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Reviews by Catherine H. (Nashua, NH)

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The Latinist
The Latinist: A Novel
by Mark Prins
Wake me up when the book is over (11/11/2021)
I tried and tried but just couldn't go on reading over 100 pages. Academia nerds should not be allowed to "write" pseudo "academia thrillers" books. Please stick to teaching and spare us poor mortals.
The Last Chance Library
The Last Chance Library
by Freya Sampson
A world made of books and hearts... a library (7/21/2021)
I admit I finished the book few days ago, yet I don't want to let go of the Chalcot library, June, Mrs. B., Marjorie, Stanley and Alex, Vera & Leila and all the characters of "The Last Chance Library" and their fight to keep their library open, they all come to realize …more
The Big Finish
The Big Finish
by Brooke Fossey
The Big flop (10/22/2019)
Reading that some people compared "The big finish" to "The Story of Arthur Truluv" by Elizabeth Berg or "A man called Ove" by Frederik Backman is down right blasphemy and an insult to two exceptional writers.
"The Big Finish" is bad and cheap dialogues from page 1 up to the …more
The Kennedy Debutante
The Kennedy Debutante
by Kerri Maher
The importance of being Kick Kennedy (6/14/2018)
The author did her homework on the Kennedy family, pre- and WWII London.
Although Kick K. life was short, it was certainly a very privileged and superficial life: I sincerely doubt that the majority of people living in London during WWII, spent their days going from parties …more
The Book of Summer
The Book of Summer
by Michelle Gable
Poor rich people. (3/2/2017)
If you like to cry over poor rich people losing their million dollars house to erosion, cry over rich egocentric women from the past living in the same house, this book is for you. The only good side is I did not waste my money on that book.
Edgar and Lucy
Edgar and Lucy
by Victor Lodato
Waste of my reading time or "What a boring, hard to believe, hard to read, hard to connect book" (11/16/2016)
I did one thing I rarely do when I read a book, as a matter of fact, I only did that about three times: about half way through, I skipped to the final four pages.
I just could not connect to the story or the characters.
It's not a coming of age book, it's not a fantasy book, …more
The Book That Matters Most
The Book That Matters Most: A Novel
by Ann Hood
Excellent (6/23/2016)
I was not sure I was going to like this book: I was so very wrong! This book is about books and reading but this book is also about so many other important matters: drugs, grief, forgiveness to name a few. Ann Hood is now on my "favorite authors" list.
The Alaskan Laundry
The Alaskan Laundry
by Brendan Jones
A promising author (2/5/2016)
Although this book has its imperfections such as chapter construction and some characters not developed enough, I loved Tara's story moving from Philly to Alaska.
The landscape's description is well done. The author introduces us to a bunch of rowdy and unforgettable people. …more
The Opposite of Everyone
The Opposite of Everyone
by Joshilyn Jackson
Sorry but not for me this time... (12/1/2015)
As I was reading this book, I wondered if this was the same author who wrote such a poetic story as "The girl who stopped swimming" or sad and tender "Grown up kind of pretty"?

"The opposite of everyone" is the story Paula and her mother "Kai" and of a troubled childhood …more
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
by Fredrik Backman
If you enjoyed "A man called Ove", you will love "My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry" (6/11/2015)
You will laugh and cry, you will be amazed too. You will fall under Elsa's spell.
Just loved that book!
The Well
The Well
by Catherine Chanter
Deceiving book.... (2/27/2015)
I really thought I would love book: the near future, a dried up land, only but one isolated farm with a mysterious well surrounded by green fields... Only I could not like the style and the slow pace of most of the book. All in all, a deceiving book....
A Fireproof Home for the Bride
A Fireproof Home for the Bride
by Amy Scheibe
No, it's not "Love Story", nor "Romeo & Juliet" (12/5/2014)
Don't let the book's title mislead you, this book is not a love story to the traditional sense.
This book is about Emmy and her sister Birdie raised by a very strict Lutheran family in 1958 Minnesota. Emmy's path crosses with a Catholic boy and this is a beginning of a chain …more
Backyard
Backyard
by Norman Draper
Rather be gardening (10/12/2014)
A small Midwest town, a bunch of addicted gardeners and a garden contest: all the required ingredients for a good and funny story, maybe not. The story is lacking fluidity with situations repeating themselves. However, I found myself laughing so hard at some scenes, the " …more
Juliet's Nurse
Juliet's Nurse
by Lois Leveen
Angelica of Verona, Juliet's nurse with a twist. (7/15/2014)
I did enjoy this book more for the detailed description of life in Verona in the 1300s than for the "Romeo & Juliet" part of the story. I love Angelica's down to earth narration and bold observations of the church and nobility. As for the twist, I will let readers …more
Small Blessings
Small Blessings
by Martha Woodroof
And they lived happily ever after. (5/6/2014)
Don't get me wrong, this is not a bad book but rather what I would call a "beach book". As much as I loved The Storied Life of AJ Fikry, I will not remember Small Blessings like an unforgettable book, but just glad I am done with it.
The Venetian Bargain
The Venetian Bargain
by Marina Fiorato
The Venetian Bargain (12/17/2013)
An interesting book; although not my favorite, still very rich in details on Venice and the black plague. The author definitively did her homework.
Bellman & Black
Bellman & Black
by Diane Setterfield
Where dit the ghost go? (9/9/2013)
If you are looking for a ghost story, please skip this book as the ghost could be named "L'Arlesienne" rather than Black. But if you are looking for a book on the industrial revolution in 18th century England, this book is for you.
The story made me think of Zola's Ladies' …more
Golden Boy
Golden Boy
by Abigail Tarttelin
What would you do? (1/4/2013)
This is the story of Max, born hermaphrodite or intersex, boy and girl. The story is told by Max, his mother, father, little brother, girlfriend and doctor: the struggles they each face in their own way and how they deal with them.
Most importantly, this is the story of an …more
The House Girl
The House Girl
by Tara Conklin
I really wanted to like this book.... (11/19/2012)
This is a good average book with the parallel stories of Josephine Bell, a slave in 1852 Virginia and Lina Sparrow, an attorney working on a slavery class action case in 2004 New York. I could not connect with Lina's story, sometimes borderline Harlequin romance type of …more
The White Forest
The White Forest: A Novel
by Adam McOmber
Writer with potential, can do better. (8/5/2012)
First, please remember this is a first book and give it a chance, I know I did and I was glad I finished the book. The story is of Jane and her "affliction", her only friends Madeline and Nathan in Victorian London "suburbs". After a slow and kind of painful beginning, I …more
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    The Devil Finds Work
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