BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Reviews by Caryl L. (Williamsburg, VA)

Eternal Life
by Dara Horn

Eternal Life (12/2/2017)

A most unusual book! I would classify this book as sci-fic, which, admittedly, are not my favorite. The book consists of a series of vignettes in which the main characters appear. The message is that living forever is not great; in fact, pretty negative. The author points …more

Mercies in Disguise: A Story of Hope, a Family's Genetic Destiny, and the Science That Rescued Them
by Gina Kolata

Mercies in disguise (11/10/2016)

This is not a happy book; However, it is a hopeful book about a very serious subject. The author has written in language that the average non-scientific reader can follow and understand. Further, she has included the lives of a family (Baxley) affected, giving the reader …more

Cruel Beautiful World
by Caroline Leavitt

cruel beautiful world (8/15/2016)

I found this book very hard to put down. The story kept my interest and the writing is excellent.

When Lucy runs off with her lover/teacher William, it releases a torrent of emotion and confusion in her sister, Charlotte, and her "surrogate mother", Iris. Their feelings of …more

Amour Provence
by Constance Leisure

Amour Provence (4/13/2016)

This is a lovely book. Not a page turner, no one gets murdered or disappears. It is just a pleasant book to read when you want to relax and enjoy. It is about people who and work in a couple of towns in the wine region of France.

Each chapter is devoted to one of the …more

The Good Neighbor
by Amy Sue Nathan

The Good Neighbor (8/25/2015)

The Good Neighbor starts out slow but gains momentum as you read so that you find it hard to put down. While the circumstances are very different, the bases are matters that are familiar to many lives.

Izzie, the protagonist, has always been the typical suburban wife, mother, …more

What Doesn't Kill Her: A Reeve LeClaire Series Novel
by Carla Norton

What doesn't kill her (5/11/2015)

Boy, this is one gutsy girl! Reeve is almost to hard to believe, but the author makes her a real young lady who decides she must fight back against the most terrifying time of her life at the hands of her life at the hands of Daryl Wayne Flint.

This psychopath escapes from …more

Whispering Shadows
by Jan-Philipp Sendker

Whipering Shadows (1/5/2015)

Whispering Shadows is a very interesting book. The author has managed to weave several subplots i.e. a budding romance; a murder mystery; a tragic loss of a son; into the main theme of the book; a look into the lives of the people; both American and Chinese; during the …more

Mating for Life
by Marissa Stapley

Mating for Life (3/13/2014)

A lovely book - the story of Mother, Helen, and her three daughters and their marital problems.

Helen has led a bohemian life; wild, opinionated, three children by three different men. She is contemplating marriage to a very traditional man and wonders if she can be happy …more

Henry and Rachel
by Laurel Saville

Henry and Rachel (9/3/2013)

I liked this book. It mainly concerns the parentage and history of some of its characters. It is, overall a sad book - not a page turner, not a fast paced thriller. That said it is a beautifully written book and gentle reading. While the characters are flawed, they do come …more

The Daughters of Mars
by Thomas Keneally

Daughters of Mars (5/15/2013)

This is a book that should not be taken lightly. I do not mean that it is grim, but the subject is a serious one.

It is the story of two girls, sisters, who volunteer to be nurses to the wounded and dying during World War I. They served almost entirely in France. What they …more

The Laws of Gravity
by Liz Rosenberg

Laws of Gravity (4/9/2013)

This book is sad, but riveting and touching. Nicole and cousin Ari have been very close friends since birth and they are truly bonded. Now, as adults they have reached an impasse. Nicole has been stricken with cancer. Ari has the means to save her life. Does he make the …more

Close My Eyes
by Sophie McKenzie

Close my eyes (4/4/2013)

WOW! What a book. It's not often that I find a book that keeps riveted right to the end. A masterful read. The characters are well written, drawing the reader into their lives and problems. The plot has many twists and turns leaving the reader wondering. The final twist at …more

Golden Boy
by Abigail Tarttelin

Golden Boy (1/15/2013)

This is a different kind of book. A young man(Max) is dealing with his coming of age problems with a very complex problem. He is intersex.
Mother and Father disagree with how to handle this. Who is right and who is wrong or is there a solution? Why did they wait so long?
How …more

The Hour of Peril: The Secret Plot to Murder Lincoln Before the Civil War
by Daniel Stashower

Hour of Peril (12/6/2012)

The main premise of this book is interesting and historically correct. Most people would be informed about these events. However, the endless attention to details of characters and events detracts from it's main purpose. Skipping back and forth between places (Harrisburg, …more

The Headmaster's Wager: A Novel
by Vincent Lam

Headmasters wager (7/27/2012)

This book takes place during the period of 1966-1975 when American forces are leaving Vietnam and North Vietnam is attacking South Vietnam. How this effects the lives of the local people is the main storyline.

Chen Pie Sou now known as Percival is headmaster of the American …more

The First Warm Evening of the Year: A Novel
by Jamie M. Saul

first warm evening of the year (5/8/2012)

This is a delightful book telling the story of three lives intertwined in a sea of conflicting emotions and conflicts.
Marion, a widow, satisfied with her stagnant life, after her husband,s death. Geoffrey, hoping to free his busy life in NYC busy with social connections …more

The Language of Flowers: A Novel
by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Language of Flowers (4/18/2012)

Although I would recommend this book as very interesting reading, I found it a little lacking. In dealing with Victoria's life in the "system" was not very revealing. Too much time in the contradictory meanings of the flowers. The back and forth timing serves to make me …more

The Good Father: A Novel
by Noah Hawley

The Good Father (12/11/2011)

This a very well-written, interesting and thought provoking book. None-the-less, it is a sad book affecting every character in the story. Paul's anxiety and effort to understand his son's actions to commit this horrible crime are mostly fruitless. The book explores a parent' …more

The Borgia Betrayal: A Poisoner Mystery Novel
by Sara Poole

Borgia's Betrayal (6/15/2011)

I enjoyed this book, but also disappointed at the same time. Francesca was very well developed as I could relate to her character. The other characters were not as well developed. The plot was full of intrigue and kept you guessing, however life in Rome did not develop well …more

Radio Shangri-La: What I Learned in Bhutan, the Happiest Kingdom on Earth
by Lisa Napoli

Radio Shangri-la (2/7/2011)

This is an interesting and very readable book. I expected more on Bhutan's country, beliefs and day-to-day living. However, it is more biographical than historical.
What did she learn? I t seemed to me that she got more out of her "three good things" class in LA than from …more

BookBrowse Book Club

Becoming Madam Secretary
by Stephanie Dray

New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray returns with a captivating novel about an American heroine France Perkins—now in paperback!

About Discuss
The Husbands
by Holly Gramazio

The Husbands delights in asking: how do we navigate life, love, and choice in a world of never-ending options?

About Discuss
The Jackal's Mistress
by Chris Bohjalian

From the New York Times bestselling author of Hour of the Witch, a Civil War love story of a Confederate wife and a wounded Yankee.

About Discuss
A Map to Paradise
by Susan Meissner

From the USA Today bestselling author of Only the Beautiful. 1956, Malibu, California: Something is not right on Paradise Circle.

About Discuss

Members Recommend

The Antidote
by Karen Russell

A gripping dust bowl epic about five characters whose fates become entangled after a storm ravages their small Nebraskan town.

Read the Reviews
Girl Falling
by Hayley Scrivenor

The USA Today bestselling author of Dirt Creek returns with a story of grief and truth.

Read the Reviews
Jane and Dan at the End of the World
by Colleen Oakley

Date Night meets Bel Canto in this hilarious tale.

Read the Reviews