BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Reviews by Margaret D. (Brookfield, VT)

A Simple Murder
by Eleanor Kuhns

Shaking up a Shaker village (3/29/2012)

A captivating itinerant weaver who is also a Revolutionary War era murder investigator? What a great character! In fact, many of the main characters are quite engaging.

Setting the story in the midst of a Maine Shaker village is clever. Kuhns offers up insight into their way …more

Sacre Bleu: A Comedy d'Art
by Christopher Moore

Huge amount of fun! (2/12/2012)

This is a colorful, twisting art(ist) mystery. An earthy combination of art history and fantasy that kept me seated quite happily through several wintery days. I shall seek out Christopher Moore's earlier works.

King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village
by Peggielene Bartels, Eleanor Herman

Sit back, relax, and enjoy! (12/3/2011)

King Peggy is one woman I'd love to have sitting in my living room for an evening of good talk. Her story is eloquently written. It is endearing and enduring. The words flow comfortably and I had a hard time putting it down!

The Night Circus: A Novel
by Erin Morgenstern

Totally and completely entranced (7/1/2011)

Simply put, you couldn't possibly not want to visit the Night Circus. I was utterly besotted by this book. It twists. It turns. It demands attention be paid to the timeline. I felt aggrieved at having to close "The Night Circus" and periodically return to my everyday world. …more

The Daughter of Siena: A Novel
by Marina Fiorato

Really good vacation read :-) (5/1/2011)

Marina Fiorato penned a fine historical look at the 1700s in a politically charged Siena. The description of the physical city is captivating. The characters, human and equine, are intriguing. While some of the tale is predictable, on the whole it kept my interest with its …more

Prophecy: An Historical Thriller
by S.J. Parris

"Prophecy" (3/2/2011)

"Prophecy" continues the story of Giordano Bruno which began with Parris' "Heresy". The author's writing is clever enough that I did not flounder because of having not (yet) read the first book.

There is enough intrigue and conspiracy to keep a reader alert. As well as …more

Jamrach's Menagerie: A Novel
by Carol Birch

Jamrach's Menagerie (2/4/2011)

Told in the first-person, Jaffy Brown's story is of a life filled with wonder, exquisite joy, unbridled excitement, terror, brutal horror, survival, great sadness, love, and acceptance. I found myself totally and unabashedly absorbed in his nineteenth century world.

The teen- …more

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Book Jacket — Lessons in Chemistry
by Bonnie Garmus

Praised by *Parade* and *The New York Times Book Review*, this debut features a 1960s scientist turned TV cooking star.

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