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Reviews by lani

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Fagin the Thief: A Novel
by Allison Epstein
a masterful interpretation (12/1/2024)
Fagin the Thief by Allison Epstein is a remarkable reimagining of Fagin from Dicken's Oliver Twist sure to delight fans of Dicken's works. Set against the backdrop of 19th -century London, Fagin was raised by his mother Leah until her death when he was 16. During thatmore
Daughters of Shandong
by Eve J. Chung
Resilence and bonding (10/26/2023)
Eve J. Chung's poignant and emotionally charged narrative takes us on a gripping journey through the tumultuous 1940s and 1950s, offering a unique perspective on the Chinese opinion of women's worth during a challenging period. In this heart-wrenching saga, we follow themore
Paper Names: A Novel
by Susie Luo
Rising to the American dream (2/20/2023)
Paper names..paper names…paper names…Are they titles people accrue flimsy like paper? Does being the doorman's hero daughter, Harvard graduate, Chinese immigrant lawyer, fiancé mean anything in the end? How do we form our true identity?
Painting in self-assured strokes, themore
Once We Were Home
by Jennifer Rosner
History that needs to be told (11/4/2022)
Two Jewish children were raised by a Christian couple, went to church, and were assimilated into the Christian faith but were surrounded by love. However, they were eventually identified as being Jewish and whisked away to Israel. Another boy was raised in a monastery butmore
The Lies I Tell: A Novel
by Julie Clark
What is veracity? (3/24/2022)
When you eat popcorn it's hard to eat one piece. It is hard not to take a handful and stuff it in your mouth. Well, popcorn and I had an amazing ride with a book I finished in two days. The pages began to fly as I easily devoured this crackling mystery. I loved her previousmore
French Braid: A novel
by Anne Tyler
shattering examination of a family (3/20/2022)
French Braid."That's it. And then when she undid them,(her braids) her hair would still be in ripples, little leftover squiggles, for hours and hours afterward."
"Yes..."
"Well," David said, "that's how families work, too. You think you are free of them, but you're nevermore
Lightning Strike: Cork O'Connor Mystery Series #18
by William Kent Krueger
Father and son's relationship (9/9/2021)
A gentle yet mysterious novel that will stir your heart. This sounds like an oxymoron but Krueger has pulled off a skillful coming of age story, an unsolved mystery and a deeply transporting picture of the back woods of Minnesota. The vivid descriptions of the water, inletsmore
Beautiful Country: A Memoir
by Qian Julie Wang
The pursuit of the American dream (9/1/2021)
Who can forget the iconic picture of the Afghan baby being passed over the wall into the waiting arms of the Marine Soldiers? Who could forget the anguished looks of parents trying to get their children and themselves to safety in order to secure a better life. Qian's bookmore
Damnation Spring
by Ash Davidson
An environment of our times (7/27/2021)
How does a debut author write a novel so self assured and heavily researched, while highlighting characters and families that are so obviously blemished ? Davidson has done this and more with her quietly empathetic look at loggers ,protestors, and family communication. Richmore
The War Nurse: A Novel
by Tracey Enerson Wood
a bit of a disappointment (6/2/2021)
For historical fiction fans you will find a lot to enjoy here. Reading about the trials and tribulations of nurses recruited into overseas service for WWI victims is illuminating and enlightening. Julia Stimson was a nurse in real life with a noble history that has beenmore
The Burning Girls
by C. J. Tudor
spine tingling (3/11/2021)
Never have I felt more sure that a mystery deserved 5 stars. You will be introduced to a vicar at a local parish that bears no resemblance to any priestly figure I have ever met. And SHE is named JACK. A book that crackles with energy and a narrator who constantly surprisesmore
The Bad Muslim Discount
by Syed M. Masood
Irreverent with serious overtones (3/3/2021)
Funny, irreverent, and profound. How do you get all these attributes enveloped in one novel? Well, you need Masood's copious skills. He managed to create a story with religious, political, love and romantic tones. Yet all these are in the context of the main charactersmore
The Daughters of Kobani: A Story of Rebellion, Courage, and Justice
by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
Fight for the right (2/2/2021)
Take one war. Combine with women's oppression. Mix with inestimable courage and bravery. The final product...the daughters of Kobani, Syria. Four major female characters are highlighted to illuminate the tenacity and heroism of the Kurdish women who became an all femalemore
The Daughters of Kobani: A Story of Rebellion, Courage, and Justice
by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
Inspiring women fighters (1/25/2021)
Take one war. Combine with women's oppression. Mix with inestimable courage and bravery. The final product...the daughters of Kobani, Syria. Four major female characters are highlighted to illuminate the tenacity and heroism of the Kurdish women who became an all femalemore
Lazarus: Joona Linna #7
by Lars Kepler
Do you want some sleepless nights? (12/21/2020)
Riveting. Dark. Page Turner of the Highest Order. Taut. Pulse Racing. Whiplash inducing Final Pages. Do you think I liked it? I was literally gripping the edges of the chair trying to race to the closing lines.This is definitely a book that is grim and gloomy but truly wasmore
Confessions on the 7:45
by Lisa Unger
An antidote for these times (11/4/2020)
The day after the election -a gift to me during the process and last night. Engrossing. Compelling. Absorbing. Captivating. An easy flow with characters who were strongly developed and with pages that began to fly. Can I say it again? Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. for thesemore
Shuggie Bain
by Douglas Stuart
Beware: it hurts (10/27/2020)
A finalist for the National Book Award and the Booker Prize shortlist,, this novel's depiction of Glasgow's mining town vividly portrays the landscape and the atmosphere around the 1980's. Most of the book is centered around the relationship with a young boy named Shuggiemore
Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic
by Alice Hoffman
magic at its best (10/11/2020)
Alice Hoffman always has a beautiful way with words. I had not read her previous books, Practical Magic and Rules of Magic but that blunder will soon be assuaged. It certainly was not necessary to read the other books to understand and adore this novel. Wonderfullymore
Anxious People
by Fredrik Backman
A brilliant book (10/3/2020)
If Fredrik Backman knocked on my door, I would hug him to death, Covid or no Covid. This book made me indescribably happy, alternating with tears, and lots of moments laughing out of loud. I think it was one of those books that you want to clasp to your heart and never letmore
All the Devils Are Here: Chief Inspector Gamache #16
by Louise Penny
A new look at the Gamache family (9/19/2020)
I have loved all of Penny's books about Chief Inspector Gamache and the quirky inhabitants of Three Pines. When I read these books it felt like I was coming home, sitting at my desk with a cold beer on a hot day. Set in Paris this novel takes a different tack. The wholemore

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