Reviews by Carol J. (Isle, MN)

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Juliet's Nurse
Juliet's Nurse
by Lois Leveen
The backstory (8/20/2014)
An intriguing idea for a book. We all know Shakespeare' s "Romeo and Juliet"; now we know a bit more of the backstory.
Although what I enjoyed most about the book was the peek into the life of everyday Veronans. And how the plague significantly changed their lives and the …more
Mating for Life
Mating for Life
by Marissa Stapley
Mother, daughters, husbands: who matters (3/14/2014)
It took me awhile to get into this book. I did enjoy the characters, but it took awhile to get them organized. I had mixed reactions to the structure of the novel. The chapters which were introduced by various animals became distracting vs unifying. The structure detracted …more
The Cairo Affair
The Cairo Affair
by Olen Steinhauer
current day espionage (12/8/2013)
Must admit "The Cairo Affair" is on my re-read list. Truly a book one needs to read in one sitting in order to follow the characters and the flow. I felt I lost some nuance by reading it in too many sessions. A re-read, even though I know the twists, would help solidify the …more
The Edge of Normal
The Edge of Normal
by Carla Norton
Mystery with a message (7/9/2013)
I always enjoy a good mystery and Carla Norton's "The Edge of Normal" did not disappoint. Additionally, the book had a message regarding abduction and torture of women and young girls. I had to pause to think of the abducted victims were people and not just characters in a …more
The Daughters of Mars
The Daughters of Mars
by Thomas Keneally
Daughters of Mars (7/9/2013)
Must admit it took me a few pages to get into this book, but once I was grabbed I enjoyed it completely. It was a very detailed accounting of WWI's casualties and the nurses and doctors who took care of them.
As a nurse who served in the Army, I found this book even more …more
Peking to Paris
Peking to Paris: Life and Love on a Short Drive Around Half the World
by Dina Bennett
The starts and stops of travel (4/1/2013)
I found Peking to Paris to be very unevenly written. As I thought about the writing of this review I did wonder if Dina Bennett writing in the book was a metaphor for her trip; lots of starts and stops, very uneven. It was almost as if she couldn't quite decide on the focus …more
Beneath the Shadows
Beneath the Shadows
by Sara Foster
Mystery on the Moors (5/31/2012)
I very much enjoyed the plot of this debut novel. Was not as predictable as many mysteries. The characters and setting were intriguing. The author transported me to this small town in England and did make me feel one with the main character. Would very much recommend the …more
Half-Blood Blues
Half-Blood Blues: A Novel
by Esi Edugyan
Jazz in the time of Hitler (2/29/2012)
What an enlightening book regarding a topic that is rarely discussed. Edugyan provides an interesting insight to the world on Berlin and Paris in 1939-1940. What is one's life like if you are black and a jazz musician, both of which were verboten in that time. How does one …more
Things We Didn't Say
Things We Didn't Say: A Novel
by Kristina Riggle
Things we Didn't Say (5/14/2011)
I prefer books that allow for escape, or teach me something new; neither of which were present in Kristina Riggle's "Things We Didn't Say". Her characters were believable and fairly authentic, with an accurate, if not predictable storyline.

"Things We Didn't Say" could …more
Jamrach's Menagerie
Jamrach's Menagerie: A Novel
by Carol Birch
Jamrach's Menagerie (2/21/2011)
What a great adventure! A well told, exciting historical novel. Ms. Birch brings the reader right along on all of Jaffy's adventures. She skillfully gives the reader a glimpse of the lives of seafarers in the 19th century. Plus, the added dimension of fantasy with the …more
Ever By My Side
Ever By My Side: A Memoir in Eight Acts Pets
by Dr. Nick Trout
Shaped by my pets (1/14/2011)
Dr. Trout's memoir "Ever By My Side", was an engaging, if not uneven book. It seemed to me that his narrative would run along smoothly and entertainingly, and then get stuck. The stories were fun, I enjoyed the insights into British life and their relationship with their …more
The Beauty of Humanity Movement
The Beauty of Humanity Movement: A Novel
by Camilla Gibb
A Peek at Vietnam (12/17/2010)
As I read this delightful book, The Beauty of the Humanity Movement, my mouth watered for a bowl of pho! Unfortunately, no Vietnamese restaurants nearby. Camilla Gibb skillfully transported me to VietNam, both past and present. I loved getting to know her character's and …more
Gone Tomorrow
Gone Tomorrow: A Jack Reacher Novel #13
by Lee Child
Subways of New York (10/11/2010)
This was my first Lee Child/Jack Reacher book; don't think it will be my last. The book drew me in from the start and kept my interest throughout all the twists and turns of plot and geography. I enjoyed the contemporary plot; informative and potentially realistic. As was …more
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives: A Novel
by Lola Shoneyin
Lives and Secrets (6/28/2010)
Lola Shoneyin's The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives provided a realistic peek into the lives of 4 Nigerian women and the husband they share. I enjoyed getting to know the 4 women and their stories; how they each ended up married to Baba Segi and why. I also felt I …more
The Hand that First Held Mine
The Hand that First Held Mine: A Novel
by Maggie O'Farrell
The Hand that First Held Mine (3/12/2010)
This was the first of Maggie O'Farrell's books that I have read and I am looking forward to another one. I found "The Hand that First Held Mine" to be a well crafted and very enjoyable book. The characters were interesting and engaging. The writing style seemed to put the …more
The Wives of Henry Oades
The Wives of Henry Oades: A Novel
by Johanna Moran
THe Wives of Henry Oades (12/14/2009)
An excellent work of historical fiction. The book transported me back to 1890's and into the intersecting lives of 3 normal people, whose lives are changed by extraodinary circumstances. The writer uses the voices of all three main characters to tell various parts of the …more
The Lieutenant
The Lieutenant
by Kate Grenville
The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville (9/23/2009)
An enjoyable work of historical fiction, about a period and place I knew little about. The story seemed uneven and only really joined by the inclusion of the main character, Daniel Rooke, through out. Grenville's protrayal of Rooke's early life was poignant; making me think …more
Night Navigation
Night Navigation
by Ginnah Howard
Tough, realistic read (3/24/2009)
Not an easy book to read due to the topic, but realistically written. Even without a child with an addiction one can identify with Del's desire to fix her son's life. I believe the author accurately portrayed the ups and downs of the life of the addict and those around him. …more
How We Decide
How We Decide
by Jonah Lehrer
The science behind decision making (12/22/2008)
A must read, because we all make decisions. Jonah Lehrer's book "How we Decide" is a very readable book filled with the science behind how we make decisions. I found the book fascinating in the scientific knowledge that has been gained using MRI as people are put through a …more
Green Monster
Green Monster: A Sam Skarda Mystery
by Rick Shefchik
The mystery of the Red Sox (7/8/2008)
Mysteries are my preferred genre and I enjoy baseball, esp. the Twins. Unfortunately, I can't say I enjoyed Rick Schefchik's Green Monster. I found the characters rather stereotypical and predictable. Don't know that I would have finished the book if it would have been much …more
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