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Reviews by Mary Ellen B. (Hebron, CT)

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The Lion in the Lei Shop
The Lion in the Lei Shop
by Kaye Starbird
Sad But True (5/16/2013)
As those who bore witness to Pearl Harbor die off, a book like this becomes even more important. It has fortuitously been reissued so that the memories of this time will not be lost. Beautifully written, it elucidates the tragic effects of the attack on a mother and her …more
A Thousand Pardons
A Thousand Pardons
by Jonathan Dee
Modern Angst (10/19/2012)
The book starts off as a meltdown of a suburban family when Ben, an attorney decides that he needs more excitement in his life. His bad judgement creates a mess resulting in divorce, estrangement with his young daughter, and legal trouble. His wife on the other hand, …more
The Roots of the Olive Tree
The Roots of the Olive Tree: A Novel
by Courtney Miller Santo
The Roots of the Olive Tree (6/29/2012)
This five generation story of women who have a family business growing grapes in California uncovers the source of their longevity. A geneticist becomes interested in how they live so long just as major changes occur in their lives. A heartfelt story of what it takes to …more
Afterwards
Afterwards: A Novel
by Rosamund Lupton
Out of Body Experience (4/26/2012)
Shocking and suspenseful, this book is about the tangled relationships of parents, children and staff at a private school in England. When an arson fire badly injures a teaching assistant and her mother, it is the unconscious victims who reveal the trail to uncover who is …more
The Red Book
The Red Book: A Novel
by Deborah Copaken Kogan
College Reunion Uncovered (2/8/2012)
Four former roommates reveal the back story of their undergraduate years at Harvard during their 20th reunion weekend. Despite advantages in life, their reality is a messy unraveling of betrayal, paths not taken and the myth of having it all, while trying to live authentic, …more
Loose Diamonds
Loose Diamonds: ...and other things I've lost (and found) along the way
by Amy Ephron
Upscale Amusement (7/26/2011)
This thin book has some witty moments as the author reminisces about her privileged childhood, marriages, and life in LA. There is some name and luxury brand label dropping that can be a bit tiresome. Fun, if you crave a diversion that turns trivial adversity into drama.
My Jane Austen Summer
My Jane Austen Summer: A Season in Mansfield Park
by Cindy Jones
Living Jane Austen (1/28/2011)
The idea is clever--Lily is a Jane Austen aficionado whose own life seems to be falling apart. Caught in a cycle of repeating the same mistakes, she decides to do something different. An opportunity arises and she takes off for London to be a part of a theater festival …more
The Language of Secrets
The Language of Secrets
by Dianne Dixon
Language of Secrets--A Terrific Read (2/4/2010)
This is a novel that builds gradually as the layers peel away. On the surface, it starts when a man tries to connect with his parents who he has not seen since he left home. This journey results in a shocking series of revelations. The mysteries move the story along as the …more
Sweeping Up Glass
Sweeping Up Glass
by Carolyn Wall
Sweeping Up Glass (8/10/2009)
This is a powerful story of a woman caught between history and her own difficult family relationships. Olivia Harker Cross is raised on a mountain in Kentucky, an existence that challenges her resourcefulness. A bittersweet first love, coupled with the dysfunction of her …more
A Pearl in the Storm
A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in the Middle of the Ocean
by Tori Murden McClure
A Pearl in the Storm - Lessons in Life (4/20/2009)
The author's memoir of her trip in a rowboat across the Atlantic is a vivid stream-of-conscious that gives insight into her mental and physical state. At the same time, she reveals what in her life brought her to this point. People who enjoy adventure stories will get a …more
Time of My Life
Time of My Life: A Novel
by Allison Winn Scotch
TIme of My Life Smart Chick Lit (7/31/2008)
I enjoyed this fanciful flight backwards into a young suburbanite's life to the land of "what ifs?" This story playfully explores what happens when an intelligent, career woman marries and leaves her urban life to pursue motherhood. Jill thought she had the perfect husband, …more
The Fisher Boy
The Fisher Boy
by Stephen H. Anable
Provincetown Sets the Stage (2/26/2008)
The Fisher Boy is a colorful book bringing together cultural clashes, mayhem, and a murder. The main character, Mark, is trying to launch a club act with a group of friends. The book gives a real feel for the summer community in Provincetown, and the push and pull of gay …more
Soldier's Heart
Soldier's Heart: Reading Literature Through Peace and War at West Point
by Elizabeth D. Samet
The Power of Literature (1/27/2008)
Since I have not had much exposure to military culture, this book gave me a new perspective on the impact of literature by illustrating how this field has had a longstanding tradition in the West Point curriculum. The author is a civilian instructor with impressive …more
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    Dream Count
    by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
    A searing new novel from the bestselling author of Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists, exploring four women's desires.
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