BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Reviews by Darlene C. (Woodstock, IL)

In Praise of Hatred
by Khaled Khalifa

The Power of Oppression (3/19/2014)

A powerful, stark story of the power of oppression to create and sustain hatred. Against the backdrop of one of Syria's many uprisings, the narrator ( a young teen age girl) struggles with her identity and loyalties. As the country's struggles intensify, the narrator's …more

Flat Water Tuesday
by Ron Irwin

Great story, disappointing ending (5/22/2013)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book but found the ending disappointing. The author did a great job of developing the characters of the rowing team. The descriptive quality of the rowing itself was superb. The story was interesting. Unfortunately, the ending left me thinking, " …more

Sentinel: A Spycatcher Novel
by Matthew Dunn

A tired premise (7/2/2012)

Spy books about the cold war with Russia seem dated and out of sync to me. I enjoy spy books and this one was well written if that is your bag. It is fast-paced and gives a view of the unglamorous side of being an undercover agent. f you don't mind the old Russia vs. US …more

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
by Katherine Boo

Remember - narrative non-fiction - Not a novel! (1/26/2012)

This is an extremely well written book although one that is difficult to read due to the painful subject matter. If readers are not familiar with "narrative non-fiction" I would suggest reading the "Author's Note" first. This should probably be at the beginning of the book …more

Tides of War: A Novel
by Stella Tillyard

A Great Disappointment (11/21/2011)

I did my best but gave up on this book half way through. I kept trying because historical fiction is my favorite genre. I found the four main characters, two couples, difficult to keep straight and did not really care what happened to any of them. Somehow the character …more

The Orphan Master's Son: A Novel
by Adam Johnson

A Tale of Souls (11/2/2011)

An amazing novel. The tone of this book mirrors the society it describes. I found it difficult to read except in short doses because it reflects the oppressiveness of North Korea so accurately. It is a dark story of hopelessness and survival - not one to read if you are …more

Next to Love
by Ellen Feldman

A Provocative Read (7/23/2011)

This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. The author took care to develop the characters so they were 3 dimensional and believable. Told in a style similar to The Help, Ellen Feldman tells the story of 3 women …more

The Daughter of Siena: A Novel
by Marina Fiorato

A little of each, master of none (5/12/2011)

I was very excited to receive this book. Was hoping it would be of same quality as "The Other Boylen Girl". Although I was somewhat disappointed it was still a very good read. It seems the author could not decide if she was writing a historical novel or a romance novel. The …more

My Jane Austen Summer: A Season in Mansfield Park
by Cindy Jones

"My Cindy Jones" (2/11/2011)

Although I was somewhat worried I would be lost in this book as I have not read Mansfield Park, I was delighted to find that it didn’t matter. The synopsis of Mansfield Park at the beginning told me what I needed to know – I’m sure those who have read that book will find …more

Agent X: A Novel
by Noah Boyd

Nothing New Here (1/5/2011)

Another cold war, Russia vs. U.S., novel with a mole high up in one of the U.S. spy agencies. Although this has been done many times, I was hoping for a a fresh perspective. Unfortunately, I found this book to be tiresome and, frankly, boring much of the time. The plot was …more

The Tenth Song
by Naomi Ragen

A simplistic journey (10/15/2010)

This book about an American Jewish family's reaction to a major family crisis begins strongly. The premise provides a base for the two main characters, mother and daughter, to explore and struggle with their view of themselves, each other, their religion and the world in …more

The Ghost of Milagro Creek
by Melanie Sumner

The Ghost of Milagro Creek (7/5/2010)

I was disappointed in this book. I thought perhaps it would have the same flavor as House of Spirits (Isabel Allende) or The Milagro Bean Field Wars. I found the book very confusing and hard to follow. The chapters not only flipped back and forth between time periods but …more

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Book Jacket — Lessons in Chemistry
by Bonnie Garmus

Praised by *Parade* and *The New York Times Book Review*, this debut features a 1960s scientist turned TV cooking star.

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