoys pontificating about the beginning of the world, and gold-obsessed people whose eccentric ways of life make them seem more like residents of Wonderland than the real world. Into this extraordinary environment comes James Holtzclaw, a ...

August 12, 2012 | Alison Reeger Cook | Columnists


Off the Shelves: ‘Seraphina’ soars with strong plot and characters

I was cautiously optimistic about the novel I picked up this week, a debut fantasy novel by Rachel Hartman, titled "Seraphina."

July 29, 2012 | Alison Reeger Cook | Columnists


Off the Shelves: Reading as punishment: Is the written word that reviled?

A few odd news articles have come to my attention lately: A California man convicted of attempting to sell a grenade launcher to an undercover federal agent was sentenced to write a book report; a Brazilian prison has offered to reduce prison sentences of inmates for reading books; and a woman in South Carolina is given the penance of reading the Bible after being convicted of injuring two people while driving drunk.

July 15, 2012 | Alison Reeger Cook | Columnists


Off the Shelves: Famous chef dishes up an inspiring memoir

Recently, I was having a conversation about people who, when they don't manage to achieve their goals when they originally expected to, tend to heap the blame on external factors.

July 01, 2012 | Alison Reeger Cook | Columnists


Off the Shelves: Transformative tale about a father and child

Coming up on this Father's Day, I found myself thinking about the relationship between fathers and daughters, and sometimes I wonder exactly what my own father has expected from me during the course of my life.

June 17, 2012 | Alison Reeger Cook | Columnists


Off the Shelves: Literary merit vs. popularity — why can’t books have both?

Over the past few weeks when I worked at the bookstore, about the only book people have been buying (or ordering, as the store continuously sells out of it) is "Fifty Shades of Grey" by E.L. James, an erotic novel about a young woman in a sensual love affair with a wealthy and handsome billionaire.

June 03, 2012 | Alison Reeger Cook | Columnists


Off the Shelves: 'Age of Miracles' offers an original premise and strong storytelling

Why is it that so many authors and filmmakers love to depict deteriorating futures in which our daily lives become worse and worse? And why are we so entertained by franchises that promote these themes?

May 20, 2012 | Alison Reeger Cook | Columnists


Off the Shelves: ‘Name of the Wind’ is long-winded and short of satisfaction

The first book in Rothfuss' "The Kingkiller Chronicle" and also his debut novel, "The Name of the Wind," sets the stage for the life-epic of the enigmatic Kvothe, who at the start of the novel is an innkeeper living a secluded life in a quiet town.

May 06, 2012 | Alison Reeger Cook | Columnists


Off the Shelves: Celebrate Earth Day with 5 classic reads

Since this week's Off the Shelves review coincides with Earth Day, I was reminded of some of the books that taught me the importance of living in harmony with Mother Earth.

April 22, 2012 | Alison Reeger Cook | Columnists


Off the Shelves: ‘Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms’ malfunctions throughout

I often wonder if it is right for me, as an adult, to review a novel intended for children. The adult brain can be too demanding, or too scrutinizing of a novel that is simply meant to be fun, which is truly all a young reader would care about.

April 08, 2012 | Alison Reeger Cook | Columnists


Off the Shelves: ‘Given Day’ is a powerful story of American history

Back in 2003, Dennis Lehane, author of "Mystic River" and "Shutter Island," spun a beautiful narrative with an engrossing voice. He captures the era of 1917 with such vividness and atmosphere that you do not feel so much as if you have been transported to another time, but that you have been a part of that time and history.

March 25, 2012 | Alison Reeger Cook | Columnists


« First  « Prev  1 2 3 4 5  Next »  Last »

Page 2 of 7

Articles By Author - Alison Reeger Cook


Off the Shelves: 'Cursed Pirate Girl' rare literary treasure for a graphic novel

I rarely re-read books once I'm finished with them. But every now and then, I come across a published work that not only do I want to revisit, but I feel as if I have to in order to pick up on things I am positive I missed the first read through. One of those books is Volume One of the graphic novel series, "Cursed Pirate Girl." It is written and illustrated by Jeremy Bastian, ...

May 19, 2013 | Alison Reeger Cook | Columnists


1

Page 1 of 1


Contents of this site are © Copyright 2010 The Times, Gainesville, GA. All rights reserved. Privacy policy and Terms of service

Powered by
Morris Technology
Please wait ...