Private Chef, Writer & Podcaster
Struggling with the translation and overstuffed details in Last Train to Istanbul, I gave it an honest shot—but tapped out by page 38. Here’s my take on why this historical fiction novel just didn’t work for me (and what might make it better).
Can a Holocaust novel be breathtakingly beautiful? Mitch Albom’s The Little Liar proves it can. This gripping story of a Greek-Jewish family’s fate during the Holocaust, narrated by Truth itself, peels back the layers of lies, love, betrayal, and survival in ways that feel gut-wrenching and gorgeously human. If you love historical fiction with emotional depth and prose that reads like poetry, this one’s for you.
I’m not a literary snob—I promise. But after reading three self-published books in a row that felt like rough drafts, I have some thoughts. Here’s my honest, slightly sarcastic take on the current state of indie publishing, from a reader who just wants a well-written story that doesn’t need a red pen.
While perusing book blogs for actual reviews, I noticed a baffling trend: a whole lot of “reviews” are just copy-pasted blurbs with a few emoji-filled reactions. Here’s the thing—recapping the jacket copy isn’t reviewing the book. Let’s talk about what real book reviews should look like.
What if God showed up in your lifeboat and said, “I’m here to save you”—would you believe Him? In Mitch Albom’s The Stranger in the Lifeboat, faith, survival, and spiritual reckoning collide in a gripping story that’s part thriller, part therapy. Here’s why I gave it five stars—and highlighted half the book.
Tate Basildon 