Reviews by Shirley F. (Franksville, WI)

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The Night Circus
The Night Circus: A Novel
by Erin Morgenstern
Fantastic Circus (8/1/2011)
This book will be a hit! It contains everything that could be imagined to carry it on a magical, fantastic journey including a love interest, a fantastic competition, beautiful women and mysterious men. Altho it is not my favorite genre, I loved the story of the competition …more
A Visit from the Goon Squad
A Visit from the Goon Squad
by Jennifer Egan
What am I misssing? (6/30/2011)
After reading all the critics, I thought that this would be a great read to suggest for one of my book clubs. I'm 3 qtrs of the way through the book and would drop it except that we chose to read it in a book club. The charcters are all dysfunctional with few redeeming …more
The Daughter of Siena
The Daughter of Siena: A Novel
by Marina Fiorato
Sense of Siena (5/25/2011)
I love historical fiction and this book did not disappoint. It took a while to get into the sense of the book but the characters were engaging and the author made the rivalries of the Palio seem real. I liked the story although I must say the romance was a little …more
Outside Wonderland
Outside Wonderland: A Novel
by Lorna Jane Cook
Still hoping (3/17/2011)
I wanted to like this book. I had a hard time relating to the 3 siblings and their "poor me" attitudes which affected nearly every life choice. I didn't think that the parents watching from "there" really added anything to the book and their part seemed contrived. This book …more
Juliet
Juliet
by Anne Fortier
Juliet has it all! (8/8/2010)
It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel. The characters are so well developed, the plot is engaging and believable and the essence of Siena and the Contraldos are inherently a part of the story. I loved going between contemporary Julie and 14th century Julietta and …more
Serena
Serena: A Novel
by Ron Rash
I wanted to like it (9/23/2009)
I really wanted to like this book which is about Appalachia around the Depression. I enjoyed the descriptions of the area, the mountains and the logging camp. My chief objection is that the characters were not well developed except for Serena and her husband and Rachel …more
Burnt Shadows
Burnt Shadows: A Novel
by Kamila Shamsie
Unique look at tragic events (5/2/2009)
Burnt Shadows covers 60 years of tragic events that shaped the lives of the three main characters. The unlikely trio of a Japanese survivor from the atomic bomb in Nagasaki, an Indian legal aide and a German woman married to a British officer stationed in Delhi meet and …more
Eve
Eve: A Novel of the First Woman
by Elissa Elliott
The rest of the story (1/6/2009)
I liked this book as told from the perspective of the real first family females. Although it was historical fiction, the book brought to light typical family issues that are still with us today. The character development and the philosophical insights that the author …more
Desert Cut
Desert Cut: A Lena Jones Mystery
by Betty Webb
Desert Cut (1/20/2008)
This is the first Lena Jones book that I have read and I was impressed with her cleverness. The author developed the case methodically, without many red herrings. The mutilation of the children was aptly described without much graphic detail.

My chief objection to the book …more
Signed Mata Hari
Signed Mata Hari: A Novel
by Yannick Murphy
Did She or Didn't She (11/11/2007)
This book raises the question of Mata Hari's guilt as a spy or a victim of circumstance. Yannick Murphy captures the essence of this woman from her early life with an abusive cold husband to the loss of her children and writes in a poetic fashion that makes you want to …more
The Book Thief
The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
The Book Thief (7/19/2007)
This book is narrated by Death and describes the heartbreaking story of a young German girl forced to live with a family in Munich during Hitler's rise to power. She learns to read from her foster father and steals books with those around her. The book spans the emotions of …more
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