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Reviews by Virginia W. (Cloverdale, CA)

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The Roots of the Olive Tree
The Roots of the Olive Tree: A Novel
by Courtney Miller Santo
Multigenerational family secrets (7/8/2012)
This is a book about six generations of one family living together. The plot unfolds in an interesting way and the characterizations are strong. The oldest member is 112 and a subplot is an investigational genetic study into the reason why this "superager" and her female …more
A Bitter Truth
A Bitter Truth: A Bess Crawford Mystery
by Charles Todd
Crime during WWI (7/30/2011)
I really enjoyed this charming mystery story about a WWI nurse who becomes entangled with a woman who has run from her soldier husband and his family after he slapped her. The family of the soldier is complicated by previous and current deaths. It is engaging to read about …more
Three Seconds
Three Seconds
by Anders Roslund & Borge Hellstrom
A meticulously written book of suspense (12/4/2010)
This is an excellent book that is meticulously written. Tension builds for the reader right from the beginning. This book is an indictment of the Swedish justice system use of criminal informants rather than undercover policemen that the American justice system uses. The …more
The Lost and Forgotten Languages of Shanghai
The Lost and Forgotten Languages of Shanghai: A Novel
by Ruiyan Xu
Loss of a common language (10/18/2010)
Captivating novel about how the loss of a common language in a marriage affects the relationship. Li Jing, injured in an explosion, loses his ability to speak Chinese and withdraws from his wife. He reverts to his first language, English, which Meiling, his wife, does not …more
Bad Boy
Bad Boy: An Inspector Banks Novel
by Peter Robinson
Girl looking for a faster life influenced by "bad boy" (7/4/2010)
I generally like Alan Banks mysteries. "In a Dry Season" was excellent. "Bad Boy" starts off slow - I think I had read about 100 pages before the book became more interesting. Tracy Banks is involved with a bad boy, Annie Cabot is shot, Tracy does call 999 to help Annie, …more
The Wives of Henry Oades
The Wives of Henry Oades: A Novel
by Johanna Moran
The Wives of Henry Oades (11/28/2009)
I loved this book! It is an engrossing story and very well written. Margaret Oades is one of the strongest women I have ever read about. Each travail in her life only makes her stronger. I recommend this book wholeheartedly and I look forward to reading more books by this author.
The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel
The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel
by Maureen Lindley
The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel (8/6/2009)
I liked this book for its information about both Chinese and Japanese cultures and the way women were treated. Eastern Jewel was exiled from China to Japan at the age of 8 and put in a family of strangers. That she even survived this separation from her family is noteworthy. …more
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  • Book Jacket
    The River Knows Your Name
    by Kelly Mustian
    A haunting Southern novel about memory and love, from the author of The Girls in the Stilt House.
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