BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Reviews by Cecilia Z. (Montclair, New Jersey)

The Book That Matters Most: A Novel
by Ann Hood

A Little Disappointing (6/1/2016)

I was intrigued by the premise of this book and loved all the selections of the books that mattered most to each book club member. It was a great way to explore the story of Ava, struggling to come to terms with a divorce after 25 years of marriage and, as we discover, a …more

The Devil in Jerusalem
by Naomi Ragen

Devil in Jeusalem (7/5/2015)

I am a fan of Naomi Ragen and have read many of her books. Her themes are always thought-provoking. This book is no exception. However, it is disturbing to read and almost beyond understanding. The thought that a mother who clearly loves her children could fall so deeply …more

The Art of Baking Blind
by Sarah Vaughan

All the right ingredients! (3/6/2015)

This is a thoroughly enjoyable read. It has all the right ingredients - a baking competition, enticing descriptions of delicious treats and an interesting group of characters, competing to be the next Mrs. Eaden, the author of the baker's bible, "The Art of Baking." I …more

The Same Sky
by Amanda Eyre Ward

Deeply Moving Story of Parallel Lives (10/22/2014)

I am a big fan of Amanda Eyre Ward's novels and looked forward to this latest book. I was not disappointed. As in her earlier novels, her characters are so well-developed and the story so compelling, it was impossible to put down once I started reading it.

This is the story …more

Before the Poison
by Peter Robinson

Good, but not great (12/4/2011)

I am a big fan of Peter Robinson and his detective, Alan Banks, and look forward to his mysteries. I found this novel a little disappointing. It is a stand-alone novel about a man who moves to England and is pulled into a mystery involving a former resident of the house he …more

A Trick of the Light: Armand Gamache Series #7
by Louise Penny

Returning to Three Pines (7/3/2011)

I was excited to read the latest installment in this mystery series featuring Chief Inspector Gamache - it felt like going back to a special place and catching up on the lives of the unique people who live there. The fact that it was a mystery was almost secondary to …more

The Kitchen Daughter: A Novel
by Jael McHenry

Interesting story, but too many unnecessary distractions. (4/10/2011)

This is an unusual novel with a unique narrator, a young woman with Asperger's syndrome, who is coming to terms with her parents' sudden deaths and her now uncertain future. She turns to cooking, which has been her way of connecting and, in her words, finding "normal." How …more

The Tenth Song
by Naomi Ragen

Ends a little too neatly (10/13/2010)

Good book, interesting plot, well-written, but with an ending that is a little too pat. The book is about the impact that a very public scandal has on the members of a successful family. This is a great premise. It sets the stage for the characters to reflect on what …more

The Widower's Tale: A Novel
by Julia Glass

A Wonderful Read (9/27/2010)

Julia Glass is back with a book as good as her first book, Three Junes. Her characters, the story line and her writing are thoughtful and engaging - you feel like you've become part of the story and are getting to know the characters as you would a new friend. More than …more

The Nobodies Album
by Carolyn Parkhurst

So Much More Than a Good Mystery (5/31/2010)

I am a fan of Carolyn Parkhurst and enjoyed her two previous novels, but found The Nobodies Album exceptional. It really shows her growth as a writer. This novel has so many levels. It deals with relationships, especially between a parent and child. It examines how an …more

Holding My Breath: A Novel
by Sidura Ludwig

Holding My Breath (6/8/2008)

This is a remarkable coming-of-age story about a young girl growing up in a Jewish family in Canada during the 1950's and 1960's. It is very well-written, with interesting and believable characters. What resonated with me is how well it dealt with the conflicts in growing …more

The Palace of Illusions
by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Entertaining and Engaging (2/24/2008)

I am a fan of Divakaruni and have enjoyed her previous novels. This is a departure from her earlier writing. It is a retelling of the Mahabharat epic from the point of view of the women, primarily Princess Panchaali, born of fire and married to the five kings of India. …more

BookBrowse Book Club

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris
by Evie Woods

From the million-copy bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop.

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Real Americans
by Rachel Khong

From the author of Goodbye, Vitamin, a novel exploring family, identity, and the shaping of destiny.

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The Devil Finds Work
by James Baldwin

A book-length essay on racism in American films, by "the best essayist in this country" (The New York Times Book Review).

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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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