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Reviews by Janice M. (Holland, MI)

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Snowdrops: A Novel
by A.D. Miller
Snowdrops (1/7/2011)
Twists and turns galore and a feeling of foreboding flow through the pages of Snowdrops. It has an Alfred Hitchcock feel to it - as the reader, you know that things are not what they seem. Unfortunately, the main character, Nick Platt, is taken in by the city and the friends he makes and he continues his relationship with them even when he realizes he is being used. A quick read with an interesting plot and location. I can see this being a good pick for a book club because of the characters and their many flaws.
Gone Tomorrow: A Jack Reacher Novel #13
by Lee Child
Fast paced and loaded with action (10/13/2010)
Loved "Gone Tomorrow". The tension starts on the first page and keeps you hooked through the end. I will be passing this on to my husband. It would be a great read for the reluctant adult male that you might know. I don't feel it would be a good fit with my all female book group (maybe a men's book club would enjoy discussing it however).
After the Fall
by Kylie Ladd
Sometimes the grass only looks greener . . . . . (6/20/2010)
When I started to read this book, I wasn't sure I would want to finish it - the story is about 2 couples and what happens when an affair begins and ends between two of the spouses. I loved how each chapter was told in the voice of one of the spouses or their mutual friend, Tim. It was a little tedious at first, but once you become acclimated to the writing style it flows nicely. The first half of the book was a little slow - getting to know each of the characters, but by the second half, I had a hard time putting the book down. All said, I think this is a great beach/vacation read.
The Swimming Pool
by Holly LeCraw
The Swimming Pool by Holly LeCraw (2/25/2010)
How long would you keep a secret for someone? This story is about keeping the truth from coming out - with some terrible consequences. It has a murder, a mystery, a romance, adultery and attempted suicide and once you begin reading The Swimming Pool it will be hard to put the book down. The characters in the story seem like people you would see in any town and it made me wonder what lies beneath the surface of the people I see when I am in public. This will make a great book club and beach read.
The Bricklayer: A Novel
by Noah Boyd
The Bricklayer (12/6/2009)
A new action character has arrived on the scene: Steve Vail - James Bond and MacGyver rolled into one. The story moves along quickly with lots of twists and turns in the plot (sometimes it gets a little difficult to keep up). One thing that bothered me was the frequent use of acronyms (ASAC. AUSA, OPR, AG, UC - you get the idea). An appendix explaining the meaning of them would be helpful. Other than that, it was an enjoyable read.
Sweeping Up Glass
by Carolyn Wall
Sweeping up Glass (8/10/2009)
This is one of my favorite reads so far this year. The story and characters are memorable making the book hard to put down. It takes place in Kentucky when segregation was accepted. There are many threads that get connected in the end - a mother who was committed to an asylum only to return home and wreak havoc, lynching, young love lost, prostitution, living a hard scrabble life and poaching, just to name a few story lines. I will be recommending this book to my reading groups and can't wait to read it again.
Burnt Shadows: A Novel
by Kamila Shamsie
Burnt Shadows (5/2/2009)
Beginning with the atomic bomb being dropped in Nagasaki and the effects of war, love, family this novel stays with you long after you finish reading. At times the author paints vivid pictures with her words and you feel as though you are right there. It would be a fabulous read for book clubs with many topics for discussion (war, multicultural marriage, friendship, terrorism).
An Edible History of Humanity
by Tom Standage
An Edible History . .. . (3/12/2009)
An Edible History of Humanity is packed with information - at times interesting, and at other times really difficult to read through. This book would be well suited as additional reading for a college level history or sociology class. I would not recommend this as book club read.
The Good Thief: A Novel
by Hannah Tinti
Read this book if . . . (2/18/2009)
Read this book if you enjoy descriptive settings and a cast of characters that reel you in like a fish on a hook. Once I started this book I had a hard time putting it down. I can't wait to read this with my book club because it isn't a book for everyone read the other reviews which will make the discussion lively and interesting.
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