BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Last Train to Istanbul
by Ayse Kulin

Last Train to Istanbul (10/13/2013)

Often as I was reading this book I thought to myself, "I wish I could read this in the original language." The story is a good one but the language was rather stilted, presumably because it is a translation. However, I still recommend it because of the gripping story and the believable characters. The book presents an aspect of WWII with which I was unfamiliar, and it has inspired me to do some further reading on the subject.

The Mouse-Proof Kitchen
by Saira Shah

The Mouse-Proof Kitchen (7/4/2013)

Anna is a super-organized, trained chef who has her and her husband's perfect life all planned: they will live in Provence, she will have a restaurant, and he will be a successful musician. Then real life interferes when she gives birth to a severely disabled child. What ensues is the story of their coming to grips with their less-than-perfect life in the form of a rundown farmhouse far from Provence, a series of quirky neighbors, and a child requiring far more care than either parent feels equipped to give. My only quibbles are that some of the situations seem a bit contrived, and a couple of Anna's actions seem out of character. All in all, a good read.

The Sisterhood
by Helen Bryan

The Sisterhood (5/11/2013)

This is a story of the present and the past and how they intertwined. I particularly enjoyed 'past' part of the novel which dealt with the way the Spanish Inquisition led to the founding of an order of nuns in 'New Spain', and their relationship with the Incas.

Had it not been for a couple of improbable coincidences I would have rated this book as a 5 .

How to Love Wine: A Memoir and Manifesto
by Eric Asimov

At last! (9/27/2012)

At last, a book about wine for the rest of us. Asimov assures us that we don't have to be 'experts' to enjoy wine. He argues that enjoying wine should be, first of all, an emotional experience, and as our enjoyment increases, wanting to learn more about wine may follow. I particularly enjoyed his many anecdotes about his love affair with wine, and was delighted with his comments on tasting notes.

A Simple Murder
by Eleanor Kuhns

A Not-So-Simple Murder (4/9/2012)

I enjoyed the story and learned a great deal about the Shakers, and I really wanted to be able to rate the book higher. There were two things that I found off-putting. First, I found the dialog and general sensibility more typical of the 21st Century than the 19th, and second, there were too many loose ends left hanging.

A Good American: A Novel
by Alex George

A Good American (1/29/2012)

This wonderful book about immigrants written by a man who is himself an immigrant offers many keen insights into the process of becoming assimilated into a new country and culture. I found myself alternately laughing and crying but enjoying every moment and wanting for more. The fact that I could readily identify with many of the characters in the book made it all the more enjoyable. My only complaint about the book is that it is a bit predictable but, thank goodness, not overly so.

The Memory of All That: George Gershwin, Kay Swift, and My Family's Legacy of Infidelities
by Katharine Weber

The Memory of All That (8/3/2011)

It is always entertaining to read about the lives of the rich and famous, and the book did not disappoint in this regard. It was somewhat difficult to get into the first part of the book which was mainly about her despicable father. It was amazing to me that the author was able to give a reasonably sympathetic telling of his exploits. I found the second half of the book, about her mother's family, much more interesting. I have always been a huge George Gershwin fan, and particularly enjoyed reading about his relationship with Weber's grandmother, Kay Swift. I had not known previously that she was such an accomplished musician. It is a shame that she has received so little credit for her accomplishments.

Original Sin: A Sally Sin Adventure
by Beth Mcmullen

Once a spy . . . (2/5/2011)

Lucy Hamilton, a suburban stay-at-home mom who wants to stay that way, was once a spy called Sally Sin. Unfortunately for her, her former agency needs her help to lure her old nemesis out, and they won't take "No" for an answer. This very funny novel has all the earmarks of the first of a series, and I look forward to the next installment of the adventures of Sally Sin.

The Philosophical Breakfast Club: Four Remarkable Friends Who Transformed Science and Changed the World
by Laura J. Snyder

The Philosophical Breakfast Club (1/8/2011)

First, let me say that I love this book and second, let me say that I don't think everyone will. Anyone with an interest in the history of science and technology will find it fascinating. One of the things I really liked about it was the fact that these four incredibly brilliant men were presented, warts and all, and not merely as plaster saints. What was almost incredible, though, was the breadth of their knowledge. In addition to being scientists (a term coined by one of them), they were poets and linguists and artists and other things as well. In today's world of hyper-specialization, it's hard to imagine any scientist being fluent in so many different areas. What a lesson for us all!

The Nobodies Album
by Carolyn Parkhurst

The Nobodies Album (6/11/2010)

Who among us would not love to re-write the endings of some of our "stories"? The book's protagonist, Octavia Frost, a best-selling author, is about to do just that when she learns that her rock star son, Milo, has been accused of murder. What follows is an extremely well written mystery, but it is much more than that. Milo's band's name, Pareidolia, gives us a clue that we'll be dealing with the characters' perceptions of events and their attempts to understand them, from the tragedy involving Octavia's husband and young daughter, to the murder of Milo's girlfriend Bettina.

My only complaint about this book, and the reason I gave it a 4 instead of a five (I would have liked to have given it a 4.5) is that I found the ending a bit too pat.

Pearl of China: A Novel
by Anchee Min

A Gem of a Book (2/5/2010)

I love this book! It started off rather slowly but quickly captured my interest. It is a novel but the characters are real historical figures and that gives the book the ring of truth. It has inspired me to re-read The Good Earth as well as some of Pearl Buck's other books, and to read Anchee Min's Red Azalea. The mark of a good book for me is that it inspires me to expand from it, and Pearl of China definitely does that for me.

Serena: A Novel
by Ron Rash

Unbridled greed and ambition (9/1/2009)

Serena,the title character of this gripping novel, is the complete sociopath: attractive, intelligent, charming when she chooses to be, and utterly without conscience. She and her almost-equally sociopathic husband ruthlessly cut down everything, be it trees or people, in their quest to "cut down every tree on earth". They are the perfect match until he, in a moment of compassion,attempts to help someone she has marked for elimination.

For me the weakest part of this otherwise excellent novel was the ending which was a bit too predictable.

A Short History of Women: A Novel
by Kate Walbert

A Short History of Women (5/12/2009)

It took me a while to get into this book and I was convinced that I wouldn't like it because it jumps around a lot and it took quite a bit of attention to keep the relationships among the characters straight. I stayed with it and am glad that I did because Walbert writes so beautifully. It touches on the lives of five generations of women beginning with a suffragette who starves herself to death. Each of the other women, from her daughter to her great-great granddaughter struggles with her own issues but nothing is ever tied up neatly with a bow. With all five women I was left wanting to know more.

I think book clubs will find a lot to discuss in this one!

How We Decide
by Jonah Lehrer

How We Decide (12/31/2008)

All in all I liked this book but I do have a couple of criticisms. First of all, the author misused the term "negative reinforcement" -- it does NOT mean the same thing as punishment! The other thing that I found annoying was that he used the terms brain and mind as if they were interchangeable, which they are not. The brain is, of course, an anatomical structure, while "mind" is a convenient construct we use when talking about consciousness. These criticisms aside, I find the author's contention that we need to use both rational thought and emotional reaction when we are making decisions a compelling one. I particularly liked his use of real-life anecdotes to illustrate what might otherwise have been dry, textbook-ish examples.

Findings: Faye Longchamp Mysteries, No. 4
by Mary Anna Evans

A Great Find (5/11/2008)

Findings is the first book by Mary Anna Evans that I have read but it won't be the last. It is a fast-paced mystery with a likable, if somewhat unconventional, heroine who happens to be a graduate student in archeology. My only complaints are two that are shared by many "popular" mysteries: The secondary characters tend to be rather one-dimensional, and the ending is a bit predictable. In spite of these shortcomings, I still enjoyed the book very much.

The Marriage of True Minds
by Stephen Evans

The Marriage of True Minds (2/28/2008)

I found this to be a quick and enjoyable, although not great, read. The characters are quirky and interesting -- some of the 'minor' characters really flesh the story out -- but it remains at heart a fairly simple love story. There are some interesting legal and psychological issues that could be explored in a book club setting but, for the most part, the book is more likely to be of interest to individuals rather than groups.

Mozart's Sister
by Rita Charbonnier

Should appeal to a variety of book clubs (10/12/2007)

Charbonnier's first attempt at a novel is a good, if somewhat uneven one. The unevenness may be more a function of the translation than of the author's art and skill. In spite of that, I enjoyed the book very much and found the events described to be faithful to what we know of the events of "Nannerl's" life. The book should appeal to a wide variety of book clubs, especially those interested in music and/or women's issues.