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Reviews by Diane S.

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The Underside of Joy
The Underside of Joy: A Novel
by Sere Prince Halverson
The Underside of Joy (1/31/2012)
This book is just so real, at least for the most part. It is wonderfully written, alternately heart warming and heartbreaking. Tackles the timely subject of stepmothers and blended families, and how to be fair to all involved. Deals with grief, the secrets in a relationship …more
The World We Found
The World We Found: A Novel
by Thrity Umrigar
The World We Found (1/27/2012)
What a terrifically engaging read. Covers so many different aspects of life, like friendship, political activism, how and why people change, how they lie to themselves to stay with something that is not working. This book could have easily been maudlin and sad, concerning a …more
The Healing
The Healing: A Novel
by Jonathan Odell
The Healing by Jonathan Odell (1/20/2012)
What an amazing and magical read. I absolutely loved it and so did not want it to end. It is the eve of the Civil War, on a large plantation in Mississippi and the master pays a unprecedented sum of money for a woman slave said to be a healer. Things are not going well on …more
The Whisperer
The Whisperer
by Donato Carrisi
The Whisperer by Donato Carrisi (1/11/2012)
Creepy, dark, at times I felt the evil literally waft off the pages. Different characters, major twists, I honestly never saw them coming. Don't know where this novel takes place, but it doesn't seem to matter as if the author is telling the reader that the place doesn't …more
The Odds
The Odds: A Love Story
by Stewart O'Nan
The Odds by Stewart O'Nan (1/6/2012)
O'Nan has a singular knack of making the commonplace and mundane of vast interest and importance. Loved the odds statistics he gave at the start of each chapter. The hidden meanings he derives from everyday events, especially those that occur within a long marriage where …more
The Lost Saints of Tennessee
The Lost Saints of Tennessee: A Novel
by Amy Franklin-Willis
The Lost Saints of Tennessee (12/27/2011)
This was an extremely bittersweet but memorable book. I became emotionally involved with this family, felt like I lived in this small town in Tennessee, suffered with them through their sorrows, and cheered for them when things went well. Felt so bad for Zeke, Carter and …more
Island of Wings
Island of Wings: A Novel
by Karin Altenberg
Island of Wings by Karin Altenberg (12/22/2011)
I had to give this book the highest rating because it is not very often one finds a writer who can paint pictures and emotions with words. In taking the real life minister Neal and his wife Lizzie and creating a fictionalized account of their lives on St. Kilda in the 1830' …more
The Invisible Ones
The Invisible Ones: A Novel
by Stef Penney
The Invisible Ones by Stef Penney (12/18/2011)
This isn't a book that can be rushed through, but a book to slowly savor. Told in alternate chapters by two different narrators, one is a gypsy private detective hired to look for a missing person and the other is a thirteen year old boy who lives with the traveling gypsy …more
Down the Darkest Road
Down the Darkest Road: Oak Knoll Series
by Tami Hoag
Down the Darkest Road by Tami Hoag (12/16/2011)
What would you do if your daughter had been missing for three years, the police think they know who did it but have no proof. The man is harassing you and the police don't believe you and soon they find you intrusive and hysterical? In her third Oak Knoll thriller, Hoag …more
The Bungalow
The Bungalow: A Novel
by Sarah Jio
The Bungalow bu Sarah Jio (12/14/2011)
This is a nostalgic read with a lush tropical setting. In 1942 woman were merely expected to marry well, the war is a prominent factor in most lives and friendships mean everything. There is some suspense but most of the book focuses on the changes war, love and secrets …more
Until Thy Wrath Be Past
Until Thy Wrath Be Past
by Asa Larsson
Until thy wrath be passed by Asa Larrson (12/12/2011)
More sentimental than most Nordic mysteries, yet I liked it. The characters were very different, the storyline with some history thrown in was great, Well written and definitely held my attention until the very end. The partial narration by the female murder victim was hard …more
A Monster Calls
A Monster Calls: Inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd
by Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (12/4/2011)
What an absolutely incredible and heartfelt book. Connor and his monster are unforgettable. Highly recommend. Although this is classified as YA, all ages will find this book and Connor endearing.
Accidents of Providence
Accidents of Providence
by Stacia Brown
Accidents of Providence by Stacia Brown (12/1/2011)
It is the middle of the 1600's, and in Cromwell's Puritan England a law has been passed to prevent the Destroying and murdering of the children of unmarried woman. I have long been fascinated with the Puritans, their strange relationship with God, where everything …more
A Burial at Sea
A Burial at Sea: A Charles Lenox Mystery
by Charles Finch
A burial at Sea by Charles Finch (11/30/2011)
Once again Charles Lennox finds himself solving a murder, or rather two murders. This time on the ship Lucy, en-route to Egypt. Love these atmospheric understated mysteries and in this one we learn quite a bit about the lives of sailors, the dangers and the camaraderie as …more
Dead Man's Grip
Dead Man's Grip: A Detective Superintendent Roy Grace Novel
by Peter James
Dead Man's Grip by Peter James (11/17/2011)
Received this as a first read giveaway. I have read all the Roy Grace books and this one kept to the high standard set by his previous books. An accident involving a car, a truck and a white van that drives away after hitting a killing a cyclist sets in motion a chain of …more
Tides of War
Tides of War: A Novel
by Stella Tillyard
Tides of War by Stella Tillyard (11/4/2011)
I did the enjoy the historical portion of this novel having little knowledge on the Peninsular War and the war scenes are very powerful. Her depiction of the cruel Wellington was enlightening and I applaud the author for portraying the lives of the women left behind while …more
The Marriage Plot
The Marriage Plot: A Novel
by Jeffrey Eugenides
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides (10/24/2011)
Didn't like this nearly as much as I thought I would. There was quite a lot of talking about literature and theory as well as criticism so one would think I would devour it. This was so not the case, it was rather dry and the characters were not very likable and did an …more
The Dovekeepers
The Dovekeepers: A Novel
by Alice Hoffman
The DoveKeepers by Alice Hoffman (10/19/2011)
What an amazingly powerful novel about the fall of Jerusalem and Masada. This took Hoffman five years to write and it is said to be her masterpiece, which for me it was. Four women of uncommon strength of will, magic , love and their quest for survival. Her writing is …more
A Trick of the Light
A Trick of the Light: Armand Gamache Series #7
by Louise Penny
A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny (9/22/2011)
Three Pines is a village in Canada that can not be found n any map, yet reading her mysteries is like coming home and revisiting friends you have not seen for a while. Penny mixes regular people and their human failings with humor, love and insight. Her story lines explore …more
The Submission
The Submission: A Novel
by Amy Waldman
The Submission by Amy Waldman (9/12/2011)
I recently saw the movie The Help and just finished reading The Dry Grass of August and was feeling very relieved that the 50's and the KKK were over. Than I read this book and realized that fear and hatred is never over. It just changes focus. A jury is picked to vote on …more

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