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The Edge of Normal
The Edge of Normal
by Carla Norton
Edge of Creepy (7/10/2013)
It's been a long time since I've stayed up to the wee hours to finish a book!! While it started slow for me, it gained momentum and certainly ended with a bang! What a horribly evil antagonist!! The alternating chapters between the antagonist and protagonist kept the story …more
Destiny of the Republic
Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President
by Candice Millard
Garfield - who knew? (10/5/2012)
Excellent book and even with the extensive research the author did, it still read like a novel, and not a history book. Interesting to read it in an Election year and to see how far we've come, or not come as the case may be.
Garfield was a fascinating character and would …more
Bloom
Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected - A Memoir
by Kelle Hampton
Aspiring to Live an Oscar Worthy Life (2/11/2012)
I laughed, I cried and came away with a deeper appreciation for life. The honesty of this memoir was refreshing. In a world which is so focused on what is "normal" and "perfect", this woman discovered that these terms are defined within your own life and not by society.
It …more
In Search of the Rose Notes
In Search of the Rose Notes: A Novel
by Emily Arsenault
Not edge of your seat suspense (6/9/2011)
Rose Notes wasn't quite the psychological thriller that I was expecting. I enjoyed the back and forth of the present and past, and being a child of the 80s I enjoyed the references to that era. I also enjoyed the psychology of the person you are as a child versus the person …more
Three Seconds
Three Seconds
by Anders Roslund & Borge Hellstrom
Took a long time to get there. (1/3/2011)
The ending of this book was surprising, but not completely unforeseeable. It just took f-o-r-e-v-e-r to get to the ending. I can respect the factual nature of the book which was interesting to learn, but it's possible that due to the real world feel the authors tried to …more
The False Friend
The False Friend
by Myla Goldberg
Expected More (7/24/2010)
While I appreciated Myla Goldberg's beautiful prose and lyrical, descriptive writing I felt this book didn't live up to my expectations. Expectations garnered from the book jacket as well as my reading of Goldberg's other works. For me the characters fell flat and were …more
The Language of Secrets
The Language of Secrets
by Dianne Dixon
Secrets Revealed...or Not! (2/1/2010)
Quick read due to the intriguing plot and the beautiful writing. The interweaving plot is told through past and current narration, keeping the mystery of the secret alive throughout the book. Thought provoking themes on truth, who we are in relation to our past, the …more
State by State
State by State: A Panoramic Portrait of America
by Sean Wilsey, Matt Weiland
Story by Story (11/4/2009)
Like most anthologies there were essays I liked and essays I didn't. Many seemed to have a negative tone regarding the state they were selected to write about. Yet there were gems throughout the book that have instilled a desire in me to travel cross country to see some of …more
Night Navigation
Night Navigation
by Ginnah Howard
Dark, Sad and Beautiful (3/18/2009)
A dark yet beautiful novel made even more haunting by the knowledge of the story being derived from true events in the author's life.

I could see shades of myself in the characters, as well as others in my life; enablers and addicts alike.

The author's writing style reminded …more
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox
by Maggie O'Farrell
What is Madness? (2/5/2009)
Thoroughly enjoyed the mystery. The writing had potential to be very confusing, but Farrell did a great job of tying it all together.
Says much about what behaviors we consider "Mad", maybe they are just abnormal - much like today's prolific diagnosis of autism. maybe being …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
Expected more (9/4/2008)
This book did not live up to the expectations I had for it. Hodgson wrote very descriptive passages which elicited vivid pictures of the people and places she saw, yet the complete writing was very disjointed. It felt more like a series of postcards from a well traveled …more
The Glass Castle
The Glass Castle: A Memoir
by Jeannette Walls
Makes you appreciate the life you had/have (7/21/2008)
Really enjoyed this book. Sometimes I questioned the reality of all that happened to Jeanette, but in a post-Frey memoir publishing world, I feel this memoir would have been researched thoroughly. Reading what she and her siblings went through certainly makes me appreciate …more
The Jane Austen Book Club
The Jane Austen Book Club
by Karen Joy Fowler
Disappointed (6/18/2008)
I read this because of all the hype surrounding it especially for book clubs. I can't say I was overly impressed. I've read similar books that had better character development and more exciting plots. The ending was disappointingly predictable. Though the read was easy even …more
An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England
An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England: A Novel
by Brock Clarke
Book worth reading, not burning! (4/30/2008)
Great book with statements about book burning/banning - can books bring out the evil in people? Can we blame them for such?
Book also made statements about truth and lies - is it better to live a lie than the truth?

While I found some of the author's statements to be profound, …more
The Marriage of True Minds
The Marriage of True Minds
by Stephen Evans
Make a great sitcom! (2/26/2008)
I really don’t like to give poor book reviews and frankly this isn’t really a poor storyline, it just would be a better screenplay than a novel. The novel does have a good message about animal adoption and no-kill shelters, though it took awhile to get to the message. The …more
The Pirate's Daughter
The Pirate's Daughter
by Margaret Cezair-Thompson
Dis a Good-Good Book (10/10/2007)
It is absolutely amazing how Margaret Cezair-Thompson captures the smells, sights and sounds of Jamaica!! I wanted to hop on a plane and time travel to the pre-war era on the island.

The novel was suspenseful and chock full of history not only of the island, but of …more
Cover The Butter
Cover The Butter
by Carrie Kabak
Uncovered!!! (7/30/2007)
Our book club recently read this book:
Cover the Butter is a story about relationships and honesty with not only one's self but each other. Maybe not so much honesty, but confronting the issues and problems at hand instead of sticking one's head in the sand or "covering the …more
Pardonable Lies
Pardonable Lies
by Jacqueline Winspear
Likeable Characters (6/15/2007)
I find that I thoroughly enjoy the Maise Dobbs series via audio books! I can't say it's my favorite series, but Winspear has gotten me hooked on following the life of Maise. The suspense isn't all that suspenseful, the mystery not all that mysterious, but I've gone from not …more
The Mermaid Chair
The Mermaid Chair: A Novel
by Sue Monk Kidd
Be True to Yourself (6/4/2007)
Our book club enjoyed reading and discussing this book immensely. It touched each of us in one way or another. Our discussions centered around one of the many book's themes: that one must be true to themselves to be happy, to be loved and to love others.
Beautiful Lies
Beautiful Lies: A Novel
by Lisa Unger
Beautiful Truths (5/16/2007)
I always enjoy a good thriller and while this kept my attention with suspense, little romance thrown in, etc; it was the poignant remarks Unger made throughout this novel and the sequel, Sliver of Truth, which really kept me reading. I first love her writing style that …more
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