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Reviews by Helen M. (Petaluma, CA)

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Making Toast: A Family Story
by Roger Rosenblatt

Something missing (11/2/2009)

Roger Rosenblatt's Making Toast is a well written book concerning the death of an adult daughter, about grandparents becoming parents again. It was a good read but I had the feeling there was something missing. Character development to me went only half-way. I almost know …more

Dragon House
by John Shors

Forgiving (7/15/2009)

I enjoyed Dragon House very much. It was interesting to me as I have read very little about Viet Nam. Mr Shors paints a clear picture of both the beautiful side and the ugly side of Saigon or present day Ho Chi Mihn City. The characters are well defined but somewhat …more

Valeria's Last Stand
by Marc Fitten

A Very Sharp Eye (3/12/2009)

Marc Fitten has indeed a very sharp eye. He tells his story, which is about a very small village in Hungary with amazing, colorful, precise vision. This story is mostly about senior citizens of which I am one. Marc describes us perfectly. It is about the everyday life in …more

Greasing the Piñata
by Tim Maleeny

Just unnecessary (10/4/2008)

There is violence and then there is violence. I stopped reading after 63 pages as I could not justify the graphic detail. I have read many, many mysteries but in a good mystery the journey is fun. Fun to learn about the characters, see the plot develop. This particular use …more

Time of My Life: A Novel
by Allison Winn Scotch

Reflections (8/11/2008)

Boy, did I enjoy this book. I wonder at the age of Allison Winn Scotch for she has so much life information and she relates it in a manner we can all hear. I felt her tears and I heard her laughter. The arrangement of the novel is no small feat and we, her readers, are the …more

Heavenly Pleasures: A Corinna Chapman Mystery
by Kerry Greenwood

colorful mystery (3/25/2008)

I am passing this delightful book on to my mystery friends so they may enjoy the colorful characters, the unique neighborhood, the variety of one special corner of Australia....not to mention a carefully constructed who done it! Strong point...the variety of individuals …more

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Lessons in Chemistry
by Bonnie Garmus

Praised by Parade and The New York Times Book Review, this debut features a 1960s scientist turned TV cooking star.

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The Lilac People
by Milo Todd

For fans of All the Light We Cannot See, a poignant tale of a trans man’s survival in Nazi Germany and postwar Berlin.

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Daughters of Shandong
by Eve J. Chung

Based on the author’s family story, comes an extraordinary novel about a mother and her daughters’ escape from Taiwan.

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