Reviews by Carolyn G. (South Pasadena, CA)

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by Gina Wohlsdorf
Not worth the time to read (3/29/2016)
I have tried to read this book about three times. I have gotten about 1/4 of the way. I get that the author wants to try some new type of narrative, but it just doesn't work. None of the characters seem very interesting or even nice. The plot doesn't make a great deal of …more
All the Old Knives
All the Old Knives
by Olen Steinhauer
All the Old Knives (1/3/2015)
This is a new author for me. While I found the book a bit slow; however, some of the descriptions were really interesting. I would like to read some more of his books. The plot had a few too many twists and turns and I really had a hard time getting to know and like the characters.
Tides of War
Tides of War: A Novel
by Stella Tillyard
A very slow read (11/26/2011)
I volunteered to read Tides of War because I like historical fiction and I hoped to learn more about this period of history. If I had just gotten this book out of the library or had decided to buy it, I would not have finished it. Out of respect to the author, I read the …more
A Trick of the Light
A Trick of the Light: Armand Gamache Series #7
by Louise Penny
A delight, not your usual murder mystery (7/5/2011)
Louis Penny’s, A Trick of the Light, is the seventh in her series set in Three Pines a fictitious small town near Montreal. This is a new author for me and I loved the book. Penny is a skilled writer and has crafted her story so that it can stand alone. Unlike many mystery …more
Prophecy
Prophecy: An Historical Thriller
by S.J. Parris
A fun read (3/20/2011)
This is an intelligent piece of light fiction with realistic descriptions of 16th century London. I especially liked the boat rides on the Thames. At the beginning of reading, I was worried that the plot was going to focus too much on the occult or supernatural. Lucky for …more
The Beauty of Humanity Movement
The Beauty of Humanity Movement: A Novel
by Camilla Gibb
An interesting read (12/21/2010)
I found this an interesting read. The story is a nice blend of modern and old Vietnamese culture. There are few books in English which deal with this period of North Vietnam history. The characters are interesting and the story includes information about cooking and visual …more
The Lost and Forgotten Languages of Shanghai
The Lost and Forgotten Languages of Shanghai: A Novel
by Ruiyan Xu
Good first novel (11/1/2010)
I wasn’t sure that I was going to like this novel when I first started reading. By the time I got to the third chapter, I was hooked. The central character is Li Jing, a bilingual Chinese business man. An accident leaves him with a type of autism which lets him only able to …more

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Death Echo sadly fails the test (6/27/2010)
While this is meant to be a light read, flaws in the time line and character development seriously impede a reader’s pleasure. In Death Echo, the reader is expected to believe that a private consulting firm accepts a request by some government agency to chase down a yacht …more
Pearl of China
Pearl of China: A Novel
by Anchee Min
Pearl of China (2/3/2010)
Ms Min not only captures Pearl Buck’s love for China and her people, she also includes the spirit of Chinese literary traditions. While this short novel may appear to be very simple, it can be read on many levels. In addition to Pearl Buck, there are many interesting …more
The Fifth Servant
The Fifth Servant
by Kenneth Wishnia
Disappointing (11/16/2009)
The Fifth Servant was a real disappointment. I really wanted to like this book. I have visited Prague and found it a beautiful and interesting city. I was looking forward to learning more about its complex history. Instead this novel was more like a lecture on comparative …more
The Angel's Game
The Angel's Game
by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Another book not to be forgotten (7/6/2009)
Although this novel includes the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, it is not a sequel to the author’s popular novel The Shadow of the Wind. It is set in Barcelona and includes many elements of a gothic horror story: old houses, hidden rooms, secrets, decay and mysterious …more
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