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Reviews by Diane S.

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Vampires in the Lemon Grove: Stories
by Karen Russell
Vampires in the Lemon Grove (2/17/2013)
Truly imaginative and so very well written. Some though were a little creepy even for me. Loved the first story, which is very unusual for me because even the word vampire will set me running, but in this case it did not. Open minded a bit, gave it a chance and wasmore
Out of The Easy
by Ruta Sepetys
Out of the Easy (2/12/2013)
The strength in Sepetys language is in her character development and that her characters are for the most part extremely likable. The French Quarter in the 1950,s and a story based on an actual madame, in fact the house she actually lived in is part of this book. Liked themore
Schroder
by Amity Gaige
Schroder (2/10/2013)
Although this sounds like a simple tale, a father kidnapping his eight yr. old daughter, (not a spoiler as it clearly states this in the book description), this novel is anything but simple. When we hear on the news that a father has kidnapped one of his children, our firstmore
We Live in Water: Stories
by Jess Walter
We live in water (2/1/2013)
I loved this grouping of short stories. Not really sure why, his prose is not beautiful but rather plain, but boy can he put stories together. Absolutely loved that he took people that we tend to overlook and often condemn, the addicts, the prostitutes, the thieves, many ofmore
News from Heaven: The Bakerton Stories
by Jennifer Haigh
News from Heaven (1/27/2013)
These are blue collared short stories, the lives of working men and woman, all set in the mining town of Bakerton. It is helpful but not necessary to have read book:Baker Towers|72876, many of the characters are here in these short stories. Stories that span the time framemore
The Twelve Tribes of Hattie
by Ayana Mathis
Twelve Tribes (1/26/2013)
The book opens with a heart rendering tragedy which quickly captures the reader's interest. The great migration, the early 1900's and a mother with her three daughters move to Philadelphia to escape the Jim Crow south. Things do not work out as planned, Hattie has a hardmore
Me Before You: A Novel
by Jojo Moyes
Me before you (1/22/2013)
Finishing this book on the 40th anniversary of the passing of Roe vs. Wade almost seems ironic. The heart of this novel also concerns a pressing moral issue, one I will not comment on nor state which side of the debate I would be on. Louisa and Will Traynor are memorablemore
Above All Things
by Tanis Rideout
Above all things (1/21/2013)
I have read non fiction accounts of George Mallory and his attempts to climb Mt. Everest so I was already familiar with a basic knowledge of his story. Alternating chapters between the expedition and George's young wife at home with her three children added an additionalmore
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
by Katherine Boo
Behind the Beautiful Forevers (1/4/2013)
It is very helpful if the reader reads the author's notes at the back of the book before reading the book. I think if I had done that it would have changed how I felt as I was reading the book. I really learned quite a bit from this book, things I never knew such as that 1/3more
The Round House: A Novel
by Louise Erdrich
The Round House (1/1/2013)
This story could be read for so many different themes, coming of age story, Indian culture, family, crimes and many more but no matter why one is reading this the story is compelling. Erdrich has a knack of telling stories, with vivid descriptions and wonderfully roundedmore
The Dinner
by Herman Koch
The Dinner (12/26/2012)
First book that I have rated so highly even though I did not like any of the characters. This is a book of moral complexity narrated by an unreliable narrator, who at first seems to take the politeness and political correctness out of all conversations at dinner. He doesmore
The Painted Girls
by Cathy Marie Buchanan
The Painted Girls (12/19/2012)
Paris in 1873, but not the beautiful Paris filled with beautiful people, but the people trying to survive. The washerwomen, those who take in sewing, those who are hungry and those who will do anything to feed their families. Three sisters, a mother addicted to absinthe,more
The Malice of Fortune
by Michael Ennis
Malice of Fortune (12/6/2012)
Set in one of my favorite periods in history, the Renaissance, Ennis delivers a fascinating story. Full of historical figures, Da Vinci, Machiavelli, and the corruptible Borgia, the reader is treated to a novel that fully immerses them in this time period; the sights,more
Open Heart
by Elie Wiesel
Open Heart (12/4/2012)
My daughter recently saw Elie Wiesel at the Civic Opera house in Chicago and said she cried through the whole thing. That he was just so honest, caring and sweet. This book definitely reflects all of that, his honesty shows through, his love for his son and wife, his faithmore
The Imposter Bride
by Nancy Richler
The Imposter Bride (12/4/2012)
The title lends one to believe that this is a romance story, but I was very glad it was not. I found the closeness of the Canadian Jewish fascinating and felt that this author was at her best in her descriptive imagery. This is a novel about the after effects of war,more
The Aviator's Wife
by Melanie Benjamin
The Aviator's wife (11/28/2012)
Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne are the subject of this new novel by Benjamin. Have to say that she most definitely did not portray Charles in a positive light, in fact he was not a very nice man at all. Very full of himself and his fame. Anne, had always been the goodmore
The Art Forger
by B. A. Shapiro
The Art Forger (11/27/2012)
This book is less a mystery, even though it is about the Gardiner museum heist, and more a journey through the art world. Buying, selling, reproducing, copying and acquiring, all of which are portrayed in this novel. A;though everything in the book is not historicallymore
Married Love: And Other Stories
by Tessa Hadley
Married love (11/21/2012)
These are very literary stories, and Hadley does a great job of noticing even the minutiae in the lives of her characters. She brings the readers attention to their surroundings and follows their lives longer than many short story writers do. Of course I had favorites and amore
The Middlesteins
by Jami Attenberg
The Middlesteins (11/14/2012)
Food, everything it can and does mean to a person, from comfort, love, relaxation, well being, to in the case of this novel, a cause of death. The family in this novel is so very real and for all appearance not very likable. Yet beneath the core they are all so wanting,more
The Testament of Mary
by Colm Toibin
The Testament (11/12/2012)
First of course one has to suspend their belief and faith (if so inclined) and once that happens it is so incredibly easy to buy into this book. The writing is fantastic, the thoughts and feeling of Mary, the same as mother's everywhere. Looking back at when he was youngermore

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