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Reviews by Selene

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My Jane Austen Summer: A Season in Mansfield Park
by Cindy Jones
No Mansfield Park! (2/22/2011)
If you are looking for something reminiscent of Mansfield Park. This isn't it. Although the book was fairly fast reading, I was not engaged by any of the characters especially Lily Berry, the protagonist. Equally parts whiny and self-pitying, her gradual transformation into a somewhat interesting individual is not enough for me to recommend this book.
In Pursuit of the Common Good: Twenty-Five Years of Repairing the World, One Bottle of Salad Dressing at a Time
by Paul Newman, A. E. Hotchner
As Good as His Salad Dressing (8/25/2010)
I have always like Paul Newman as an actor. I find I now like him better as a man. His unlikely catapult into the food market is told in this funny, heartwarming and captivating book. The real payoff is his donation of all profits to charity. I particularly found the letters from his "Hole in the Wall" campers poignant and heart-tugging. As a cancer survivor, it makes my day.
Bad Boy: An Inspector Banks Novel
by Peter Robinson
Bad Boy Good Read (8/10/2010)
Although I have not read this Peter Robinson series before, I was able to jump right into this story. The plot, although not complex, was well-written. I hate when fictional novels, especially mysteries, have their characters doing improbable actions. It is interesting to note the subtle differences between British police procedure and American procedure. The multiple father-daughter angles both rang true, as well as the ethical duplicity an inspector must experience when you don't know if your daughter is a perpetrator or a victim. Good Read.
Palace Circle
by Rebecca Dean
Fast Read (2/17/2009)
I like historical fiction, romance novels and WWII. This fulfilled all three. This was a very fast read and was somewhat reminiscent of a multi-generational Barbara Taylor Bradford novel. I especially enjoyed the first half of the novel regarding the main character, Delia. I felt her character and life were the most developed. As the story continued to its logical conclusion, character development and storyline went downhill. Still an interesting premise on WWII espionage in Egypt. Not a topic usually covered in a novel.
How to Build a House
by Dana Reinhardt
The House that Harper Built (3/18/2008)
Wonderfully real story. This book touches on issues that face teens every day - divorce, love, high school, sibling relationships and understanding that your parents are human too. Harper is an exceptional character who feels she is nothing special and is dealing with the very difficult divorce of her parents. In building a house, she finds a new outlook on her parents, sisters, real love and her life. I loved it.
Killer Heat
by Linda Fairstein
Who Loves a Mystery? (3/18/2008)
I do - And you will too. Although I am an avid reader of the mystery genre, this was my first Alex Cooper novel. This was a fast-paced thriller and the ending is great. If you are looking for a new series to read, this is it.
Resistance
by Owen Sheers
Resistance (2/26/2008)
Although the premise of this novel is intriguing, an alternate reality of WWII after the landing at the beaches of Normandy, I was not impressed with the story. It takes place in a very small Welsh farming community where one morning, unbeknownst to their wives, the husbands have left suddenly to join the underground resistance. This leaves 6 women alone to tend their farms until a German patrol arrives in their valley. While the novel has some beautifully written passages, I felt the first half of the novel was very slow moving. I also never truly felt attached to these characters. Finally, as a WWII enthusiast, I would have like more reference as to how history was changed as we know it, by the success of the Germans.
Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen
by Julie Powell
Cooking Fun (1/31/2008)
Julie is in a career quandary. She is working as temp and feels under-challenged. Hence, why not spend a year cooking the entire Julia Child classic, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". This turns out to be a delightful, culinary romp through her less than perfect kitchen. I loved this book. Wish I had thought of it first.
The Girls
by Lori Lansens
Complex and Intriguing (6/19/2007)
This was an intriguing story and a very, fast read. It seemed almost non-fiction. If you have seen the Schappell twins on TV, you almost believe this story is about them. Lori and Reba Schappell are craniopagus twins, just as Ruby and Rose in the novel. Their birthdays are very similar as well. I originally thought this was a thinly veiled biography of them. The book is written in a semi-journal form which compliments the story line. I read this in one afternoon, so absorbed in the day-to-day struggle of living this life. I plan on recommending this for my book club.
The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood
by Sy Montgomery
The OK Pig (6/19/2007)
This was nominated choice in one of my book clubs. It wasn't chosen, but thought I would read it anyway. As an animal lover, I love to read books about people's pets. Although, I did enjoy reading the book, somehow the warmth, personality and charm of Christopher did not transcend the written word. To me, he remained just a pig.
Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II
by Robert Kurson
Shadow Divers (5/5/2005)
I thought this book was great. It was engrossing from page 1. I have given it as gifts to a few friends who are strictly nonfiction readers, and they loved it as well. After reading a couple of the above reviews, and being a nondiver, I will just state that the arrogance of the authors noted above, is not evident to us nondivers. I was just remarkably impressed by their expertise and tenacity.
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