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Reviews by Judith G. (Ewa Beach, HI)

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Sea Prayer
Sea Prayer
by Khaled Hosseini
Poignant and short (10/17/2018)
Beautifully illustrated. Should be read by everyone. A father’s love poem to his son.
The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls
The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls
by Anissa Gray
Sad and riveting. (10/1/2018)
With so many female names I sometimes had to remind myself who was the ‘speaker’ in each chapter. This is a story of love, siblings, a dysfunctional family. In the end Nai Nai grabbed my heart. I wish I could meet her. Thorougly enjoyed reading this novel with the twists abd urns throughout. Readable in one day.
Listen to the Marriage
Listen to the Marriage
by John Jay Osborn
Not for those in counseling (5/30/2018)
If you've been in marriage/couples counseling this book will resonate with you. Makes clear that non-communication is deadly. I didn't understand the therapist's thoughts intruding into the story. That said....it was a very quick read. I stayed to the end to see if the issues were ever resolved.
A Place for Us
A Place for Us
by Fatima Farheen Mirza
Families and decisions (3/10/2018)
This story flips back and forth in time. This is a style of narrative I don't like. That said the continuing story line through three generations of a Muslim family living in the USA kept my interest throughout. Part 4 was my least favorite part of the story. Reminiscences that seemed unnecessary to me. It's 383 pages of years in the life of a sometimes dysfunctional family who love one another through the painful moments.
The Milk Lady of Bangalore
The Milk Lady of Bangalore: An Unexpected Adventure
by Shoba Narayan
History with a smile (12/19/2017)
Interesting combination of historical information re: cows in India, interspersed with laugh-out-loud moments. You will fall in love with an enormous variety of cows, the Milk Lady herself, and the author. I want to order it for friends when it is published in January. Truly a GOOD READ.
Next Year in Havana
Next Year in Havana
by Chanel Cleeton
Next Year in Havana in Broke My Heart (10/1/2017)
A compelling story of what life is like in Cuba as opposed to what most of us think life is like in Havana. I was in Cuba in 2000 and found laughter and music everywhere. I didn't see the undertones of poverty and government control. I cried through many pages of this amazing story. War/violence/enduring love. I could not put it down.
Love and Other Consolation Prizes
Love and Other Consolation Prizes
by Jamie Ford
Second as good as the first (10/1/2017)
I loved "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" so I was anxious to read Ford's second novel. I was not disappointed. His characters draw me in. I am sharing their pains and their loves. Great read.
Young Jane Young
Young Jane Young
by Gabrielle Zevin
A Page Turner (7/14/2017)
This book kept me entertained and amused. Twists and turns (no spoilers here) that might be expected. Chapter III ... Ruby...had me smiling at each new page. The jargon of the characters was spot on. I read this the day it arrived because I didn't want to put it down. It was plain fun to read.
Edgar and Lucy
Edgar and Lucy
by Victor Lodato
Fantasy? Sci-fi? What is it? (11/12/2016)
At 250 pages I gave up trying to connect and/or care about any of the characters. Skipped to about page 400 to see if the book made any more sense. Not to me. "Dark and Strange" (Tom Perrotta) indeed!
Hunters in the Dark
Hunters in the Dark
by Lawrence Osborne
Pedantic (11/1/2015)
I wanted to like this book but I found it difficult to get into. When I become interested in the characters up popped sentences such as: "Through this paradoxical dark brightness the people moved with a vivid lethargy and calm." Then I came upon 'disburdened, desultorily, sussaration", etc. I finished the book because I cared about Robert (though I'm not sure why) and I'll be traveling soon so wanted my review online before I left. I didn't think this was an 'evocative new work of literary suspense.' I thought it was boring and a waste of my time.
The Art of Baking Blind
The Art of Baking Blind
by Sarah Vaughan
Fun and poignant (2/23/2015)
on page 48: "...I just read recipe books; food porn, ..." This book itself is food porn for anyone who watches food contests on TV or takes cookbooks to bed to read (like me.) I finished the book in one sitting. Loved the food descriptions. Then came the characters themselves with myriad problems....all to be solved by baking? Great read!
Enduring Courage
Enduring Courage: Ace Pilot Eddie Rickenbacker and the Dawn of the Age of Speed
by John F. Ross
History in the air (4/5/2014)
Perfect for auto and air aficionados. Bits of history revealed. Tales of daring on the ground and in the air. Filled with mechanical details that may make it difficult reading for the non-mechanically minded. Overall an entertaining and enlightening read. My husband, formerly a race car mechanic and pilot ad well as my son, also a pilot, will both find this under the Christmas tree.
In Praise of Hatred
In Praise of Hatred
by Khaled Khalifa
Poor for me but maybe good for others (2/21/2014)
Even using the extensive list of main characters I found it difficult to follow the character lines. I would read a couple of pages and then find myself in 'another place' and would have to retrace to where I had begun reading. Perhaps I should give up on translated novels. I didn't enjoy this one.
Lost Luggage
Lost Luggage
by Jordi Punti
Flashback city (8/24/2013)
I gave up on page 364 of 473. The continuing change of eras/narrators/names and the accompanying details is not the kind of novel I enjoy. By page 364 I had tried really hard to finish the book. I don't look at the last pages of books to see how they end. That said after I finish this review I will do just that because I have to know what happened....but I will not read another 100 pages of the same 'to and froing'.....
To the Moon and Timbuktu
To the Moon and Timbuktu: A Trek through the Heart of Africa
by Nina Sovich
Naive woman or careless? (6/6/2013)
I did enjoy this book because I like to read about travel and women traveling. I found her reasons for traveling valid but, perhaps, selfish. Timbuktu has been a talisman for many and continues to intrigue those who are curious and avid travelers. Good book. Not great because I found the author (non-fiction) ingenuous in many instances.
The Lion in the Lei Shop
The Lion in the Lei Shop
by Kaye Starbird
Living throug a war (5/19/2013)
I asked for this because I live in Hawai'i and have a daily reminder of THE WAR....driving by Pearl Harbor. As a young girl (much like Marty) on December 7 I felt no immediate impact and that's because I lived in California then. While reading this book I felt a close connection with the characters while enjoying the description of spots on this island. The Waianae coast must have been beautiful in the 40s. Anyone interested in the history of 'a day of infamy' from a different perspective should enjoy this book.
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