E.H. Nolan's Blog

From fairy tales to futuristic settings to spiritual tales, the possibilities of fantasy novels are endless. None of these compare to Caraval, my all-time favorite, but check out these three:
Princess of the Midnight Ball - a fleshed out novel of the classic fairy tale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Everyone We've Been - a teenager has holes in her memory; why?
The Little Village of Book Lovers - told from the perspective of the spirit of Love, we see different romances in a French village

Sometimes you fall in love quickly, and sometimes it's a slow burn. Sometimes you get a big sale only a couple of days on the job, and sometimes it takes decades of steady work to land the big fish. And sometimes, a quick thriller is just the ticket - but when you have the time for a slower paced mystery with lots of detail and character development, it can be well worth the investment. Check out these three novels that'll take a while:
The Obsession - featuring a wonderfully complex heroine created by Nora Roberts
Dream Town - an old fashioned noir that captures the feeling of 1953 Hollywood
The Flight Attendant - a woman  wakes up next to a corpse, and no memory. . .

Whether it's too cold to leave the house or you're staying close to home during the holidays, sometimes the only time we can take a vacation is through a movie or book. Check out these books set in exotic locales.
Nine Perfect Strangers - set in an unconventional health spa in the Australian wilderness
Summerland - after an unexplained tragedy occurs, some stay in Nantucket, while others move to the other side of the globe
The Last Time They Met - a couple falls madly in love while volunteering in Africa

No, it's not what you think! I mean intimate in the sense of a small story, with either very few characters or a sensitive subject. Check out these three novels:
The Three of Us - a wife's husband and best friend hate each other, and we see each of their points of view
When We Were Worthy - in the wake of great tragedy, a small town grieves and comes together
Alias Madame Doubtfire - the novel behind the film Mrs. Doubtfire, showing the damage divorce does to children

The fall season is perfect for curling up with mysteries, thrillers, and crime stories. If you want books whose pages practically turn themselves, check out these three reviews:
Exclusive - a political thriller involving a spunky, gutsy female journalist
Final Girls - find out how the survivor of a mass murder picks up the pieces
Are You Afraid of the Dark - Sidney Sheldon puts two widows together to solve their husband's murders

In the mood for some time-traveling fantasy? If so, check out these three books:
Before the Coffee Gets Cold - a magical cafe can take you back in time
Time After Time - a  mysterious woman appears at Grand Central Station once a year
In Another Time - after WWII, a Jewish woman has no memory of how or if she survived the Holocaust

Lionel Barrymore's time has come a close, and all 54 of his reviews are now posted to his page. It's been a year full of very bright stars, hasn't it? From icons like Jack Nicholson and John Wayne to more obscure talent like Hardy Kruger and Rhonda Fleming, we've reviewed so many wonderful films. Do you have any favorites you'd like to request for next year? Comment below or send me a private message and I'll try to work it in for you.
It's time for our last clue: Next week’s Star is our last Star of the Week for 2025, and also our Christmas Star. She certainly shines bright, or as her mother used to tell her before filming: “Sparkle!” President Roosevelt credited this little actress with saving the country from the Great Depression, and she later became a United States ambassador!
​Come back  on December 1st to start the fun!

Whether you like to play tricks or eat treats, whether you like to hide your eyes or laugh, if your plans tonight include watching a movie with popcorn, candy, and hot apple cider, check out our full list of Halloween movies to choose from. New this year are The Intruder with Dennis Quaid, The Witches of Eastwick and The Shining with Jack Nicholson, Practical Magic with Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock, and more!

Lionel Barrymore is our new Star of the Week! To start with, you can watch a tearjerker video clip from Grand Hotel, and if you need to laugh afterwards, read reviews of The Girl from Missouri and Saratoga. Enjoy, and come back to his page every day for new reviews!

You know what's great about my favorite genre? Theres no perfect season to read soap operas - which means every season is the right season. It feels funny to read a thriller in June, or a beach read in December. But a sensational soap can be read anytime. Check out the latest: Descent from Xanadu, The Raiders, and The Life and Loves of a She-Devil.