Author Archives: Carissa W Tomas

I know. Eels are typically not at the top of people’s list of favorite animals, but hear me out. It turns out science hasn’t turned up very much information about eels in general, but what we do know is FASCINATING. I won’t give too many spoilers here but let’s just say Aristotle AND Freud bothContinue reading “The Book of Eels by Patrik Svensson”

Honestly the only reason I even picked up this book was because I heard some colleagues discussing how much they liked the Hulu TV series based on this book. (I always prefer to read a book before seeing the show or movie!) I really thought I’d get confused by the structure of this book becauseContinue reading “Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty”

This novel takes an intricate look at the culture of relationships, marriage, and success in present day Ghana. I’ll admit I was angry for the majority of this book at the double standards for women and the disrespect towards the female protagonist, but was pleasantly surprised and encouraged by the end.

MIND. BLOWN. If you like psychological thrillers of any sort, this book is for you. I could not put this down until the very last page. You’ll get no spoilers from me!

WOW. This is a period of American history I bet you’ve never heard of. The Osage Nation narrowly survived a series of targeted murders against their people. It took the will of early FBI investigators to uncover the gruesome truth beneath never-ending layers of corruption in the region. “Over the sixteen-year period from 1907 toContinue reading “Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann”

Welp I essentially spoiled the ending for myself on this one. It happens. Still – the suspense Colleen Hoover builds is addicting. I was absolutely sucked in through the end. Will definitely be reading more from Colleen Hoover!

This book was chosen as the “Common Read” across campus at my institution. Honestly, I have never been more shaken by a book before. Chanel is a phenomenal writer and an amazing human being. She reclaims her own story and guides readers through every unbearable emotion of every stage of her sexual assault case andContinue reading “Know My Name by Chanel Miller”

A heavy memoir of loss and grief as Natasha chronicles her healing in the aftermath of her mother’s murder. You just have to read this book.

My all-time favorite novel seamlessly weaves six stories of peoples from six different time periods and places and lifetimes all connected by one small thread. A captivating tale of evolving human experience. “An abyss cannot be crossed in two steps.” “‘Naive, dreaming Adam. He who would do battle with the many-headed hydra of human natureContinue reading “Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell”

Delightful in-depth journey of an apiologist’s life’s work documenting the nature of wild honey bees in New York state. “To summarize, I estimate that the yearly food consumption of a wild colony where I live is approximately 44 pounds of pollen and 132 pounds of honey (55 pounds in winter 77 in summer)..The number ofContinue reading “Lives of Bees by Thomas Seeley”