BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Reviews by Rachel B. (Waynetown, IN)

The Secrets of Mary Bowser
by Lois Leveen

Very touching and informative (5/1/2012)

I have a special place in my heart for historical fiction, and this was a really amazing book. What makes it more inspiring and interesting is the real life and events it was based on. Sometimes I hear people lamenting about the state of things, and I read a book like this …more

Loose Diamonds: ...and other things I've lost (and found) along the way
by Amy Ephron

Very nice concept, but did not follow through (8/24/2011)

I loved the idea of the book, and looked forward to reading it. However, like most of the other readers here I found the name-dropping and constant references to brand names extremely distracting and irritating. It would have been a quick read, except that I kept putting it …more

Turn of Mind
by Alice LaPlante

Intriguing and unsettling picture of Altzheimers (5/19/2011)

The story was not spectacular, but I mean that in a good way. It was the story of a woman who had raised a family, pursued a successful career, and then (where we meet her) begins to lose herself and all the memories/feelings that she had cultivated. The murder isn't all …more

Prophecy: An Historical Thriller
by S.J. Parris

Enjoyable Read (3/22/2011)

I have not read "Heresy", the first book featuring Bruno, but the author makes it easy to get into his character and the story without the feeling of being out of order. It was a fun read, and held my attention. I really enjoyed the historical references, especially the …more

The Devotion of Suspect X
by Keigo Higashino

Twists and turns to a dramatic end (2/4/2011)

I very much enjoyed this book, and will be recommending it to my book club primarily because so often in the story the sense of what is right and fair is distorted by sympathy for Ishigami and Yasuko, even when in hindsight it would be completely unjust for things to turn …more

Charles Jessold, Considered as a Murderer
by Wesley Stace

Descriptive, rich and enjoyable. A touch slow in pace (12/3/2010)

I was immediately drawn into the question of whether this was a story about HOW the event described in the first pages came to pass, or if it was about how that event did not happen as described. Along the way, I enjoyed the passion for music that the author shared through …more

Little Bee: (aka The Other Hand)
by Chris Cleave

I Dearly Loved This Wonderful and Moving Novel (12/3/2010)

I was pulled into the story by Chris Cleave's very believable characters and beautiful use of language, and was astounded at how he was able to keep story from lagging, even while balancing two completely different narrators. I absorbed every word he wrote, and bought …more

BookBrowse Book Club

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris
by Evie Woods

From the million-copy bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop.

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Real Americans
by Rachel Khong

From the author of Goodbye, Vitamin, a novel exploring family, identity, and the shaping of destiny.

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The Devil Finds Work
by James Baldwin

A book-length essay on racism in American films, by "the best essayist in this country" (The New York Times Book Review).

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The River Knows Your Name
by Kelly Mustian

A haunting Southern novel about memory and love, from the author of The Girls in the Stilt House.

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