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Reviews by Kim

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The Wasted Vigil
by Nadeem Aslam

Five stars plus! (11/10/2008)

The Wasted Vigil is without doubt one of the best-written books I’ve read this year. The writing is positively stunning, the imagery so rich the reader has to pause to simply enjoy the picture the author has painted. This book is one to be savored. It also offers …more

The Lazarus Project
by Aleksandar Hemon

Not what I expected (11/10/2008)

I was actually a bit disappointed in this book. I think it’s likely that from the jacket description that I was expecting a historical fiction book that explored the turn-of-the-century life and death of Lazarus Averbuch. It seems as if there’s a really nice skeleton of a …more

What Was Lost: A Novel
by Catherine O'Flynn

Well-written debut novel (11/1/2008)

What was Lost is a very non-standard mystery novel. It’s truly a story in two parts. The first half is a light, enjoyable tale from child’s perspective, reminiscent of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. It’s very well-written, with O’Flynn capturing Kate’s …more

White Blood
by James Fleming

Excellent novel of the Russian Revolution (11/1/2008)

There are many things about White Blood that make it a remarkable novel. Fleming focuses on how Russia’s upper middle class were affected by the Revolution, as opposed to writing his novel from the point of view of the revolutionaries, which I found unusual. It’s taut and …more

The Graveyard Book
by Neil Gaiman

Charming ghost tale (11/1/2008)

I've been a Gaiman fan for years, with American Gods and Anansi Boy perennially on my ever-shifting "favorite books” list. I thought I’d give The Graveyard Book a try, even though I knew it was a children’s book. I was not disappointed. Although certainly lighter than his …more

The Black Tower
by Louis Bayard

Excellent historical fiction (10/18/2008)

I read a lot of historical fiction, and I have to admit this was one of the more enjoyable novels I’ve chanced upon in awhile (thank you, Bookbrowse!). The plot revolves around a young doctor who, through chance, becomes involved in a mystery pursued by Eugene Francois …more

Atmospheric Disturbances: A Novel
by Rivka Galchen

Exceptionally creative & well-written first novel (7/22/2008)

This novel isn't your run-of-the-mill missing person mystery. It's a very complex portrait of a man's descent into insanity -- from the viewpoint of the madman who thinks himself sane. Galchen's writing is amazing, and this is a "must-read" for people who simply enjoy good …more

All Shall Be Well; And All Shall Be Well; And All Manner of Things Shall Be Well
by Tod Wodicka

Disappointing (7/22/2008)

I really wanted to like this book for a variety of reasons. From the jacket it sounded like it would be exactly up my reading alley. Unfortunately, the book did not live up to my hopes & expectations. I think the biggest problem I had with it was that its main character …more

Harriet and Isabella
by Patricia O'Brien

Good historical fiction (7/22/2008)

There were several things that surprised me about this book. The first that struck me was the way the author chose to structure her narrative. Its beginning scenes take place as Henry Beecher is dying, but flashbacks soon take the reader back to the infamous trial and -- …more

No Country For Old Men
by Cormac McCarthy

Still not sure if how I feel about this one! (5/6/2008)

I'm giving this book a 5/5 because it meets my criteria for a "good book": The characters are interesting & complex; the writing is excellent; the plot kept me (very) involved; and it's one that will stay with me for a long time. As the Bookbrowse page says, all the …more

The Serpent's Tale
by Ariana Franklin

So-So mystery (5/2/2008)

I absolutely LOVED Ariana Franklin's first book in this series, "Mistress in the Art of Death," and couldn't wait to read "Serpent's Tale." Unfortunately, Franklin's second book is just kind of average. It dithers around a lot without moving the plot along much. There's …more

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
by Ishmael Beah

Great story, so-so writing (4/13/2008)

I’m always uncertain how to “rate” books like A Long Way Gone. Do you base it on the importance of the story, or the quality of the writing? Those of us in the U.S. tend to be fairly isolated in our comfortable lives, and need to be reminded that the type of events that …more

Bee Season
by Myla Goldberg

Good writing, annoying characters (4/13/2008)

I picked this book up used, on a whim, as I’d seen it listed as a well-reviewed book in a number of places. It’s one of the few times I’ve been disappointed when relying on book reviews to choose a novel. Granted, the book is relatively well written, with wonderful …more

Origin: A Novel
by Diana Abu-Jaber

Not your typical mystery novel (4/13/2008)

There are two mysteries in “Origin,” one concerning the murder of infants, the other the “origin” of the main character. While the mysteries in the novel are compelling, the pace is slower than what you’d find in traditional mysteries. I also found one mystery rather …more

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao: A Novel
by Junot Diaz

Deserving of the hype. (4/13/2008)

What an odd book! It’s without doubt one of the most unusual novels I’ve ever read. I think I did like it, more or less, and I recommend reading it. It’s so different, though, that it left me unsure for awhile as to how I felt about it. I’m sure, though, it’ll stick with me …more

Water for Elephants: A Novel
by Sara Gruen

Average effort (4/13/2008)

I’m not sure why, exactly, this novel has been so well-reviewed. It was OK, certainly worth reading, but I found the writing to be rather pedestrian. The word that most often came to my mind while I was reading it was “predictable.” While there were some nice twists in the …more

Resistance
by Owen Sheers

Great first novel (4/13/2008)

I was reluctant to start this one because I usually don’t like alternative histories. I’m awfully glad I read it, though. This was one excellent book, one of my favorites this year. There’s little action in this novel; it’s more about relationships. It’s thought-provoking …more

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time
by Greg Mortenson, David O. Relin

Inspiring story (3/28/2008)

It's a shame Greg Mortensen's remarkable and inspiring story ended up in the hands of such a mediocre writer. What Mortensen has accomplished is nothing short of amazing. This book tells an important story, and one with which people should be familiar. Be prepared, however, …more

The Eye of Jade: A Mei Wang Mystery
by Diane Wei Liang

So-so mystery (3/14/2008)

This book suffers, I think, from trying to do too much. Is it a mystery? Is it a family drama? Is it a portrait of life in China in the early 21st Century? The mystery is very weak, and probably won't satisfy readers looking for a new mystery series. The family drama is …more

A Thread of Grace: A Novel
by Mary Doria Russell

Top of my list! (3/14/2008)

I approached this novel with a bit of apprehension, since Mary Doria Russell's previous books are among my favorites, and I knew this one was a huge departure from both The Sparrow and Children of God. Well, A Thread of Grace not only measures up, but surpasses these novels …more

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