BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Accidents of Marriage
by Randy Susan Meyers

Accidents of Marriage (6/28/2014)

It took me a week to drag myself through this book. I found the characters to be totally self-absorbed, both before and after the accident. Every adult had his or her own agenda; even for the older daughter and her boyfriend, it was all about them. I have very little patience with these types of people in real life, and zero patience with them in books. If this had been a library book, it would have gone back after the first 50 pages.

The Fortune Hunter
by Daisy Goodwin

Marvelous Read (4/27/2014)

What a wonderful book! I was completely engrossed from the first page and found the characters likable and engaging. I am always struck anew at how class ruled (and continues to rule) in other countries, with those of lesser prospects drawn into situations and relationships based on the inequality of position. Sometimes, the only way to extricate oneself from such a situation is to begin anew elsewhere. The ending of the book felt rushed, as though the author decided to quickly tie up all of the loose ends and be done already. Still, all in all, a good read.

Glitter and Glue: A Memoir
by Kelly Corrigan

Needs More Glue (12/18/2013)

I was expecting a much different book, with more stories about Kelly's relationship with her mother and how it had changed over the years. Her experience as a nanny in Australia dominated the book, and then when she returned to the States, Kelly is home only a short period of time before moving across the country to California. It is here that she falls in love, marries and raises her family. Although she claims she emulates her mother more and more as she embraces her own motherhood, there is not enough back story to support this. Fast read, enjoyable, could have been so much better.

The Affairs of Others
by Amy Grace Loyd

Disappointing Read (7/7/2013)

While I can agree that this book is beautifully written in places, I did not connect with any of the main characters or care to know anything of their lives. Although the book description reads "… the sanctity of her building is shattered – through violence and sex …" I was not prepared for the underlying tension of sexual violence and overt sexual violence toward women that runs through the narrative. It seemed unnecessary to the story line (similar to throwing a sex scene into a movie to attract the young male audience) and eventually takes over whatever story the author had planned to tell about Celia forging new bonds with her tenants. In my mind sex does not equal intimacy, and Celia's increasingly sexual relationships with her tenants do not translate into true intimacy; she is still holding herself apart behind her walls. In the end, we really know nothing substantial about Celia or her tenants. I was very disappointed with the reality of this book versus the initial description and its promising potential.

Flat Water Tuesday
by Ron Irwin

Rowing the Housatonic (5/19/2013)

Flat Water Tuesday is the story of Rob Carrey. As a senior in high school, Rob is recruited for his rowing skills to attend a post graduate year at Fenton, a private boarding school in CT. A scholarship student, Carrey is an outsider in this world of privilege and feels the need to constantly prove himself. The expectation is that Carrey will excel on crew and go on to crew at Harvard. The story alternates between the year at Fenton and present day, however even the present day is narrated in flashbacks as Carrey travels the globe filming documentaries. I found all of the back and forth very distracting; the story would work much better told chronologically. I failed to see how the events at Fenton noticeably impacted Carrey's present day life, and found neither of the women in the story particularly memorable. None of the characters pulled me in, and I did not find Carrey particularly interesting as an adult.

The Last Girl: A Maeve Kerrigan Novel
by Jane Casey

The Last Girl (4/20/2013)

I have enjoyed all of Jane Casey's books, and "The Last Girl" was no exception. Set in London, the book opens with a grisly double-murder and no viable suspects other than the husband - maybe. The novel is told in first person by DC Maeve Kerrigan, a female detective looking to make her mark in a traditionally male dominated field. The interplay between Maeve and her boss, DI Josh Derwent, is engaging and adds a note of levity to an otherwise grim investigation. With no witnesses, interviews that raise more questions than provide answers, family secrets, half-truths, bold lies and blind alleys, this book will keep the reader guessing and entertained right up to the last page.

One Minus One: Nancy Pearl's Book Lust Rediscoveries
by Ruth Doan MacDougall

One Minus One Doesn't Add Up (3/27/2013)

I read Nancy Pearl's introduction, I read the book, I read the the reader's guide and all of the pages that followed, and I have to ask: What was the point of this book? Yes, it attempts to explore the contrast between decisions of the head vs decisions of the heart; the tug of war between moving on and moving backward; pining for old love and discovering new love. The story was flimsy at best, the characters didn't especially interest me, and the ending was abrupt. On the plus side, it was a very short book.

Where You Can Find Me: A Novel
by Sheri Joseph

Where You Can Find Me (3/2/2013)

I've heard that books considered "literature" do not usually sell well commercially, and "Where you Can Find Me" falls into that category for me. While I can see the appeal of this book on a scholarly level (evidenced by the fellowship and university support), I expected this story to be about Caleb, his experiences and the effect the kidnapping and subsequent reunion had on his family. The book begins after Caleb has been rescued and returned to his family by the FBI. The events of the kidnapping itself and the three years Caleb was "gone" are told in veiled flashbacks. Although Caleb was the main character, Marlene's relationships really detracted from what little story there was.

I usually read 3-4 books a week, and this book dragged on forever. I found myself looking for interruptions to avoid reading it. I was expecting a grand story devoted to the impact Caleb's kidnapping had on his family and their efforts to refocus and rebuild their family when Caleb returned. This book had so much potential and could have been an outstanding read.

The Spy Lover
by Kiana Davenport

The Spy Lover (12/4/2012)

The Spy Lover is a captivating story set during the Civil War. I found myself engaged in the characters and curious to see how they all fared by the end of the book. Kiana Davenport writes beautifully, and her book is detailed without being tedious, however the last 60 pages dragged and the ending seemed rushed. A solid book with several themes suitable for book club discussions.

15 Seconds
by Andrew Gross

15 Seconds (5/16/2012)

Wow! "15 Seconds" is a fast-paced thriller that drew me in from page one. The story line explores the premise that a seemingly innocent action or relationship in a person's life can have far-reaching repercussions in the life of a stranger. The reader is initially as bewildered as Dr Steadman is when a routine traffic stop turns into murder. Andrew Gross deftly weaves in the backstory as the reader follows Dr Steadman in his quest to evade authorities, untangle truth from lies, clear his name and save his family. Short chapters, fast read, fabulous book for the summer!

Oxford Messed Up
by Andrea Kayne Kaufman

Oxford Messed Up (3/11/2012)

This book did not immediately grab my attention, but I persevered and found that once Gloria's plane touched down in London, I could not put down this book. This love story, between two psychologically messed up Oxford students, was a refreshing change and I found myself rooting for both Gloria and Henry. Once the book ended I wanted to know what happened next.

This book would be a good choice for a book club as there is a lot to discuss.

A Good American: A Novel
by Alex George

Loved this Book (1/6/2012)

I absolutely loved this book; an exceptional debut novel. The tempo starts out slowly, and quickly accelerates as the novel progresses. The characters were well-developed and I felt a true sense of loss when I read the last page. I look forward to a follow-up novel.

This book would work well for book clubs, with its many themes to explore: post-war Europe, marital relationships, familial relationships, race, religion, small-town living.

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake: A Novel
by Jenny Wingfield

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake (7/11/2011)

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. The first sentence drew me in, and I had a hard time putting down this book. Two families, relatable characters, the ins and outs of everyday life - with a miracle or two thrown in as a matter of course. Life is full of good and evil as depicted in this book, and faith can triumph against the odds.

The Kitchen Daughter: A Novel
by Jael McHenry

The Kitchen Daughter (4/2/2011)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and finished it in one sitting. Unlabeled / undiagnosed, Ginny exhibits classic signs of Asperger's and has been sheltered from life by her parents. Coping with the loss of her parents, Ginny discovers that she is more capable than she or her sister realize. Would love to see a sequel !

Minding Ben: A Novel
by Victoria Brown

Pass (12/30/2010)

I so did not like this book. The characters were not well developed and the story line did not hold my attention. Every time the book started to get interesting, the author would drop that story line and begin another. I especially did not like how the book ended ... very abruptly and with many loose ends.

Raising Wrecker: A Novel
by Summer Wood

Family (10/31/2010)

Loved this one! A very insightful book that reveals its characters as flawed and three dimensional. This book is set in northern California and is the story of Wrecker, a three year old boy whose mother is sent to prison. Wrecker is adopted by a distant uncle who has his own sorrows, and is raised by a group of people living on the next farm over who become his family. Explores the concept of family, and illustrates how the family we choose (or the family that chooses us) may be better for us than the family we were born into.

The False Friend
by Myla Goldberg

Very Disappointing (8/18/2010)

The back-cover synopsis of this book was enticing, and I was mentally prepared for a great book. What a disappointment! The characters were flat, the ending was vague, and I had to force myself to finish reading.

The Swimming Pool
by Holly LeCraw

The Swimming Pool (3/9/2010)

This book started out slowly, and I kept waiting for the plot to kick in. The characters were flat and did not draw me into their world. Expanding Callie's story may have improved the story line. Definitely not a page turner; I had to force myself to finish it.

The Secret of Everything
by Barbara O'Neal

Enjoyable, but ... (11/1/2009)

I found this book interesting, however would have liked it even more if all of the story lines had been fully developed. There were several instances where a character had a thought or idea at the end of a chapter that implied further investigation, and then the issue never came up again. A fairly quick read.

Sweeping Up Glass
by Carolyn Wall

Very Enjoyable (8/10/2009)

"Sweeping Up Glass" is one of the best debut novels I have read recently. The author does a wonderful job of drawing one into the lives of the characters. Definitely recommend for book clubs.

Reviews by Kathy S. (Danbury, CT)

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