BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Reviews by Tricia L. (Auburn, WA)

Salvage the Bones: A Novel
by Jesmyn Ward

Heartwrenching poverty and suffering in a powerful tale. (8/3/2011)

Wow. This book put me right there watching the run-up and aftermath of Katrina. It is so eye-opening and yet I feel like there is hope for us all because of these brave characters. Great read.

Outside Wonderland: A Novel
by Lorna Jane Cook

An intriguing read. (3/9/2011)

What a lovely picture of parents staying near their children even after death to guide them through life. I enjoyed this book, and was interested in the characters.

The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul: A Novel
by Deborah Rodriguez

I trust Rodriguez's writing. (11/9/2010)

Because of her excellent non-fiction, I was already predisposed to like this novel. It was so interesting and the fact that it was fiction made me aware of how powerful a story can be, whether true or not.
A great read!

The Stuff That Never Happened
by Maddie Dawson

Well-written, but we've seen this before (9/15/2010)

This is one of the better books about choices and waking up to find ourselves in a position we now are not sure we want to be in. I love the author's writing and the voice is strongly compelling. I don't tend to want to read yet another book about this subject, but this one kept me reading.

A Thread of Sky: A Novel
by Deanna Fei

It was interesting, but wasn't enough to make me go wow. (4/19/2010)

I was so looking forward to reading this book because a dear friend just was in China. I have to say her emails about the culture and what she experienced were more engaging. I did not connect with the story in a meaningful way, but I did enjoy it. I love to read, but this one won't be read again.

The Crossing Places: A Ruth Galloway Mystery
by Elly Griffiths

Irresistible setting and premise; somewhat predictable (11/10/2009)

I really love the protagonist for this series. That alone will keep me reading the series, but I would love for the author to be braver in how she executes the high-pitched dramatic moments. I skipped some pages. But if you love British mysteries, this series looks to be promising.

Eve: A Novel of the First Woman
by Elissa Elliott

Spellbinding and full of emotion. (1/19/2009)

I've longed to know more about Eden myself. What was it like to be cast out? What was the garden? How did they survive afterward? Elissa Elliott's book tells you what might have been. I found it mesmerizing and once I picked it up, could not put it down. Each character was finely drawn and the plot, that of a early family surviving on their own and then thrown into a world of strange and exotic practices, practically leaped off the page.

Highly recommend. You won't walk away the same.

Kissing Games of the World
by Sandi Kahn Shelton

Heartwarming story boasts nicely drawn characters (9/25/2008)

What a nice story. I was swept up into it quickly and enjoyed it until the last page. I would hope to see many more novels of this caliber from this author.

Shoot the Lawyer Twice: A Rep and Melissa Pennyworth Mystery
by Michael Bowen

Shoot the Lawyer Twice Provides Whimsy, But I Got Lost (8/15/2008)

Headless dialogue ruins a conversation for me every time, especially because I have no idea who's saying what. This book was clever - I love whodunits, but I had a hard time continuing.

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