Reviews by Leslie G. (Peabody, MA)

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Innards
Innards: Stories
by Magogodi oaMphela Makhene
Relevant but Confusing (5/13/2023)
The title of the book suggests inner turmoil. However, there is much external turmoil also. Throughout the interconnected stories, there hangs an overlying sense of the seeming futility in being able to overcome oppression. While the book is enlightening in many respects, …more
Scatterlings
Scatterlings: A Novel
by Resoketswe Martha Manenzhe
Poetic, but Slow (10/12/2022)
At one point in the novel, the speaker mentions the description and analysis of a sunset as being "excessive and unnecessary." While there are moments of poetic descriptions of nature in Scatterlings, sometimes the passages are just too extensive. In contrast, the storyline …more
The Northern Reach
The Northern Reach
by W.S. Winslow
Great Debut (11/8/2020)
The Northern Reach is an extraordinary debut novel. The interconnected stories that make up the work deal, in almost all cases, with individuals who possess yearnings for what could have been. Their everyday lives chronicle a litany of unfulfilled desires. The harsh Maine …more
Eternal Life
Eternal Life
by Dara Horn
Eternal Life (11/4/2017)
As a long-time fan of Dara Horn's writing, I was eagerly awaiting her latest novel. Eternal Life explores an interesting premise--the concept of living forever on earth. However, I found the "magical realism" aspect of the novel a bit off-putting. Many sections of the book …more
Karolina's Twins
Karolina's Twins
by Ronald H. Balson
Fast-Paced but Familiar (7/3/2016)
As someone who has read numerous Holocaust-related books, I surmised early on the manner in which the women would attempt to save the babies. Still, I found myself engrossed in Karolina's Twins in order to find out the futures of the children and the complicated role Lena …more
If I Forget You
If I Forget You
by Thomas Christopher Greene
Fast-Paced but Predictable (4/1/2016)
If I Forget You is, for the most part, a well-written book. However, much of the plot is quite predictable. The story line is one that has been used innumerable times. I was able to guess the "supposed" twist in the narrative well before the end of the book. While Henry's …more
The Dark Lady's Mask
The Dark Lady's Mask
by Mary Sharratt
Imaginative Account (2/1/2016)
Sharratt bases her story on the premise that Aemilia Bassano Lanier, an actual Renaissance poet, could have been Shakespeare's collaborator and muse. Using this concept as a starting point, the novelist creates a fanciful depiction of Aemilia's life and connections to …more
The Two-Family House
The Two-Family House
by Lynda Cohen Loigman
Interesting Family Dynamics (10/25/2015)
Despite the fact that the family "secret" is easy to discern early on in the novel, I found the book quite enjoyable. The many interactions amongst the family members kept the story fast-paced and readable. Some facets of Rose's depression might have been better explained. …more
The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs
The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs
by Matthew Dicks
Role Reversals (5/31/2015)
The author presents a novel role reversal in the mother -daughter relationship in which the child is portrayed as more insightful than the adults surrounding her. However, the level of wisdom of fifteen-year-old Polly and the level of naivety of her mother Caroline did not …more
Fishbowl
Fishbowl: A Novel
by Bradley Somer
Engaging and Poignant (4/26/2015)
The novel is able to explore the profundities of the human condition, yet the author does so in a witty and, at times, even comical manner. By delineating the lives of diverse residents of an apartment building, Somer describes each individual's concern with loneliness. …more
Between the Tides
Between the Tides
by Susannah Marren
Interesting Despite Flawed Characters (4/4/2015)
The novel was fast-paced and kept my interest. However, one problem with the book is that, for the most part, the two main characters, Lainie and Jess, come across as unsympathetic because of their self-centeredness. Some of their upper-middle-class problems seem petty and …more
Her Name Is Rose
Her Name Is Rose
by Christine Breen
Engrossing Tale (1/25/2015)
For the most part, I found the novel engrossing. The major characters, especially Iris and Rose, were defined enough to make the reader care about their experiences. As I read, I became caught up in their life complications and adventures. As someone who lives in the …more
The Last Flight of Poxl West
The Last Flight of Poxl West
by Daniel Torday
A Novel of Many Themes (12/29/2014)
Although the novel is, on a surface level, about the challenges of warfare, at heart it is about all aspects of the human condition. The consequences of abandonment, the confusion between love and passion and the spiraling effects of one's actions are just some of the …more
A Fireproof Home for the Bride
A Fireproof Home for the Bride
by Amy Scheibe
Interesting but Flawed (12/5/2014)
As someone who was a child in the fifties, I found the references to the music and styles of the times brought back memories of my early years. However, while aspects of the novel were engaging, I felt the character of Emmy was problematic. It was hard to believe she had …more
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