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A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman
A surly old traditionalist seeks death and finds community. Ove has nothing tying him to life after his wife, Sonja, dies, especially not...
HFJ Ballard
Jun 27, 20241 min read


Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
Two friends look for work while running from their past. George and Lennie had to leave the last ranch where they worked after Lennie, a...
HFJ Ballard
Jun 27, 20241 min read


The Dutch House, by Ann Patchett
An exploration of family bonds, function, dysfunction, and cycling heritage across generations. “The Dutch House,” by Ann Patchett, is...
HFJ Ballard
Jun 27, 20242 min read


The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
A father struggles to protect his son in a physical and moral apocalypse, while still attempting to keep alight the flame of hope for the...
HFJ Ballard
Jun 27, 20241 min read


A Series of Unfortunate Reviews: HFJ Ballard's Book Review Page
I love to read. These days, I rarely have the luxury of falling into a book so completely that I am driven to read through the night. I...
HFJ Ballard
Jun 25, 20241 min read
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