BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Reviews by Linda Z. (Corydon, IN)

15 Seconds
by Andrew Gross

15 Seconds (6/12/2012)

What a roller coaster ride for this unsuspecting plastic surgeon. I was fascinated with the book and could not wait to see how it ended. If you like a lot of suspense, this is the book for you with guessing games and plenty of action. Anyone who likes mysteries and thrillers should like this story. It is sure to please both men and women and could be a good choice for lots of discussion in a book club. Questions such as what would you do and how would you react to this situation. I know it kept me guessing all the way to the end.

No Mark Upon Her: A Novel
by Deborah Crombie

No Mark Upon Her (1/17/2012)

Deborah Crombie is one of my favorite authors and she does not disappoint in this her 14th British mystery with Gemma and Duncan. The usual characters are there in a brand new setting. Anyone who enjoys mysteries with more characterization will go for this series. An an Anglophile, I particularly enjoy all the different locations in London and Great Britain. I think men or women would enjoy these books as well as book clubs. I would recommend the Inspector Lynley series by Elizabeth George and the Inspector Banks series by Peter Robinson for readers who enjoy the Crombie series.

The Dressmaker: A Novel
by Kate Alcott

The Dressmaker (10/27/2011)

I enjoyed this book very much. In fact, I read it in two days, staying up until after midnight to finish it. The author approached the Titanic disaster with a new perspective. The moral questions could lead to some interesting discussions in a book club setting as well as the question of loyalty to an employer. Where is the stopping point? The historical aspect was covered very well from descriptions to the technical. I would recommend it to most readers especially those interested in historical novels. I have found as a former high school librarian that teenagers are interested in disasters of this type and I think they would find this book of interest.

The Things We Cherished: A Novel
by Pam Jenoff

The Things We Cherished (5/26/2011)

This book should appeal to both women and men who are interested in World War II, the Holocaust and would also appeal to mystery lovers. I had read two previous books by the author and enjoyed both. The moral dilemma was very interesting. Was Roger right or wrong in what he did or is there no easy answer? I intend to read other books by this author.

Original Sin: A Sally Sin Adventure
by Beth Mcmullen

Original Sin (3/10/2011)

I had a hard time getting into this book and understanding where the author was going with the plot. It did not make a lot of sense to me. She had some clever jabs at the spy organizations but her main focus was not realistic. I would assume there is going to be a sequel but I think I shall pass on it.

The Tenth Song
by Naomi Ragen

The Tenth Song (11/2/2010)

I really enjoyed this book. It made me think about how I would react to a situation beyond my control which affected my entire family. I would think this book would be perfect for book clubs, particularly women. I can see some really good discussions coming from the actions and reactions of the characters.

Bad Boy: An Inspector Banks Novel
by Peter Robinson

Bad Boy (7/11/2010)

There are 20 books in this series of Inspector Banks and I cannot believe that I have never read any until this one. I have now read 2 others in the series and am starting on the first one. My local public library has 6 of them and I shall have to check the used book stores for the remainder but I intend to read all 20. I do wish there would have been a physical description of Alan Banks but maybe I will find one in the older books. If you like British mysteries, do not miss this author. Lots of twists and turns!

The Map of True Places
by Brunonia Barry

The Map of True Places (5/13/2010)

When I first started reading this book, I had doubts that I would enjoy it. However, the more I read the more I liked it. There were a lot of unexpected twists and turns in the plot. I had no idea how things were going to progress. The appeal of this book would probably be more to women than men particularly those people facing the problem of caring for aging and sick parents. I can see some lively discussions for book clubs concerning the different characters. I loved the book and am now looking forward to reading The Lace Reader by this author.

Savage Lands
by Clare Clark

Savage Lands by Clare Clark (1/7/2010)

As a history major, I really enjoy historical novels and this one was a winner. I learned what a "casket girl" was and a lot about the French settling of Mobile and New Orleans. I have found myself wanting to learn more about this period using the Internet and my local library. Names like Iberville, Bienville and John Law and even Massacre Island have whetted my appetite for more information. Maybe that is one reason why I enjoy historical novels along with a good story which this delivered.

While My Sister Sleeps
by Barbara Delinsky

While My Sister Slept (12/11/2008)

This book I definitely could not put down. I started it after lunch and finished it at 11 PM the same day.How a family reacts to an unexpected emergency and faces the difficult decisions affecting everyone certainly held my interest. It makes me wonder how I would handle a similar situation. It really made me think! I will certainly be reading other books by this author and I could see it stimulating quite a discussion for a book club. As a retired librarian and a county library board member, I am always looking for interesting books to recommend.

Stealing Athena
by Karen Essex

All of the Marbles (6/10/2008)

I enjoyed reading about two strong women, whose connection to the Elgin marbles and their accomplishments, were somehow lost in the maze of history. The book gives us a better understanding of the role played by Britain in saving the marbles but I still believe they belong in Greece. This is a wonderful book for any literary book club and for anyone who has a love of history. Personally, I would like to view the Marbles once more with this book as a background.

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