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Reviews by Leann A. (Springfield, IL)

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Close My Eyes
by Sophie McKenzie

Close My Eyes by Sophie McKenzie (4/9/2013)

This is one of those books that I think of as brain candy. It doesn't require much effort and is very entertaining. Yes, you do have to suspend your disbelief, but if you can do that, you're in for an enjoyable read as the plot twists and turns and each character seems …more

Turn of Mind
by Alice LaPlante

Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante (4/25/2011)

This book was an emotionally difficult read for me. Alice LaPlante does such a good job of taking you through the inevitable mental decline of Dr. Jennifer White that it's at once fascinating and devastating to watch. If you require a feel-good ending to your fiction, you' …more

The Paris Wife: A Novel
by Paula McLain

The Paris Wife (11/29/2010)

I liked this book, but I didn't love it. Something was missing. The facts were there, but I never quite connected with the main character, Hadley. I did, however, enjoy reading about "The Lost Generation"--American Expats in 1920s Paris. That alone was worth the read.

Daughters of the Witching Hill: A Novel
by Mary Sharratt

Daughters of the Witching Hill (2/27/2010)

Told from the point of view of two of the most notorious of the “Pendle Hill Witches", Mother Demdike and her granddaughter, Alizon, this is a compelling, well written story of magic, superstition and the danger of being a woman of power in the time of King James. Every …more

Serena: A Novel
by Ron Rash

Serena by Ron Rash (8/31/2009)

The quality of the writing is the only thing that saved this book for me. This story in a less capable writer’s hands would have been wholly unreadable for me. The main characters were cartoonish in their villainy and invincibility. Normally I am more than willing to …more

Night Navigation
by Ginnah Howard

Night Navigation by Ginnah Howard (3/10/2009)

This book as a memoir was unflinchingly honest in its portrayal of drug addiction and how it affects everyone connected to the addict. The seemingly never ending cycle of hope, anxiety, disappointment, guilt, fear, despair and back to hope when the relapsed addict …more

Cutting For Stone
by Abraham Verghese

Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese (1/9/2009)

I really enjoyed this book, although there were parts that I thought might have benefited from tighter editing to even out the pacing. But, the language is rich and lovely and the characters alive and wonderfully complex. I’m sure that this book will be among the rare few …more

The Good Thief: A Novel
by Hannah Tinti

The Good Thief (7/31/2008)

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun read with larger than life characters and plenty of whimsical adventure. The ending is a bit predictable, but Ren and his band of misfits were so engaging, I really didn't mind.

The Quiet Girl
by Peter Hoeg

Worth the Effort (10/8/2007)

Peter Høeg’s The Quiet Girl is not an easy read. The shifts between present and past are sometimes difficult to follow and the plot is, in my opinion, over complicated. But then, Høeg is not known for simplistic writing or “dumbing down” for broader audience appeal. He has …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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