Reviews by Shirley D. (Amherst, MA)

Order Reviews by:
Backyard
Backyard
by Norman Draper
BACKYARD by Norman Draper (11/6/2014)
Flower Gardeners, this book is for you! Those of you who have not only nodding acquaintance but probably speaking acquaintance as well with all the individual flower "characters" present in these pages will be delighted. There is a plot revolving around a gardening contest …more
Accidents of Marriage
Accidents of Marriage
by Randy Susan Meyers
ACCIDENTS OF MARRIAGE (6/25/2014)
Ben, Maddy and their children, their own parents, in-laws and siblings are like the family next door, folks I have known for years. Although I knew the love shared, I was apprehensive of underlying weaknesses and then was a witness to the shattering of that family and …more
The Fortune Hunter
The Fortune Hunter
by Daisy Goodwin
THE FORTUNE HUNTER by Daisy Goodwin (4/6/2014)
Daisy Goodwin serves up a slice of history presented by characters so alive they can neither be overlooked nor forgotten. The mind-set of the 19th century, its customs and levels of society, the clothing, food, manner of speech, vocabulary are so skillfully combined, the 21 …more
In Praise of Hatred
In Praise of Hatred
by Khaled Khalifa
IN PRAISE OF HATRED (3/4/2014)
The best way for me to be informed is to read fiction based on real lives, real events. This is what I gained from In Praise of Hatred. I felt no connection to the characters portrayed but the novel clarified the violence in the Middle East, let me see the hatred of the …more
Amy Falls Down
Amy Falls Down
by Jincy Willett
AMY FALLS DOWN (7/9/2013)
I wish Amy lived nearby! and regret she is fictional. We could have great times. I had to keep turning pages as quickly as I could - I really wanted to know what she did next. The writing was exceptional and the humor dry and delightful. A reader would do well to have a …more
The Caretaker
The Caretaker
by A .X. Ahmad
THE CARETAKER (4/14/2013)
Ahmad's The Caretaker, is a page-turner. The main character is well-portrayed but others are much less memorable. The action moves the plot right along – Not a novel long remembered but it can keep the reader guessing and reading for the next action - the next, then the …more
Close My Eyes
Close My Eyes
by Sophie McKenzie
CLOSE MY EYES (4/14/2013)
Close My Eyes kept me from all activity other than turning pages because I was totally absorbed in the action of the plot and its twists and turns. In the end, just as I was drawing a relaxed breath, I was "blown away". No fair checking the end first – you need to …more
Rage Against the Dying
Rage Against the Dying
by Becky Masterman
Rage Against the Dying (12/22/2012)
The novel is very well crafted and is graced with some ideas that encourage deeper thought. However, it is not by any means a "thriller" and the characters never become real. They are cardboard cutouts caused partially perhaps by the use of a nickname for each. With the use …more
Indiscretion
Indiscretion
by Charles Dubow
A Tug at the Heart. (11/11/2012)
Ever been at a gathering where you knew no one nor were familiar with their privileged lifestyles?
But you decided to stick it out for a time anyway. This is how the beginning of INDISCRETION felt – not easy to get started. Yet as in life we usually (and if you continued …more
Sentinel
Sentinel: A Spycatcher Novel
by Matthew Dunn
Sentinel (6/3/2012)
In this spy catcher novel, Matthew Dunn demonstrates that he is very knowledgeable about all things military, undercover missions and the dangers that accompany them He so portrays with careful precision the place and the dangers that Will and others are in, that the reader …more
The Innocents
The Innocents: A Novel
by Francesca Segal
The Innocents (5/16/2012)
The Innocents shows meticulous research, and good grammar (always a sticking point for me). The second element I look for – strong vocabulary and interesting characters. While I thought The Innocents beautifully written, for me at least one character has to be one I can “ …more
Losing Clementine
Losing Clementine: A Novel
by Ashley Ream
LOSING CLEMENTINE (2/14/2012)
I loved Clementine from the very first page. I had been a little apprehensive knowing that this charming girl was sick enough to commit suicide. Initially I did think it was her illness that was prompting her to wrap up the loose ends of her life. While she made me laugh as …more
  • Page
  • 1

BookBrowse Book Club

  • Book Jacket
    The Jackal's Mistress
    by Chris Bohjalian
    From the New York Times bestselling author of Hour of the Witch, a Civil War love story of a Confederate wife and a wounded Yankee.
1
2
3
4
PrevNext

Members Recommend

  • Book Jacket

    The Antidote
    by Karen Russell

    A gripping dust bowl epic about five characters whose fates become entangled after a storm ravages their small Nebraskan town.

    Read the Reviews
  • Book Jacket

    Jane and Dan at the End of the World
    by Colleen Oakley

    Date Night meets Bel Canto in this hilarious tale.

    Read the Reviews
  • Book Jacket

    Girl Falling
    by Hayley Scrivenor

    The USA Today bestselling author of Dirt Creek returns with a story of grief and truth.

    Read the Reviews
1
2
3
PrevNext
Who Said...

We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don't like?

Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes!

Wordplay

Solve this clue:

T B S of T F

and be entered to win..

Your guide toexceptional          books

BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.