BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Hieroglyphics
by Jill McCorkle

Hieroglyphics (6/20/2020)

Jill McCorkle is one of my favorite authors, and she never disappoints. I really liked this beautifully written book, particularly because it was written from four different points of view. Lil and Frank are particularly strong characters. Their marriage is a match made in tragedy, and as they approach the end of their lives, they are still trying to work out how those tragic events form the framework of their lives. Shelley is also the product of a tragic childhood and is trying to escape those memories and make sure that Harvey has a different upbringing. The title is perfect for a book in which the characters search for meaning through their various writings and mementos - Lil in her journals and notes, Frank in his jar of keepsakes, Shelley through her court stenography, and Harvey with his Klingon useage. I will recommend this novel to my book club and expect that it will elicit a lively discussion.

P.S. The colorful book cover is spectacular. Well done!

The Girl in White Gloves: A Novel of Grace Kelly
by Kerri Maher

The Girl in White Gloves (11/4/2019)

I thoroughly enjoyed this well researched book about Grace Kelly. It encompasses her story from the time she left Philadelphia at the age of 17 to enter the Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC to her death at the age of 52 when she suffered a stroke while driving on a mountain road in Monaco. During this time she went from being an Academy Award winning actress to the beloved Princess Grace of Monaco. I particularly liked the descriptions of her time spent in the heyday of glamorous Hollywood co-starring with the most famous actors of that time. The insights into her Kelly family relationships were fascinating as were those of her marriage to Rainier. I liked the author's use of flashbacks and thought that this was a well written book. I will certainly recommend it to friends.

The Last Romantics
by Tara Conklin

The Last Romantics (12/2/2018)

The Last Romantics is an engaging, well written book featuring the dysfunctional Skinner family. As children, the four Skinner siblings survive a horrendous period of time which they later refer to as the Pause. It is during this period that the sisters and brother forge their strong love and reliance on each other, and the reverberations from the Pause last well into their adult years. The characters are well developed, interesting, and likable. The one part of the novel that I didn’t care for was the background for the scene set in 2079 with the power outage, sirens, armed soldiers, and shelters. None of it was explained, and it didn’t advance the plot so I felt that it was unnecessary. I think that this book can generate good discussions on any number of topics, and I will definitely recommend it to my book club.

The Summer Wives
by Beatriz Williams

The Summer Wives (4/20/2018)

I have read other books by Beatriz Williams and thoroughly enjoyed them, but The Summer Wives just didn't work for me. I liked her descriptions of Winthrop Island and felt that I got a good sense of the sights, sounds, and smells of this exclusive enclave. But the non-linear plot line was very chopped up, and I had to keep referring back to previous chapters to be reminded of the characters and where they fit in the island hierarchy. The characters seemed one-dimensional, and most of them were unlikable. This was just too chick lit for my taste. I wouldn't recommend it to my book club.

As Bright as Heaven
by Susan Meissner

A Bright story (10/9/2017)

This historical novel centers around the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 and in particular how it impacts the Bright family of Philadelphia. It is an interesting topic and only fitting that the Brights reside in a mortuary which is the family business. The characters are well developed with the mother and three daughters each telling her own story in successive chapters. There was at least one coincidence that strained credulity, but all in all it was a pleasant read.

The Book of Summer
by Michelle Gable

The Book of Summer (3/9/2017)

I was very disappointed in this book. I liked Michelle Gable's previous book (A Paris Apartment) and expected this one to be equally well written. The basic plot line of trying to save an elegant Nantucket mansion from falling into the ocean is an interesting one, but the author veers off in so many disjointed directions that the main idea becomes lost. Cliff House becomes a more interesting character than its inhabitants. The dialogue between characters is sappy, and the attempt to imitate the hip lingo of the 1940s is extremely annoying. The use of the guest book to advance the numerous plot lines was way too gimmicky. All in all this was an underwhelming read.

A Piece of the World: A Novel
by Christina Baker Kline

Christina's World (12/4/2016)

A Piece of the World is a wonderful book, one of my favorites of this year. It tells the back story of the subject of artist Andrew Wyeth's most famous painting, Christina's World. She is Christina Olson of rural Cushing, Maine, a severely crippled woman who still leads a brave, productive life. Christina Baker Kline tells her story with compassion and admiration, mirroring the attitude of Wyeth who used Olson and her brother as models in many of his works. It is beautifully written, and I could hardly put it down. I will definitely recommend it to my book club.

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk
by Kathleen Rooney

Wonderful Debut Novel (9/15/2016)

First-time author Kathleen Rooney introduces us to the fascinating character of Lillian Boxfish by allowing us to stroll through the streets of New York City with her. It is New Year's Eve,1984, and Lillian is revisiting some of her favorite haunts which allows us a glimpse into the amazing life of this singular woman. She was an advertising executive and a poet, a feminist and a wife and mother. She is charming, witty, friendly, fearless, and indomitable, and she makes for a great read. I will certainly recommend this to my book club.

The Book That Matters Most: A Novel
by Ann Hood

The Book That Matters Most (6/14/2016)

I really enjoyed this book. The title is an attention- grabber for anyone who loves to read. In this case it refers to the year's selection of books chosen by a Providence, RI book club. The book revolves around these choices and how they have effected the group's members, particularly Ava who is undergoing some profound changes in her life. There are many different story lines, but the author wraps them up neatly with a surprise twist at the end. I liked the character development but could have used a little less of Maggie's drug addiction. To offset that heavy topic, there is a humorous description of a new form of graffiti called yarn bombing. This is the first Ann Hood novel I have read but will be reading more by her.

We That Are Left
by Clare Clark

We That Are Left (7/9/2015)

I really enjoyed this book. I have read a number of books recently that are set in the post WWI era in England, and this book is one of the better ones. It centers around the Melville family and is set against the backdrop of Ellinghurst, the family estate, complete with Victorian castle featuring bastions and turrets and a grassy moat. The Melville's son, and heir to the estate, is killed in the war, and the daughters cannot inherit. So the fate of Ellinghurst is a central theme. The author does a good job of describing the social changes taking place, particularly the problems presented by the deaths of an entire generation of young men. I think that this book would make an excellent book club choice.

The Art of Baking Blind
by Sarah Vaughan

The Art of Baking Blind (2/27/2015)

The Art of Baking Blind really didn't do much for me. It was a pleasant read, nothing more. Perhaps if I had been an ardent foodie I would have found it more compelling. I was also unfamiliar with many of the names of the baked goods. Even though I have lived in England, I have never tasted a Battenburg or lardy cake nor laid eyes on a Chelsea bun. And millefeuille? Really? I thought that the characters were flat. Their personal issues, which they tried to overcome by throwing themselves into the baking competition, are pretty stereotypical of chick lit. I will not recommend this for my book club because I don't think that it would engender much of a discussion.

The Fortune Hunter
by Daisy Goodwin

The Fortune Hunter (3/30/2014)

I enjoyed this book immensely. It is a great example of well-researched historical fiction. I found all of the characters to be compelling, from the Empress Elizabeth seeking respite from the stifling royal protocols of Vienna to Chicken Hartopp who is desperately trying to find a rich wife. Charlotte is an unassuming heiress with a hapless brother and arrogant sister-in-law. Bay Middleton is alternately the hero or the goat, and Caspar provides comic relief and a fresh view point.

I particularly liked he chapter where the Empress and Queen Victoria meet at Windsor Castle and exchange verbal jabs. The description of Sisi's beauty regimen gives an interesting look at the lengths a woman will go to retain her legendary beauty. I also enjoyed the account of the day at the Grand National. I will definitely recommend this most entertaining book to my book club.

Under the Wide and Starry Sky
by Nancy Horan

Another winner (11/11/2013)

A Child's Garden of Verses, Treasure Island, and Kidnapped were favorites from my childhood, but I knew nothing about the author aside from his nationality. Now thanks to Nancy Horan's wonderful new book, that has been rectified. Robert Louis Stevenson is a fascinating topic for an historical novel. He is frail and sickly, yet can light up a room with the force of his personality. He finds the perfect partner in Fanny de Grift Osbourne, an independent and adventurous woman. Together they travel the world, largely in search of healthy climates for the invalid Stevenson. I enjoyed the book immensely and will recommend it to my book club. Loving Frank was one of our favorites, and I think this one will be too.

Songs of Willow Frost
by Jamie Ford

Another Best Seller (7/5/2013)

Songs of Willow Frost is a worthy successor to Ford's first bestseller. I think that fans of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet will also love this one. It is set in Seattle during the Depression and gives a chilling portrayal of the lives of Chinese women during this era. Willow's life is negatively impacted by the choices her mother felt forced to make to benefit her daughter. Ironically, Willow ends up making similar decisions which impact her son William. William is a most appealing character who is dogged in his love for the mother who abandoned him. An outsider in the orphanage, he befriends another outcast and establishes a sweet relationship with Charlotte as the two try to create better lives for themselves. Only one succeeds. I enjoy the way Ford incorporates history into his novels, this time about the early days of cinema and about the Depression and the role of orphanages during those hard times. I will definitely recommend this book to my Book Club.

A Dual Inheritance
by Joanna Hershon

A Dual Inheritance (3/29/2013)

I enjoyed "A Dual Inheritance" but wished that the main characters had been better developed. I just didn't get some of the motivations, starting with the improbable friendship between Ed Cantowitz and Hugh Shipley and then with Helen's relationship with Ed. And what about the visit to Helen's home where Ed was treated to a big dose of anti-Semitism - surely Hugh and Helen could have predicted that outcome. Ed's eventual legal problems didn't quite resonate with his portrayal as an ambitious but ethical businessman. And Hugh's infidelities were disappointing. However I loved the last part of the book where all of the characters reunite for Vivi's wedding celebration and there is an unpredictable but happy ending. It was funny and sad and very well written. I also enjoyed the different foreign settings. All in all, I liked the book and will recommend it to friends.

Wife 22: A Novel
by Melanie Gideon

Wife 22 (4/15/2012)

I loved Wife 22. The main character, Alice Buckle, is a gem. Her character is revealed through her Facebook posts, her Twitter comments, her Google searches, and foremost through her email answers to an on-line survey on marriage in the 21st century. What an ingenious use of our reliance on social media. Alice is endearingly funny in her relationships, whether it is agonizing over her 12 year old son's sexuality or her teen aged daughter's possible bulimia. She is also wistful in looking back at the early stages of her relationship with her husband and wondering whether they have lost each other. There are some hilarious scenes, including shopping for feminine hygiene products with her daughter and staging a 3rd grade production of Charlotte's Web. The dialogue throughout is clever and funny. In fact, the whole book is incredibly funny but also very thought-provoking. Melanie Gideon has created a wonderful book. I'm already looking forward to her next one.

Falling Together: A Novel
by Marisa De Los Santos

Falling Together (9/8/2011)

What a great read! In the book Pen comments on Will's book, "It's gorgeous and moving and funny. I love it." That is how I feel about Marisa de los Santos' Falling Together. The characters are wonderful, even the hapless Jason has some good moments. The dialogue between Pen and Will is brilliant - clever and so in tune with each other. I did feel that the part of the book taking place in the Philippines wasn't as strong and got a little close to becoming a travelogue, but I still couldn't put it down. I loved the author;s first two books also so this makes it three for three.

Ten Thousand Saints: A Novel
by Eleanor Henderson

Ten Thousand Saints (5/20/2011)

I didn't care for this book. The characters had few, if any, redeeming qualities. I found them and their life styles to be fairly repugnant. The author also used too many medical and social conditions - AIDS, fetal alcohol syndrome, ADHD, eating disorders, etc. - as well as the prevalent drug use - each new one became almost a cliche. I would not recommend this book to my book club.

South of Broad
by Pat Conroy

South of Broad (9/23/2009)

South of Broad is a novel by one of my favorite authors (Pat Conroy) about one of my favorite cities (Charleston). I was prepared to love it, and I did. Conroy's lyrical descriptions of Charleston (and also San Francisco) are magnificent. There are elements of chick-lit here - all of the women are beautiful and sexy, the men are all accomplished - but the beauty of the writing compensate for this. There were scenes which I found entirely unbelievable, but I did love the plot lines and especially liked the character of Leo. I thought that the San Francisco section dragged on a bit. But the ending of the book was exceptionally strong. I love Conroy's sense of humor. Here's hoping that we don't have to wait so long for his next work. He is a real treasure. I will certainly recommend this book to friends and to my book club.