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Reviews by Donna W. (Wauwatosa, WI)

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The Paris Winter
by Imogen Robertson

The Paris Winter (6/30/2014)

The Paris Winter is a quick and fun read. It gives an interesting look at the seamy side of the early 1900's in Paris. Two art students at the Lafond Academie (one poor and one rich and a model at the Academie make up the three main characters, and they lead us through the …more

The Devil in the Marshalsea
by Antonia Hodgson

The Devil in the Marshalsea (3/10/2014)

The era and the location are the true stars of this novel. The history of the Marshalsea Goal is fascinating and the author does a good job of bringing 1727 London to life.

Although the characters are a bit flat and underdeveloped, the mystery moves along at a brisk pace. …more

The Housemaid's Daughter
by Barbara Mutch

A Beautiful Story (10/30/2013)

The Housemaids Daughter is a great read. It is written in the gentle voice of the black heroine, and explores South Africa and its history during apartheid. The author uses such beautiful language that she is able to draw pictures in the reader's mind. It is a fictional …more

Lost Luggage
by Jordi Punti

Lost Luggage (8/16/2013)

"Lost Luggage" is a story about 4 boys trying to find the father who abandoned each of them and their 4 different mothers. The main story is quite clever, but the author is so ambitious in his telling of it that he introduces too many side characters and goes off on too …more

Three Things You Need to Know About Rockets: A Memoir
by Jessica A. Fox

Great Memoir (6/6/2013)

I loved this book! It had smart, witty writing, a modern love story, and a heroine that had me routing for her the whole way.

Jessica Fox lets us have a glimpse into her life in this charming memoir, and it is handled in such an intelligent way with such clear writing that I …more

The Laws of Gravity
by Liz Rosenberg

The Laws of Gravity (4/5/2013)

A beautiful story full of the joys, disappointments, and love that go into being a family. The characters are set up well, each is real and the author makes us care about them all.
Ari and Nicole are cousins, and best friends since childhood. When Nicole becomes ill she …more

Walk Me Home
by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Walk Me Home (3/27/2013)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is well written, the characters are believable, and I felt connected to them right from the very beginning.

Two sisters, sixteen and eleven, are left on their own after the death of their mother. They begin trying to get back to their …more

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

Adventurous Trip (3/11/2013)

This was an interesting look at an adventurous road trip. The author conveyed the sense of adventure inherent in driving a vintage car through faraway places. Not an everyday experience by any means! She told her story with humor and wonderful description. I felt like I was …more

The Imposter Bride
by Nancy Richler

The Imposter Bride (11/28/2012)

I was hooked on this book from the minute I started reading until the satisfying end.

This was an excellent unfolding of a story from 2 different perspectives- first the actual story of " The Imposter Bride" and second the story through the eyes of the daughter she left …more

Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen
by Mary Sharratt

Illuminations (9/5/2012)

Hildegard was a fascinating character in the history of the church, and the writing was good but I just couldn't get into this book. Little is known of the events in the period of her 30 year confinement, and the treatment of this section seemed too fictionalized, with …more

Have Mother, Will Travel: A Mother and Daughter Discover Themselves, Each Other, and the World
by Claire & Mia Fontaine

Have Mother, Will Travel (6/4/2012)

This book was outstanding. It was at times funny, at times insightful, at times a travel guide, and above all it was always a worthwhile reading experience. The mother/daughter team gave corresponding personal reflections not only on their relationship, but on life in …more

Paris in Love: A Memoir
by Eloisa James

Paris in Love (3/7/2012)

I really liked this book. For the most part it is written with short entries much like a diary. Eloisa James has a charming and witty style, and the book is put together in such a way that it gives a delightful look at not only Paris, but also the author's family. It is …more

King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village
by Peggielene Bartels, Eleanor Herman

King Peggy (12/8/2011)

Peggy Bartels, born in Africa but living in America for 30 years, was awoken one morning with the news that she is to be the next king of Otuam, where her family had originated hundreds of years earlier. What follows is a delightful true story rich with the customs, beliefs, …more

Salvage the Bones: A Novel
by Jesmyn Ward

Salvage the Bones (6/28/2011)

Jesmyn Ward uses extensive detail in the writing of her book, and this leaves the reader with a good feeling for the poorness of the people, the texture of the area around Bois Sauvage, Mississippi, and the pain inherent in some personal relationships. However, this …more

The Art of Saying Goodbye: A Novel
by Ellyn Bache

The Art of Saying Goodbye (3/28/2011)

The book revolves around the lives of 5 women both before and after they learn that one of them has a serious illness. It is not a great storyline, and the author doesn't delve deeply enough into any of the character's lives that we form much of an attachment to them.

I …more

Ever By My Side: A Memoir in Eight ~~Acts~~ Pets
by Dr. Nick Trout

Great Read! (12/23/2010)

I loved it! It's a memoir, it's about animals, and it was a delight to read. The book is witty, insightful and heartwarming. It is full of incidents from the Dr.'s life as well as incidents from various animals lives.....some producing tears and many producing laughter. I …more

Raising Wrecker: A Novel
by Summer Wood

Wrecker - A Love Story (10/28/2010)

With beautiful language and strong sentences the author weaves an intricate story of family love. The story begins in the late 60's in northern California, and it focuses on a boy named Wrecker. However, it is really the group of people surrounding Wrecker that make this …more

The Ghost of Milagro Creek
by Melanie Sumner

The Ghost of Milagro Creek (7/7/2010)

Melanie Sumner had a good idea for a story, and I really wanted to like this book. The story is set in the Taos, New Mexico area, and sometimes her descriptions were so good that I really felt I got a good sense of not only the area, but also the culture. However, her …more

Ten Minutes from Home: A Memoir
by Beth Greenfield

A Touching Memoir (4/19/2010)

Beth Greenfield has written a touching memoir dealing mainly with the years surrounding a tragic accident. She uses clear, concise language and a matter of fact recounting of events to tell her story. Although heartbreaking at times, it presents an honest look at the …more

The Wives of Henry Oades: A Novel
by Johanna Moran

excellent historical fiction (11/30/2009)

The author used some real life legal facts to create an excellent historical fiction book. The Wives of Henry Oades is an easy read, and it was such a vivid telling of the story that I could picture myself in many of the scenes. The main characters were likable and I could …more

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