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Reviews by Jinny K. (Fremont, CA)

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Never Have I Ever
by Joshilyn Jackson
It's All Fun and Games........... (5/1/2019)
Well, it's all fun and games until a toxic blackmailing sociopath crashes the book club. Now all bets are off.
At first seeming like an annoying mischievous party crasher, Roux proves herself determined to unsettle all members, especially one, by conniving to have them reveal secrets and flaws they never intended to think about.
Amy is especially vulnerable; although she leads an exemplary generous life as a devoted wife, mother and friend, she has hidden from all her loved ones a tragic mistake from her youth.
Enter Roux, a professional serial blackmailer, who has the audacity to refer to her victims as "clients". She knows enough about Amy's past to completely overturn her life.
This novel was very well written and sustains the reader's interest with many crafty twists and turns. The situations occasionally strain credulity, but after all, it is a thriller. Just hang on and enjoy the ride!
My Lovely Wife
by Samantha Downing
Cure for marital boredom (10/25/2018)
Couples have many ways to try to add spice to their relationship: Date nights, special trips, fantasies, murder.
But wait! Murder?
Yes, indeed; this couple engages in recreational homicide and that is the theme of this novel.
Although the writing was excellent and the book certainly provided thrills, chills and plot twists, I personally found the theme of murder for thrills on the part of the protagonists distasteful and uncomfortable.
Thus, the "3" rating.
Sometimes I Lie
by Alice Feeney
Truth or Dare (12/21/2017)
In sync with the current literary trend of unreliable narrators, the protagonist, Amber, frankly lets us know at the beginning of the novel: I'm in a Coma; My husband doesn't love me anymore; Sometimes I lie. Well, don't say you weren't warned! The time frame of the story switches around from the present to the time just before the incident which caused the coma and then a childhood journal. But who's journal?
The twists and turns of this novel were indeed intriguing, as was the feeling that perhaps we were investing our empathy in the wrong character.
Among the ups and downs and in and outs is a fine lyrical writing style and Ms Feeney should be very proud of a fine first novel.
I have no patience with even the slightest ambiguity in a story ending, otherwise I probably would have scored this a 5. Still worth looking forward to this author's next novel.
Since She Went Away
by David Bell
100 Pages Too Long (6/9/2016)
I enjoy mystery/thrillers, stories of missing persons, etc. This book was the story of a missing woman, emphasizing how it affected her best friend and a number of red herring possibilities for the ultimate outcome. It was just average, an easy read, but really could have been quite a bit shorter. Also, although the missing person mystery was revealed at the end, there were some fragments which eluded resolution and left one wondering.
Maybe a good beach read.
Far From True: A Promise Falls Novel
by Linwood Barclay
Suspense Continues (12/24/2015)
I am a Linwood Barclay fan and have read the first book in this trilogy.

Barclay is a very good suspense/thriller writer and the many plots and sub-plots were well done. The characters were well-drawn and stayed true throughout the story. There were plots left from the first novel and some new mysteries as well. I would recommend this book with one reservation: The first book tied up enough mystery to be satisfying as a stand-alone. This book resolved nothing and the end seemed unsatisfying, more like it was a chapter than a whole book. It's going to be hard to wait for book 3.
Between the Tides
by Susannah Marren
Unreal and Unlikely (4/19/2015)
Lainie Smith's physician husband announces one evening that he has accepted a job in suburban New Jersey and will be moving the family (parents and four children) away from Lainie's beloved New York City with it's unfettered access to water and shore environments. Lainie is an artist whose venues are shore and water paintings and constructions. i was immediately struck by this unlikely scenario-in what modern couple does one partner just make an arrangement like this without any discussion?

This sense of unreality pervaded the book for me. The characters had little or no depth, except for the fact the the two male adults were so bullying and unlikeable. Likewise the dialogue was stilted and unnatural. Does a mother really have a conversation with her daughter in which she uses the phrase, "my darling girl" with every sentence?

The plot was barely engaging and I kept reading just hoping things would get better.

They didn't.
He Wanted the Moon: The Madness and Medical Genius of Dr. Perry Baird, and His Daughter's Quest to Know Him
by Mimi Baird with Eve Claxton
Cuckoo's Nest Revisited (3/10/2015)
I was disappointed in this book, as it did not seem to live up to the subtitle, as far as medical genius. Except for the backstory by the protaganist's daughter, most of the book consisted of journal entries by the doctor in various phases of psychosis. His theories and research were barely mentioned. It was very sad as far as his hopeless medical situation and the stigma and dreadful treatment in that era, but the journal entries became somewhat tedious. It was easy to find compassion for him and his daughter who never really know him, but the book itself was not engaging to me.
Book clubs might find this interesting for discussions.
Brutal Youth
by Anthony Breznican
Mean and Scary (6/15/2014)
First, this book is extremely well written. The sense of place and atmosphere are vividly depicted and the characters are well-drawn and true to themselves. The story may be accurate in some time and place, although I never experienced this extreme behavior as a high school student in the sixties. As a portrait of unmitigated meanness, I found it almost as disturbing as Lord of the Flies, and for that reason alone I'm not sure I would want to read such a book again.
Her Last Breath: A Kate Burkholder Novel
by Linda Castillo
A good yarn (5/18/2013)
Disclosure: I am already a Linda Castillo fan and follow this series.
That being said, I was not disappointed in this book. It sustained a compelling plot about horrific murders while adding some romance and the intrigue of long-buried secrets.

Her characters ring true-the protagonist, Kate Burkholder, police chief- is a "fallen-away" Amish, and has the deep understanding of their customs together with the loneliness of being estranged from her culture.
Her love interest, John Tomasetti, whom she interestingly refers to by his last name, wavers between tolerance and impatience with her unwillingness to commit.

Peripheral characters share the laconic mistrust of the 'plain' folk for one who has left their ways.

I look forward to following this series in the future.
Golden Boy
by Abigail Tarttelin
Good book on unusual subject (1/5/2013)
Golden Boy is a haunting emotional novel about a subject not frequently written about. It's shifting point of view among its characters is very well done and each narrative seems true to the teller.
Its only slight flaw might be the tendency to be a little over-informative about the subject of intersex persons, so it seemed a little documentary in parts.
All in all a wonderful novel and I think it would be ideal for young adult readers as well. When it was over, I felt a wish to continue to know what happens to this family in the future and that is a mark of great book.
A Thousand Pardons
by Jonathan Dee
A Thousand Yawns (10/16/2012)
Although I'd never read anything by Jonathan Dee, I was looking forward to this book based on his having been a Pulitzer finalist as well as this book's synopsis. The beginning of the book was very engaging, but as it went on the characters seemed shallow and unsympathetic and I felt only glimmers of caring what happened to them. The unlikely scenario toward the end of the book involving Karen and the celebrity she'd known as a child was really puzzling and seemed to lack resolution, although it seemed to be trying for enlightenment.

When the book was over, it still seemed somewhat unfinished; I was disappointed in this novel.
The Roots of the Olive Tree: A Novel
by Courtney Miller Santo
Shallow and disappointing (7/15/2012)
Well, I hate to disparage a new novelist, but the best thing I can say about this book is that it's a pretty good first draft.
Generational sagas are one of my favorite genre, but this book was disappointing in more than one aspect.
The characters were one-dimensional and unsympathetic, not seeming connected to each other or to their own tedious endless lives.
Trying to avoid 'spoilers', there some story lines that were totally unresolved and the book seemed to end abruptly with no enlightenment or climax.
Wife 22: A Novel
by Melanie Gideon
Silly and shallow (4/29/2012)
I was looking forward to reading this book, but I found the characters shallow and unsympathetic and the premise unlikely. That a busy modern mother would take the time and emotional investment to engage in a prolonged online question-and-answer survey about her marriage and yet seem perfunctory in her actual everyday marriage did not endear her to me.
The ending was yet more contrived and incredible. Perhaps this a modern romance novel, but to me it lacked depth and meaning.
The Red Book: A Novel
by Deborah Copaken Kogan
Satisfying Reunion Tale (3/4/2012)
I just love this kind of book and really looked forward to reading it; I was not disappointed.

The centerpiece of the story was a 20th reunion of four Harvard classmates, book-ended by synopses in their reunion chronicles called the Red Book.

The story was well told, the characters, with all their charms and flaws, stayed true throughout the story and there was enough bittersweetness to prevent the ending Red Book entries from being too good to be true.

Thoroughly engaging and enjoyable!
The Good Father: A Novel
by Noah Hawley
The Good Father (1/4/2012)
Compelling and tragic tale of a devoted father's quest to find the answer to his son's inexplicable murderous act. He traces his son's actions over the last few years, agonizes over every moment of his childhood and researches murders of public figures in a heartbreaking but fruitless effort to understand the tragedy.

His character is very sympathetic and the story is engaging.
Loose Diamonds: ...and other things I've lost (and found) along the way
by Amy Ephron
Yawning (8/13/2011)
I looked forward to this book being warm, witty and wise. I was disappointed on all fronts. I never really connected with any of the essays and stories. It reminded me of reading a five-year-old people magazine about folks I never heard of.
Probably would give it a 2 1/2 if possible.
The Kitchen Daughter: A Novel
by Jael McHenry
Sweet, but far-fetched (4/19/2011)
I did enjoy some aspects of this book and would certainly be on the lookout for future works by this author. However, I don't generally read sci-fi or fantasy, so the weaving of the spirit world into an otherwise down-to-earth story didn't seem congruous to me.
I also think the recipe-within-novel device has gotten pretty tired.
The characters were beautifully drawn and well maintained throughout the novel. Especially touching was the relationship between Ginny and her sister. The interior monologue of the protagonist was extraordinary and I really felt that I was living her life for a time.
Overall, a good read and I was left wishing it were a little longer.
Solomon's Oak: A Novel
by Jo-Ann Mapson
Heartwarming Tale (10/23/2010)
Was this plot a little sappy? Was the ending quite predictable? Maybe a little more dog and horse-oriented than I usually prefer? Yes, to all of those questions.

However, I was captivated by the characters and their situations and curious about exactly how the predictable ending would come to be.

The dialogue between Glory and Juniper-Glory's droll responses to Juniper's sarcasm-are priceless and believable.

So, although this is not my typical favorite novel, I really enjoyed and truly missed the characters when the book was done.
The Doctor and the Diva: A Novel
by Adrienne McDonnell
Charming Story (6/25/2010)
What an enjoyable first novel. The author tells a good tale with authentic and likable characters. The themes of love and longing are depicted realistically, and the locations are vividly portrayed. The infertility theme was engaging, and especially intriguing given the time frame of the book - who knew there was so much going on in this specialty so long ago?
The Swimming Pool
by Holly LeCraw
Swimming Among Genres (3/8/2010)
I wish I could give several 'number grades' to this book for various aspects; 5 for character development and dialogue, 3 for plot development, etc.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and felt the shifts among time and point of view were done well, it seemed as though some point were being missed, not the least of which was the guilty party of the seven year old murder mystery. Perhaps subtlety is wasted on me, but this missing piece was a big disappointment.

I don't think stories have to be strictly categorized, but this book seemed to waver uncertainly among psychological thriller, murder mystery, romance and serious fiction.

I will still, however, look for more of this author's work. (Should probably be a 3.5)
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