INK. by Davis Schneiderman

It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Back in 2011, I was an avid reader who had somehow lost my way with reading. Between working and being a full-time student, reading for pleasure had slowly fallen by the wayside.

I wanted to change that. So I gave myself a New Year's resolution to read one book every week for a year. I started A Book A Week on January 1, 2012 as a way to hold myself accountable and share what I was reading along the way.

I didn't quite reach my goal that first year, but I kept reading. I kept reviewing. And all these years later, I'm still here, looking forward to whatever book comes next. Some years I crush my goals, some years I don't, but my love for a good book has never wavered.

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

I'm a lifelong reader with a particular soft spot for mysteries and thrillers. I've always loved the genre, and I credit those stories—the twists, suspense, and need to know what happens next—with keeping me a reader as an adult. My reading has taken me in all kinds of directions since then, but I'll always come back to a good mystery.

I love creepy horror novels. A fascinating work of nonfiction can completely pull me in, too. And I've found plenty of favorites in science fiction, literary fiction, romance, and other genres I might never have picked up when I first started the blog. That's part of the fun. I never quite know what kind of story is going to grab me next.

When I'm not reading or writing reviews, you'll usually find me at home with my husband and our pets. I'm a classically trained musician and composer, an enthusiastic home cook, and a backyard gardener. There's usually a trip to look forward to or some new project that has caught my interest, too.

At the end of the day, I just really love books. There's nothing quite like discovering a story I can't put down or finding an author I can't wait to read again. Even when a book doesn't quite work for me, I still enjoy thinking about why and putting those thoughts into words. That's what keeps me reading, reviewing, and sharing it all here on A Book A Week.

Honest reviews, always.

Some of the books I review are ones I've purchased myself. Others are provided by publishers or authors in exchange for an honest review. Either way, what I write here is always what I really think.

Not every book is going to work for every reader, and that's part of the fun of talking about books. I'll tell you what worked for me, what didn't, and hopefully give you enough to decide whether a book might be right for you.

Good, bad, or somewhere in between, you'll always get my honest take.

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I'm always happy to hear from readers, publishers, authors, and fellow book lovers.

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I'm always open to considering books for review. I read across a pretty wide range of genres, though mysteries and thrillers tend to be particular favorites. If you'd like me to consider a book, send along a little information about it and why you think it might be a good fit for A Book A Week.

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"What men call the shadow of the body is not the shadow of the body, but the body of the soul"
- Oscar Wilde, A House of Pomegranates

Art is such a subjective medium. This fact isn't lost on me as I write reviews of books each week. Details that I may view as valid criticisms of a certain work may be the very same details that garner another person's acclaim. With that in mind, I carefully craft each of my reviews with a respect for the author's work and an understanding that I'm only one opinion in a sea of many tastes and interpretations.

This has never been more apparent than in my review of Davis Schneiderman's latest conceptual novel INK. It is a novel that is nearly impossible to explain. In fact, it is one of those works that begs more to be pondered and experienced than to be reviewed or summarized. INK. is a novel that you study and take in, not read. As the author explains, " INK. is dark, a series of patterned smears over every surface of the book."

Each page contains a unique pattern of ink that begs to be interpreted by the individual reader. Comparable to the abstract Rorschach blots, the art in this work requires an open mind to achieve a true appreciation. I found myself working through the book for several days. Each time, a new subtle piece of the work would reveal itself to me. The most striking pages contain photos of people that have been redacted by the pervasive ink. The figures of those pictures are made into black shadows containing secrets that may never be known. Throughout 200 pages, INK. and author Davis Schneiderman challenge readers to access their innermost emotions and perceptions. While some may find this book difficult to digest, I would urge you to give it a chance. You may be surprised to discover the secrets this stunning achievement holds.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and GoodReads.

(2016, 7)

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About Me

It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

Honest reviews, always.

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