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Reviews by Amber B. (East Sparta, OH)

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Love and Other Consolation Prizes: A Novel
by Jamie Ford

Sweet, provoking must-read (8/15/2017)

Love and Other Consolation Prizes describes a world most readers could never imagine... a world in which the most loving home for a preteen boy is a brothel where he works odd jobs, a world in which dementia is perhaps the most gracious gift for an elderly woman.
I found this engrossing book difficult to put down. It expertly examined issues of friendship, love, feminism, survival, and the worth of a human being.
The dual timelines add much to the story in that the 1960s era teases readers with a happyish ending for Ernest and Fahn/Gracie, but you learn that there's so much more to the story.
I'm eager to read more by Jamie Ford.

Rise: How a House Built a Family
by Cara Brookins

Rising to the occasion (11/10/2016)

This powerful, inspiring book will break down stereotypes of women who have been victims of domestic violence and give readers an up close and personal glimpse of how mental illness can threaten and destroy families.
I was in awe of Cara Brookins - her intelligence, resourcefulness, and capabilities. I think my favorite part was reading about how Brookins and her children healed and gained confidence through completing a seemingly impossible task. I found myself constantly looking at the photo on the back of the book of these five survivors. As soon as I was finished, I looked up all the photos of their house building progress on Brookins' website. Kudos to Brookins and her incredible kids!

The Forgetting Time
by Sharon Guskin

Excellent character development (1/12/2016)

The Forgetting Time was a fascinating novel, with unforgettable characters and quite a unique plot. My heart ached for each of the characters in the book - as each grappled with their own loss, different than the other. This would make an excellent book for a book group, as there is so much to discuss. Though the worldview is much different than my own, I thought it was fascinating to explore the topic of reincarnation.

Whispering Shadows
by Jan-Philipp Sendker

Enjoyable novel! (1/8/2015)

I really enjoyed this book! It was unique and compelling, thoughtful, engaging, and just the right pace. I felt like I learned what it might be like to conduct business as Americans in China, and it makes me want to explore more about that topic. The characters were well-developed, and I have added Sendker's other books to my reading list.

Glitter and Glue: A Memoir
by Kelly Corrigan

More than meets the eye (1/3/2014)

I really enjoyed Glitter and Glue - the first person I texted after reading it was my own mother - with the words, "I have a book for you!"
The memoir leaves one with much to think about - in terms of parenting, romantic relationships, what it means to be a son or daughter, and especially about your own mortality... what you leave behind.
I found myself turning down lots of pages to come back to certain phrases and sections to jot down and revisit.
Happy reading!

Children of the Jacaranda Tree
by Sahar Delijani

Voice (2/25/2013)

The most significant aspect of this excellent novel for me was the incredible sense of voice that each of Delijani's characters possess - particularly the rarely expressed voices of the women and children. (Omid...age 3... watching his parents being arrested whilst yogurt drips from his fingertips...)
This book opened my eyes to Iran the way that Hosseini's Kite Runner & A Thousand Splendid Suns opened my eyes to various voices in Afghanistan. While it is a difficult read, the imagery of the tree is powerful - each branch connected, each telling a story that is different and yet part of a whole

Calling Me Home
by Julie Kibler

Powerful, heartbreaking story. (12/4/2012)

While sellers may try to compare this to "The Help" - and yes, the storytelling rivals it - this is instead a love story. Powerful and gripping, you'll be surprised with the characters as the details of a forbidden romance unfold, changing two people and everyone else in their lives forever. Definitely pick up this book for your reading group, literature class, or a great read.

Wife 22: A Novel
by Melanie Gideon

Love & Marriage N A Digital Age (3/28/2012)

I really enjoyed reading this book - I devoured it in a day and immediately handed it off to my best reading buddy.
Gideon's writing is relevant, fun, and where she could have very easily taken the low road in a number of places, she takes the high road every time - I was impressed by that.
Alice is a very well-crafted character - someone that you like, are frustrated with, roll your eyes at, laugh at, and root for.
However, there were some slight annoyances - like I figured out the 'mystery' in the first few chapters thanks to two little words. (Was that intentional?) Also, I ultimately really liked the ending, but feel like the reaction of William didn't really ring true.
However, it will make you think about your relationships, communication style, and the use of electronics in your life.

Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected - A Memoir
by Kelle Hampton

The Story of a Rockstar Mama (2/23/2012)

I really enjoyed this book - especially the GORGEOUS photography of Kelle's beautiful children! While some of the memoir seems to be just a bit TMI (editing out the skinny-dipping story & endless beer references would have been just fine with me), Kelle writes with authenticity, courage, humor, and love. I was impressed with the incredible people in her support system, and she seems like a person you would want as a friend. There's no question that the world will be better because of Nella - and her Rockstars.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
by Katherine Boo

Heartbreaking…important…memorable (12/28/2011)

Katherine Boo’s Behind the beautiful forevers: life, death, and hope in a Mumbai undercity reads like fiction but is a remarkable account of several families that Boo followed intensely for several years. The stories she tells woke me up at night. It’s amazingly well-written but certainly heavy and overwhelming. Despite being well-read and reasonably well-traveled, it reminded me how little I still know about the rest of the world… and how we view each other. Books like this change your perspective and reminded me that everyone has a story… to look deeper… to not look away when I encounter something that is difficult. It reminded me how corrupt many places in the world are, how much more is needed than money. I will be thinking about this book for a long time!

A Partial History of Lost Causes: A Novel
by Jennifer duBois

Intelligent & Thoughtful Debut! (12/5/2011)

As someone who has visited Eastern Europe several times, I was particularly interested in this story. While not particularly an "easy" read (it took me a little bit to get into it) - it was definitely worth it. Intelligent and intriguing, I hope to read more by Jennifer DuBois.

The Orphan Master's Son: A Novel
by Adam Johnson

Well-written, engaging, but very heavy (10/27/2011)

To be honest, I'm still processing this book. It was amazingly well-written and engaging, but terrifying because of the unfathomable, hopeless conditions of the daily life that North Koreans face. It's a story that will make you consider the human will to survive, and what makes life worth living. It will compel you to ask how such a cruel regime - treating its own people so mercilessly - could possibly come into existence. The "Conversation between Adam Johnson and Richard Powers" at the end of the book is a must read to give readers some context. I want to read more by Adam Johnson!

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake: A Novel
by Jenny Wingfield

Best Novel I've Read in Years... (6/28/2011)

A book you can fall in love with, The Homecoming of Samuel Lake was the best novel I've read in years. It had a similar feel to Leif Enger's Peace Like a River, which I would rank among my top five ever.
You'll wince at some of the atrociously cruel scenes in this book, and laugh aloud at the funny ones. You'll fall under the spell of Swan Lake. (Yes, that's a poor kid's name. The meanings of all the unusual names will give you something to talk about in your book clubs.) You'll admire her mother & grandmother, be impressed by her father, sympathize with her uncle; you'll hate her aunt. But you'll DESPISE Ras Ballenger, as much as you've ever loathed any other book character in your life - he is unfathomably evil.
The ending isn't exactly happy. But it rings true, clear and strong.
Well done, Jenny Wingfield. Well done.

Outlander
by Diana Gabaldon

Outlander (3/28/2011)

An epic adventure novel, Outlander defies categorization and delivers everything its publishers promise via rich characters, intriguing plotlines, and an unmatched intensity in its 800 pages. I would say it’s not the type of book I normally read – but it’s not “the typical book” by any stretch. If you have a lot of time on your hands, this series is for you!

A Box of Darkness: The Story of a Marriage
by Sally Ryder Brady

Telling the Truth (1/6/2011)

Sally Ryder Brady is a magnetic story teller. Readers will follow her journey with the same sense of wonder, mystery, pride, and pain that she encountered in her 46-year relationship with an extremely complicated man. I felt bewildered by some of the choices that she made, but also understand how they seemed to make sense to her. This story will give book groups a LOT to discuss!

Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal
by Conor Grennan

Breathtaking memoir! (11/20/2010)

Conor Grennan writes with humility, humor and grace - Little Princes is riveting. I truly could not put it down; at the same time, I didn't want it to be over. Reading this flawless memoir is like traveling to Nepal - you'll be captivated by the scenery, struck by the challenges her citizens face, and fall in love with the people themselves, especially the children. Readers are going to be talking about this book for a very long time!

Solomon's Oak: A Novel
by Jo-Ann Mapson

Solomon's Oak (10/26/2010)

I really enjoyed this engaging novel. I found the characters raw and vulnerable - and while they certainly came to grips with their losses, it felt genuine and not sentimental. More importantly, they seemed to let themselves feel their losses for what they were and didn't force themselves to just 'get over them.' I loved the imaginative wedding scenes Mapson created. Some of the dialogue felt a little forced in the beginning, but got better as the story progressed. There are many themes for book clubs to explore, such as grief, honesty, the role of nature, vulnerability with others, marriage, friendships, family relationships, and community.

Reviews by Amber B. (East Sparta, OH)

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Reviews by Amber B. (East Sparta, OH)

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