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Reviews by Lynn R. (Dixon, IL)

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The Sound of Gravel: A Memoir
by Ruth Wariner
Fascinating but Infuriating (12/5/2015)
I have always been fascinated by the polygamist lifestyle and found this to be an interesting but infuriating. Why would a religious community let a pedophile continue to abuse children? How does a religious community condone plural marriages and the creation of large families that can't support themselves? How does a religious community justify lying to receive public assistance?
This is a well-written story of resilience. The author shows us a life that was filled with many challenges but not devoid of love and happiness at times.
Broken Promise: A Thriller
by Linwood Barclay
good summer read (6/23/2015)
Thank you for sending me the advance copy of Linwood Barclay's new book, Broken Promise. This will be a great, fast summer read on the beach or on a plane. It is suspenseful enough to keep turning the pages but the story line is fairly simple. I don't want to be a spoiler for those reading this review so I will just say that I figured it out about half way through but still enjoyed it to the last page. The characters are not highly developed or believable especially in the case of Sarita and Dr. Sturgess but it's still a good read.
When Women Were Birds: Fifty-four Variations on Voice
by Terry Tempest Williams
This book is... (3/6/2013)
This book is a memoir.
This books is poetic.
This book is a plea for open lands.
This book is about the power of words.
This book is about the mystery of the blank page.
This book is disjointed.
This book is connected.
This book is about living.
This book is about a life remembered.....
I am going to choose this book for my book discussion group because it is many things in one small volume.
All Woman and Springtime: A Novel
by Brandon W. Jones
Couldn't Put It Down (3/31/2012)
Through the pages of this book I was able to experience the hidden life of North Korea and the complexity of sex trafficking throughout the world. I found the story disturbing but the character development fascinating and I couldn't put it down.
The Kitchen Daughter: A Novel
by Jael McHenry
Review From a Foodie Librarian (4/12/2011)
I liked this book more for the subject than the quality of the writing. Expressing emotions through food and developing characters through recipes was very creative. The voice of the main character, Ginny, was inconsistent and sometimes not believable but she was an interesting character. This books reminds me of Jonathan Foer's quirky style.
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