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Reviews by Emily G. (Clear Lake, MN)

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The Hollow Ground: A Novel
by Natalie S. Harnett

Compelling narrator (4/20/2014)

I was intrigued by the setting of this novel--a city on top of a coal mine fire--but from the first few lines of The Hollow Ground, I was captivated by the young narrator's voice. She's a clever girl who is learning about the troubles in her family while trying to discover …more

Peking to Paris: Life and Love on a Short Drive Around Half the World
by Dina Bennett

Lively rally of a read (4/10/2013)

Peking to Paris is a lively romp across many countries as the author and her husband participate in a car race. Bennett is an engaging narrator, writing like the reader is a close girlfriend.

I felt like I was racing across the continent with the team, which is exactly what …more

In the Shadow of the Banyan: A Novel
by Vaddey Ratner

Stunning! (4/10/2013)

The best book I read in 2012!

This is one of those rare books that is so real, the characters so alive and personal, that I want to stop reading because it is so painful. It is one of those books so beautifully written, so exquisitely wrought that I can't possibly stop …more

The House Girl
by Tara Conklin

Skillful handling of complex stories (12/16/2012)

It took me a while to get drawn into this book. I was skeptical about the slavery reparations lawsuit that serves as a catalyst for Lina Sparrow's search and I feared another slave narrative.

However, about half way through the book, I realized I was in masterful hands. …more

The Innocents: A Novel
by Francesca Segal

An excellent revisioning of a timeless classic (5/11/2012)

I’ve been eager to read this book since I first heard about it and so was thrilled to receive a pre-publication copy from BookBrowse. Edith Wharton is one of my favorite writers. So, with a little fear about a rewriting and a lot of excitement, I dove into The Innocents.

…more

The House of Velvet and Glass: A Novel
by Katherine Howe

Visit 1915 (4/3/2012)

Howe does a good job of creating the atmosphere of 1915 and exploring issues that remain relevant today--wealth vs poverty, war, tragedy, pain, family. The characters are complex and interesting and the spiritualism aspect is explored and challenged in many ways. However, …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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