Reviews by Penny N. (Saginaw, MI)

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With or Without You
With or Without You: A Memoir
by Domenica Ruta
Abuse is painful (1/8/2013)
This memoir burns everything you have, from the body to the soul. The book is well written and perhaps just saves the author's life. Being born puts a small child in the wrong lane of life and a having a dysfunctional family overloads her mind and body. This all stems from …more
The Mark Inside
The Mark Inside: A Perfect Swindle, a Cunning Revenge, and a Small History of the Big Con
by Amy Reading
A Sad Tale of Flim-Flam (6/28/2012)
The “history” that this author covers in her book is like puff pastry. It looks good but there is nothing inside. The police authorities, who try to make you think they “just found and caught” the culprit, should have stopped these get rich quick artists eons ago.

Swindlers, …more
The Voluntourist
The Voluntourist: A Six-Country Tale of Love, Loss, Fatherhood, Fate, and Singing Bon Jovi in Bethlehem
by Ken Budd
Paying to volunteer (5/2/2012)
If you're thinking about the concept of paying your own way to volunteer in the world this is the book to read. The author documents his time in 6 different countries. The most inspirational and memorable one takes place in Palestine at Christmas. At the back of the book …more
King Peggy
King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village
by Peggielene Bartels, Eleanor Herman
Inspirational and Thought provoking (12/23/2011)
With women like this, Africa CAN survive. I've traveled in and read about Africa for many years. I have never read or seen anything as positive as what is related in this wonderful book. Nor have I read an honest picture of the continent as a whole, written by an African …more
Things We Didn't Say
Things We Didn't Say: A Novel
by Kristina Riggle
Life Imperfect. (5/14/2011)
I found this book thought provoking because I have never experienced much of what was written about. I have observed it, including the cut backs in the newspaper industry. Everything comes across as a viable way of living for many. Alcoholism, addiction to pills, divorce, …more
Radio Shangri-La
Radio Shangri-La: What I Learned in Bhutan, the Happiest Kingdom on Earth
by Lisa Napoli
Reporter finds peace with self (2/16/2011)
The first part of the book I really couldn't tell if this story was fiction, non-fiction or a biography. True the author really didn't have any idea what she had talked herself into. Yet after spending a year in the "happiest place on earth", Bhutan, she was able to step …more
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter: A Novel
by Tom Franklin
What? (10/23/2010)
It's not often that I am a loss for words. From the book title, Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, to the last page, I forced myself to read this tome. Half the way through I almost said, this book is so horrible I can't read any further. I don't need to love the characters in …more
The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors
The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors: A Novel
by Michele Young-Stone
Lightening strikes some interest (5/8/2010)
Each chapter had an interesting introduction. Sometimes more interesting than the chapter itself. I didn't really relate, much less understand most of the characters. The novel is too long. There are too many lightening damaged people in it, maybe that was MY problem with …more
Ten Minutes from Home
Ten Minutes from Home: A Memoir
by Beth Greenfield
A poignant history of grief and loss (4/19/2010)
This well written memoir documents the author's grief, pain, guilt, anger and loss. The anguish involved drips off the pages as do the readers tears. A car accident kills a brother along with a best friend. Because of this a mother, father and the author are all changed …more
Still Life
Still Life: Adventures in Taxidermy
by Melissa Milgrom
Yikes! Still Life and it's stuffed (1/12/2010)
I chose this book because I knew nothing about it's subject matter except for the fact I never enjoyed the final product staring at me. Now that I have read the book I know a lot about the subject matter but feel no less of an aversion. However, this book is well written, …more
The Book of Illumination
The Book of Illumination: A Novel from the Ghost Files
by Mary Ann Winkowski
Ghosts and Illuminations (10/3/2009)
A clever and "spirited" mystery about ghosts and an ancient book that takes place in modern Cambridge, MA. Anza O'Malley, a single mom and ghost-whisperer, solves the mysterious disappearance of a beautiful, illuminated manuscript. With the help of three ghosts O'Malley not …more
Something Like Beautiful
Something Like Beautiful: One Single Mother's Story
by Asha Bandele
Something wonderful (12/14/2008)
Asha Bandele writes with a poets voice and words about being a single mom. Something Like Beautiful: One Single Mother’s Story, is a memoir that takes time to read. It's about love, betrayal and redemption. And most of all it’s about trusting in oneself. It's about being a …more
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time: My Adventures in Life and Food
by Moira Hodgson
This memoir covers epicurian delights... (7/20/2008)
Along with travel and other escapades of life. The author rehashes her life in a way that makes the reader hungry for more. The memories are wonderful. Next thing you're trying to guess what's coming up on the menu or what the next recipe is. Stories served up from Great …more
Out Stealing Horses
Out Stealing Horses: A Novel
by Per Petterson
Life follows everyone... (5/9/2008)
Petterson weaves a tale of the past and the present. Of love, pain, frailty and family - of things that made the man Trond became and the memories of the past he wants to reconcile with in his soul. The translation is beautiful as is the story itself.
Then We Came to the End
Then We Came to the End: A Novel
by Joshua Ferris
Finally stopped before the end... (4/7/2008)
I found this a well written book. But, I finally got fed up "listening to" a whole group of "mystified" slackers whining about their fates in life, love and layoffs. When I realized I didn't care for any of the characters or their stories I returned the book to the library.
Seven for a Secret
Seven for a Secret: A John the Eunuch Mystery
by Mary and Eric Mayer Reed
It's No Secret (2/9/2008)
I did not enjoy this book. In the first 100 pages I thought I would find a copy of book one and start at the beginning. But after the last 100 pages I decided against it. (296 total). The authors seem intent on drowning the reader in archaic terminology, long words, too …more
Gomorrah
Gomorrah: A Personal Journey into the Violent International Empire of Naples' Organized Crime System
by Roberto Saviano, translated by Virginia Jewiss
Globalization at its Worst (10/29/2007)
Author Robert Svaiano worked undercover as an assistant to a Asian textile manufacturer to document how China is involved in the black market of Europe from high-end clothing to low-end junk.

He then collected evidence on the Camorra mob. A mob that technically owns Naples, …more
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