To coin a phrase "this book had me at hello...". Short succinct chapters drew me in immediately. My curiosity about Mormons and other secretive groups such as Scientology, Jim Jones cult grabbed me. The three wives had well developed and distinct personalities and I felt sympathetic towards all three. The very short chapters moved the story along quickly and kept my interest piqued. My only problem, if there was one was that since the chapters were so short and my interest was so high I found myself reading till the wee hours of the night. This was a highly enjoyable read and perfect entertainment for a COVID-19 winter read!

With or Without You was a perfect book for a shelter at home binge read. It grabbed my attention from the very beginning and never let go.

It started with an argument between Stella and Simon, a very happy and loving couple. The conflict was put aside due to a medical emergency. What follows is the journey of Stella, Simon and Libby, Stella's best friend.

One of the things I liked about this book was that none of these people was vilified. They were all likeable and relatable. Nor were they portrayed as flawless. The ending was unpredictable which added to the enjoyment of the book.

Though not the deepest book it is perfect for the times. I don't think this book would struggle for an audience.

I began this book reluctantly as I felt the writing style was juvenile and trite. There were very long and rambling run-on sentences and an abundance of trite, needless metaphors.

At some point the writing style improved and the story had my full attention. There was much to think about regarding the trials of marriage which included an attraction of another and the threat of infidelity as the marriage hit a significant stalemate which would have long-lasting significance. One of the things I really appreciated was that none of the main characters were likeable and none were vilified. I didn't know how this romantic triangle would end though I did have my preference.

All in all, this was a very satisfying read that totally engrossed me

I have come to enjoy the many psychological thrillers that have been on the market in recent years and find them to be a fun change from the more serious books I'm typically drawn to. I did enjoy this book even though it was flawed.

Char's neighborhood book club had been in existence for a while when new but temporary neighbor, Roux, showed up for the first time. Within minutes Roux hijacked the meeting. She instigated a game inciting book club members to confess their transgressions. The idea that these adult women would agree to this was preposterous It isn't long before we come to realize that Roux's objectives are fueled by her desire to blackmail Amy.

What follows is a cat and mouse game between Roux and Amy which often feels over the top, but I have to confess the story held my interest almost immediately and was certainly temporary escape from reality.

Reading this book was like peeling an onion. There were many layers and the author cleverly revealed them one layer at a time which made for an interesting read. Each character with the exception of Joe was flawed which made them more believable. Told through the alternating voices of Althea, Lillian and Viola the story became more compelling the farther I got into it.

It was hard to understand the crime committed by Althea and Proctor who appeared to have lived exemplary lives. First given the responsibility of her siblings shortly after marriage of raising her siblings, building a successful business as well as a charity seems like a perfect and rewarding life. Proctor assumes the responsibility for their crime demonstrates his love for his wife. The one flaw was the weak explanation for Kim turning on her parents. The incarceration was central to the story and Kim's motive didn't seem strong enough for her actions.

Even with a slow start I enjoyed the book. I admired the authors ability to say so much with so few words. I like this family and felt they would all succeed with the exception of Kim. I hoped that she would find her way and have a happy ending

This was a meaningful and well written book. My heart went out to this family and I was moved by the women who took their food and customs with them wherever they went to make every new residence a home.

As a Jew it was difficult to see the animosity and the radicalization against them even though their problems were imposed by Arab nations. This resulted in somewhat of a mental block for me.

On the other hand it humanized these people. We live in the thought that Palestinians are brought up on the hatred of Jews. Other than the radicalization of two characters these people were portrayed as normal people who just want to live their lives like everyone else. From that point in the book on, I didn’t concentrate on individual characters. I just read the book looking at the whole picture.

I see this book as an important read and also a great book for book clubs to discuss. I will definitely read this book again and I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it.

I was looking forward to reading this book. From the description it sounded like it was in the same genre as Gone Girl or Girl on the Train. These books are not fine literature but they are a fun, fast read. I was highly disappointed. The premise was based on preposterous circumstances and I quickly lost interest. To go into detail would be a spoiler for anyone who chooses to read it. The only characters I had empathy for were the Lawson's and the children. However I was totally surprised by the ending and that almost made the book worthwhile

At the start of this book I was put off by what I came to realize were excerpts from Joan Ashby's prize winning short story collection. When I got beyond that I settled into what I thought would be an enjoyable read. I was wrong. I found this book mildly disturbing and much of the storyline ridiculous. By then I was too far into the book and felt obligated to finish it. I have to add that Joan Ashby should've stuck to her convictions to never marry or have children.

While I wouldn't recommend this book it would make for an interesting discussion on several levels but primarily on the subject of motherhood.

From the very first page of Karolina's Twins I was hooked. There was never a place where I felt "safe" to put the book down as I was always eager to see what followed. The writing was fluid and seamless The story is told by the protagonist, Lena Scheinman in a straightforward, logical, if unemotional manner. I came to care for Lena as well as Karolina.

The author obviously researched the events of WWII and the atrocities of the Nazi's but he didn't dwell on it. The story was definitely moved along by Lena and her personal experiences. In many of the holocaust books the author goes into great detail of the atrocities but this author definitely let his subject do the talking which put a more realistic spin on it.

My only criticism is that the ending was abrupt and I would've liked to know more about what followed. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and will highly recommend it.

I was initially very disappointed with this book. For almost 100 pages I felt that the story felt contrived as the author worked hard to be funny at the expense of the story. When the "humor" ended the story improved tremendously. The characters were fleshed out and explanations to the various motivations of the characters behavior was explained and my interest was piqued.

What started out as a chore to read became a book that I couldn't put down. The last third of the book was read in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. I would say that all the individual story lines were tied up in a neat little bow, but that wouldn't be exactly the truth as the end took a turn that I didn't see coming,

If the author had told the story without the attempt to be funny in the beginning I would have enjoyed it more. I would've rated the beginning a three while the end was almost a five.

Every once in a while a book comes along that grabs your attention immediately so that you are almost mesmerized. This is such a book!

Set on the island of Sri Lanka the story is told in first person. The protagonist's
name is never mentioned. I feel that this was very purposeful. She is being brought up in luxury in a seemingly idyllic life of privilege until her mother makes a startling discovery. In a culture where the victim is ostracized for things beyond their control, her mother brings her to Americs to escape the shame.

Upon finishing this book I loaned it to my daughter who said it just right. She said there is so much garbage out there (meaning books) that it's a treat to read a good story that is so beautifully written. I thoroughly agree. This was a wonderful read and now I'm compelled to read this authors first book. In short, I loved this book!

Personally aware of the devastation to family and friends as well as to the victim of manic depression I had some misgivings about reading this book. However, I was immediately absorbed in the tragic story of the brilliant
Dr Perry Baird. This was a man whose life was stolen by this brutal disease personally and professionally. The ghoulish medical protocol of 1940s mental institutions was barbaric and difficult to read. Dr Baird's struggle for sanity was heartbreaking. It is amazing that so many years later his daughter found his scattered memoirs and was able to piece them together and tell his story in a logical and concise format. In doing so she created a spellbinding book as well as answering for herself the reason her father was absent from her life. I would definitely recommend this book

Through two incidents which should have appeared to Emma to have been too unlikely to be a coincidence, Emma and Nina become friends. The cause of Nina's obsession,when it is finally revealed, doesn't seem significant enough to have warranted her actions. At times I found Emma's discontent cloying, and the plot was somewhat flawed, but I enjoyed the English expressions and found them amusing. Ultimately, this was a fun read that held my interest from beginning to end

When I requested The Countess of Bathory I was unaware that the Countess was an actual historic figure. My first impression was that I had entered into a book dealing with supernatural characters which is a genre that doesn't appeal to me. However, I was almost immediately drawn into the story lines of 1610 and 2010. Each exceedingly short chapter packed a punch that found me unable to put the book down.

After reading this book, I was curious enough to research the Countess and discovered that the book is an accurate depiction of this historic individual and actual events. While I was thoroughly engrossed in the story of 1610 I found the modern story of 2010 far fetched and unrealistic.

This book begins with the birth of Freya, a profoundly disabled baby whose parents, Anna and Tobias, have very different views of how they wish to handle the future of their child, I could empathize with both. I thought that this would develop into an emotional read that examined these difficult moral decisions. The storyline was diverted by their move from London to a French village into a home that was Anna's dream. This home presented problem after problem and while Anna was responsible, Tobias was a complete slacker. The people of the village were charming and interesting and this could have been developed into a simple little novel on its own. Though Freya was briefly mentioned throughout, this storyline was not given the importance I was expecting until the very end. The author tried to tie everything into a neat bundle in which she used Anna's relationship to Freya and her own mother, as well as Lizzie's relationship to her mother to define motherhood. It seemed like this was thrown in at the last minute. I felt that there were two different stories here: the story of Freya, and the story of the people of the village. Not enough was done with either. I also felt that in concluding the way she did she put a happily ever after ending on a situation that in reality would never have a fairy tale ending.

It's a rare treat to come across a novel that is as well written and compelling as Golden Boy. From almost page one I was hooked and found myself sneaking away to read. Though there is a scene early on that is not for the feint of heart, and the subject matter is emotionally heart rending, it is handled with sensitivity and intelligence. There are moral issues regarding matters we don't usually have to deal with, all are handled beautifully by this author.

If I have any negative criticisms it has to do with Daniel, Max's younger brother. Dialogue and thoughts assigned to him were much too mature for a ten year old. I believe this character was used to make many moral statements the author wanted to pass along.

Although at times gut wrenching it was wonderful to become absorbed into something of this quality.

I began reading The Good Father with the expectation that it would have the same emotional impact of We Need To Talk About Kevin. The opening pages flew through my hands, but disappointment came quickly. The emotional response of a father who comes face to face with his son who has been accused of killing the next president of the U.S. and has been shot while being captured fell flat. The encounter was in my opinion, unemotional and totally unrealistic. At this point I felt that the book lost its credibility.

Though the writing was fluid, I found details regarding other young assassins interesting but unnecessary towards moving the story along. I also didn't think the author created a protagonist who was so troubled that he would go to the extreme of killing. Though the book was fast reading it is not one I would reccommend

Every once in a while a book comes along that takes you on a ride and touches your very soul. The Homecoming of Samuel Lake has that rare quality. Set in Arkansas in the '50's and beginning with a family reunion, this is a family saga that is rich in character development and plot without ever becoming overbearing or tedious. The characters were interesting and the various plots held my interest through every page. This is a book I will treasure and will enjoy recommending to others.

When brown-eyed Jo March discovers that it is genetically impossible for her blue-eyed parents to have produced her and her twin brother, she seeks answers to her true parentage. Thus unfolds a multi-generational and multi-cultural story which is told in the voice of many people and in so doing unfolds layer by layer in a most enjoyable way. In addition to a captivating story, I enjoyed reading about the culture of Pakistan which is central to this book. I was totally engrossed in the story, but was very disappointed when the author conjured up two far fetched coincidences with regards to the Iraqi war. While I share her views on the subject of the war, it was not relevant to the story. Those views could be better served in another book, should she choose to write it. I would hope that these "coincidences" could be handled in the editing. It is for this reason that I rate this book a 4 rather than a 5.

As one who lived through the turmoil perpetuated by the Vietnam War, I've reacted to this lovely book on many levels. The first was in the reliving of the horror of body bags televised nightly combined with the civil unrest perpetuated by this very unpopular war. Now some 30-40 years later comes this well crafted story of this small group of Vietnamese people giving insight as to what this war was really about. The author is able to make you see the sights and smell the smells of Vietnam as well as make you care about the main characters, particularly Hung. The struggles of the main characters humanize the war in a way that is new to me. The book certainly lends itself for discussion in many directions.

Though the Beauty of Humanity Movement refers to a group of artists and poets struggling to express their art, to me the real Beauty of Humanity Movement is embodied in this small group of people who in spite of all their hardships never waiver in their devotion to one another.

I highly recommend this book.