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Reviews by Dorothy T.

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The Secrets of Mary Bowser
The Secrets of Mary Bowser
by Lois Leveen
Great historical fiction (4/29/2013)
This novel drew me in from the start, and kept my interest right through to the end. It deals with real people that I am sure most readers have never heard of; in fact, I was never really aware of the spy ring in the South that assisted the North and ultimately freed the …more
Thunderstruck
Thunderstruck
by Erik Larson
History made fascinating (4/22/2013)
Eric Larson has a great gift for taking historical facts--well documented--and, by focusing on individual persons, presents his readers with an engrossing tale. I recommend his books to anyone with even a little bit of interest in history.
Life After Life
Life After Life: A Novel
by Jill McCorkle
Not the masterpiece promised (4/16/2013)
The comments by the editor on the back of my copy promises that this novel is a masterpiece, but I cannot agree. While I liked some of the characters, and was touched by the short stories about some of the minor characters, I could not get past the overuse of profanity and …more
The Plum Tree
The Plum Tree
by Ellen Marie Wiseman
Another side of the story (1/27/2013)
Much has been told and written about the fate of the Jewish people and those who protected them in German territory during World War II. In this novel, the author shows us another side of the story, that is, how German families lived through the war years, how they coped …more
People of the Book
People of the Book
by Geraldine Brooks
Great historical novel (1/20/2013)
Geraldine Brooks has a great talent for combining mystery, family conflict, and religious persecution within a framework of historical truth that makes this novel really engrossing. The way she ties the seemingly insignificant clues together and to the people who are …more
The Aviator's Wife
The Aviator's Wife
by Melanie Benjamin
Good book for historical fiction readers (12/17/2012)
I began reading this novel with only a little prior knowledge about Anne Morrow Lindbergh, but Melanie Benjamin has whetted my appetite, and I am looking forward to reading more about this remarkable woman and reading some of her own writing.

Even though I knew beforehand …more
The Secret Keeper
The Secret Keeper
by Kate Morton
Kate Morton is a master story-teller (11/19/2012)
I eagerly awaited the arrival of Kate Morton's new book and was not disappointed. Not only did this one keep me reading until midnight, it kept me awake after I turned out the light, going over details of the developments; this was especially true last night when I finished …more
The House Girl
The House Girl
by Tara Conklin
The House Girl is an engrossing read (10/29/2012)
I have always thought that the words “page-turner” is a very descriptive term for a novel that keeps me engrossed in the story and sympathetic to the characters. "The House Girl" is all of that, and I stayed up a couple of nights until the late hours because I just had to …more
The Uncommon Reader
The Uncommon Reader: A Novella
by Alan Bennett
Uncommon little novel (10/15/2012)
This is a jolly little fairy tale (I had to keep reminding myself of that distinction) full of British humour and witty satire. I could identify with Her Majesty's obsession: When reading a good book, I frequently have put off housework and even showering and dressing until …more
The Marriage Plot
The Marriage Plot: A Novel
by Jeffrey Eugenides
Disappointing (10/2/2012)
This novel is not what I was expecting. A review on the back cover states that this is "a grand romance in the Austen tradition." I didn't find that to be true, but I certainly found elements (like vulgar language and explicit sex) that Jane Austen mercifully never included …more
The End of Your Life Book Club
The End of Your Life Book Club
by Will Schwalbe
More than a book about books (9/20/2012)
“How could anyone who loves books not love a book that is itself so in love with books?” (page 125).

I was intrigued by the title of this book and expected that it would deal with reading and books, and since I love books and reading myself, it seemed to be just the thing …more
The Pigeon Pie Mystery
The Pigeon Pie Mystery: A Novel
by Julia Stuart
A very fun read (8/15/2012)
Just as she did in her previous novel, "The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise," Julia Stuart has taken a cast of interesting characters--all with intriguing secrets or stories about their pasts--and has set them into a famous British landmark, this time Hampton Court Palace. …more
The Devil in the White City
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
by Erik Larson
History as engaging as good fiction (8/6/2012)
The subtitle gives an excellent summary of this book, but reading it takes you on a journey you won't soon forget. As in all good books, I learned a lot of things I didn't know before, like the invention of one of the carnival attractions we all take for granted, the …more
The Roots of the Olive Tree
The Roots of the Olive Tree: A Novel
by Courtney Miller Santo
The symbol of the olive tree (7/13/2012)
The roots of the olive tree is not the symbol of this family, but rather the grafting of new species of olives onto established trees. I found this book a disappointment on several levels. I had difficulty becoming engaged in the lives and personalities of the characters, …more
A Hundred Flowers
A Hundred Flowers: A Novel
by Gail Tsukiyama
Under the Kapok Tree (6/20/2012)
Gail Tsukiyama has once again given readers a beautifully written novel that, unlike her other works that take place in Japan, is set in China during 1958, when the effects of Mao’s Communist regime is being felt among the people.

The story is driven by the characters of …more
Turn of Mind
Turn of Mind
by Alice LaPlante
Engrossing novel (5/29/2012)
This is a combination of murder mystery and a psychological examination of declining memory due to the ravages of Alzheimer's and its effects on the patient and those around her. The novel is written in an innovative style, partly based on the central character's journal, …more
An Unmarked Grave
An Unmarked Grave: A Bess Crawford Mystery
by Charles Todd
Historical mystery set in WWI (5/1/2012)
Historical mysteries is not a new genre, but this is the first I have read that is set in France and England during World War I. This is the fourth book in the Bess Crawford Mysteries, and the central character is strong and likeable enough to carry the series, although I …more
A Good American
A Good American: A Novel
by Alex George
Terrific story (4/21/2012)
There is not a dull moment in this book. The storyline about multiple generations of a German/American family is engrossing, and there are plenty of humorous situations. Alex George has plenty to say and he says it well. I could just hear that four-part barbershop quartet harmony!
Cloudland
Cloudland: A Crime Novel
by Joseph Olshan
More than an ordinary crime novel (4/10/2012)
I liked this book for a number of reasons: It is a mystery that let me think I had the answers to who and why--but, then again, maybe not; it sparked my interest to read more by Wilkie Collins (I love it when one author turns me on to other writers!); the characters are …more
The Commoner
The Commoner: A Novel
by John Burnham Schwartz
Uncommon novel (3/16/2012)
This author's writing style is gorgeous, although I admit I had to re-read a few passages to be sure I understood them. The setting--the Japanese Imperial court and its traditions and rituals--give the novel an exotic ambiance, but also drives the story. How can this …more

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