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Reviews by Ilyse B. (Howell, NJ)

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Honor
Honor
by Thrity Umrigar
The Many Types of Honor (10/10/2021)
Honor is an apt name for a novel that explores all the ways that we can be honorable and all the ways that people commit atrocities and betrayals in the name of honor. The book has a dual story line. One is the family history of Smita, an Indian journalist who returns to …more
The Temple House Vanishing
The Temple House Vanishing
by Rachel Donohue
Utterly Absorbing (4/3/2021)
The Temple House Vanishing by Rachel Donohue is a beautiful and compelling book. It speaks of teenage love and jealousy and finding out who you really are. She talks about the hierarchy of teenage girls, and she gets it so right that you can actually feel the angst. It …more
American Dirt
American Dirt: A Novel
by Jeanine Cummins
Highly Recommended (11/9/2019)
Every once in a while you go in to a book with no expectations whatsoever, and it blows you away. American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins is one of those books.
On the surface, it is a story about a mother and her child trying to escape a drug cartel in Mexico, but it is really …more
You Were There Too
You Were There Too
by Colleen Oakley
Not your standard love story (9/8/2019)
I read a lot, and I can often figure out what's going to happen at the end of a book before it's revealed. That was not the case with You Were There Too by Colleen Oakley. The author takes a story that could be confusing, and makes it easy to understand, but more …more
Strangers in Budapest
Strangers in Budapest
by Jessica Keener
Beautifully Written (11/8/2017)
This beautifully written story discusses many issues: impression vs truth, fact vs fiction and the lengths we will go for our family. Each character was fully developed, and I found it very interesting how they all viewed each other. There might not always be only one truth …more
The Weight of Ink
The Weight of Ink
by Rachel Kadish
Great Historical Fiction (3/8/2017)
The Weight of Ink was a wonderful historical novel. It was obvious that the author did a tremendous amount of research into her subject and she was able to present this information in a story that moved along at a brisk pace. There were two timelines in this story, and as …more
I See You
I See You
by Clare Mackintosh
A Real Thrill (11/13/2016)
I was really looking forward to reading this book as I loved the author's first book, and let me say, I was not disappointed. The author is an expert at ratcheting up the tension in this thriller. I tend to guess a twist in a story, but this one kept me guessing. Every time …more
The Forgetting Time
The Forgetting Time
by Sharon Guskin
Love, Grief and Acceptance (1/20/2016)
The Forgetting Time was a very enjoyable read with well drawn, believable characters. I liked the unique subject matter-a chid who is born carrying the soul of another child recently deceased -and I thought the author did a very good job of presenting different storylines …more
The Silver Witch
The Silver Witch
by Paula Brackston
Witches Connected Through Time (3/2/2015)
I am a huge fan of Paula Brackston's books, and was really looking forward to reading this one. The story is told in two connected narratives set years apart which is one of my favorite types of stories. It concerns two women who are both from the same line of witches. The …more
The Book of Strange New Things
The Book of Strange New Things: A Novel
by Michel Faber
Wonderfully Unique (8/12/2014)
The Book of Strange New Things by Michael Faber is unlike anything I have read before. It is a wonderful story about faith, love, religion and responsibility. The main character, a pastor, struggles with these issues as they relate to his relationship with his wife, as well …more
The Spirit Keeper
The Spirit Keeper
by K. B. Laugheed
A Great Read (8/29/2013)
I absolutely loved this book. It was many things - a love story, an adventure story, and a tale of overcoming obstacles. It was also the best sort of historical fiction-a book that makes you feel as though you are in a different time and place. The author seems to have a …more
The Edge of the Earth
The Edge of the Earth
by Christina Schwarz
Historical Fiction at it's Best (10/9/2012)
I love historical fiction, and this book did not disappoint. I could not put it down. In addition to a very strong sense of time and place, this book has extremely well developed characters and a very vivid writing style that allows you to see the story as you are reading …more
The Night Circus
The Night Circus: A Novel
by Erin Morgenstern
An Enchanting Story (7/8/2011)
I absolutely adored this book! "The Night Circus" is an enchanting, magical fairy tale. From the beginning you are transported to another time and place, and you will not want to leave. This is a story about love, destiny and magic and it is so beautifully written that I …more
Outlander
Outlander
by Diana Gabaldon
An Outstanding Read! (3/3/2011)
Outlander, by Diane Gabaldon, is one of those rare books that immediately pulls you in and doesn't let go. From the first page, you are drawn into another world, and you don't want to leave. I found myself torn between wanting to read it every moment I could, and wanting to …more
The Language of Secrets
The Language of Secrets
by Dianne Dixon
Secrets and Identity (1/30/2010)
This story is a mystery about a man's search for his identity, and how he needs to discover the truth about his past in order to face his future. While the plot was very promising, ultimately the book was disappointing. The story goes back and forth in time introducing so …more
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