BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Cruel Beautiful World
by Caroline Leavitt

Cruel Beautiful World (8/27/2016)

This is the story of a teenage girl who runs away with her high school teacher. It is a story of the effect this act has on her, her teacher, their families and the people they meet along the way. I was drawn into the story right from the beginning. I liked the writing and the plot twists held my interest. This is a new author for me and I will definitely investigate other books she has written. I would love to see another book with a continuation of the story. The title of the book says it all and I do recommend this book.

The Book That Matters Most: A Novel
by Ann Hood

The Book That Matters Most (6/19/2016)

What could be better than a book by Ann Hood about books? One of my favorite authors does not disappoint. I have never belonged to a book club but find the concept here fascinating - each member of this book club picks the book that matters most to them and then everyone reads it. The main character is going through some major changes in her life which is why she joins the book club in the first place - looking to connect with people. This takes her down a totally unexpected path. We also learn about her daughter who is on a search for herself. The ending brings the story to a satisfying conclusion. I think book clubs would definitely enjoy this book.

Amour Provence
by Constance Leisure

Amour Provence (3/25/2016)

This book was not at all what I expected from the description. It is the story of a small winemaking village in Provence and the people who live there. The "sense of place" was wonderful and very descriptive of the beautiful scenery in that part of France. I found the stories of the people confusing as it took a while to see their connection, I expected the story to focus on two people but it did not. Instead it seemed to be more like short stories. I also found it slow going at times. Perhaps someone who has traveled to this part of the world would enjoy it. The book held my interest enough to finish it but certainly is not on my list of top ten books I have read this year.

The Two-Family House
by Lynda Cohen Loigman

The Two Story House (11/28/2015)

This is the story of two brothers, their wives and children who share a two story house. Early on it was very obvious to me where the story was going but it was interesting to see how the author carried the story forward. The adults dominated the story and we never got to know the children and their personalities till later in the book. I would have liked to read more about them. I think there could be a lot to talk about in this book in a book club. It was a quick and easy read and it held my interest as the families navigated life in the best way they could.

Broken Promise: A Thriller
by Linwood Barclay

Broken Promise (7/18/2015)

I have now discovered Linwood Barclay. I had heard of him but never read any of his books. This is a good one. It is the story of the small town of Promise Falls, a man and his son, his family and a baby who appears out of nowhere, Murders, intrigue and twists make for an interesting story from beginning to end. In doing research on this author, I discovered an earlier book of his called Never Look Away. It has the same Promise Falls characters earlier in their lives and I look forward to reading it..

Letters to the Lost
by Iona Grey

Letters to the Lost (3/20/2015)

This is a love story about two people separated by World War II - an English woman and an American soldier. The back and forth between the past and the present was interesting but I feel as if I have read this basic plot in many different forms before. I thought it was too long and slow going in some parts. I did finish the book as I was curious to see how it would all work out in the end but I think I would have liked it more if it was a little bit shorter.

The Nightingale
by Kristin Hannah

The Nightingale (9/27/2014)

Thank you Kristin Hannah for an unforgettable story. I have read all of her books and this one is my favorite - a little different than what she usually writes. It mainly takes place in the countryside of France during World War II. It is a look at the strength, courage and endurance of the women left behind to deal with daily life. I was drawn into the story immediately. I have read many books about World War II - fiction and non fiction - but never anything like this. The sense of place, the relationships between the women, their children and the German soldiers in the town make this a story you will remember for a long time. I recommend it for a different perspective on the toll of war.

Accidents of Marriage
by Randy Susan Meyers

Accidents of Marriage (6/21/2014)

Average is a perfect word to describe this book. I felt as if I had read this story before. It's a common theme - how a family survives an accident to one of them. Without revealing too much of the plot - the mother of the family is seriously injured in a car accident. The rest of the book deals with the effects on her husband and children. The characters were interesting but once again - I felt as if I had met them before. I found parts of the book very slow moving - I wanted everyone to move on. I did finish it tough as I was curious enough to want to find out how each family member turned out, The ending was satisfactory.

The House We Grew Up In
by Lisa Jewell

The house we grew up in (3/23/2014)

At first I was disconcerted with the time changing back and forth but after a short while, I was totally caught up in the story. Yes, this is a book about a dysfunctional family - and there are many, many books about dysfunctional families - but there were so many twists and turns I never lost interest. A family tragedy affects each member of the family differently. We follow them through their lives - from the mother who is a hoarder (and by the way this is quite an insightful look at hoarding) - to the children who develop their own ways of coping. I liked the style of writing and came to like each character - flawed though they were (flawed being in the eye of the beholder of course). This is the first book I have read by this author but I definitely will read others.

The Deepest Secret
by Carla Buckley

The Deepest Secret (12/21/2013)

I really liked the writing in this story. It engaged me right away and kept my interest all the way to the end. This is a story of a family. On the surface, it is an average family except for the devastating illness of the son. His illness impacts each member of the family and the neighborhood they live in. Something happens that moves the story along in unexpected ways and reveals the secrets that each person has. I was satisfied with the way the story ended.

Jacob's Oath
by Martin Fletcher

Jacob's Oath (9/23/2013)

As I was reading this book, I kept thinking of one tree standing as part of a forest. This story is one of many that make up the Holocaust. Painful at times to read because of the harshness of the details, there was a definite uplifting quality to it. It is a story about the fight between the desire for revenge and the desire for a new life filled with hope and love. It is the past waging war against the future. I found this book to be well written and thought provoking. There is much in this story that can be discussed.

The Affairs of Others
by Amy Grace Loyd

The Affairs of Others (7/6/2013)

This is the first novel of Amy Grace Loyd. I found her voice unique. I can't compare her writing style to any other "popular" novelists. A widow buys a small apartment building in NY. She respects the privacy of her tenants and expects them to do them same for her. Slowly but surely she is drawn into their lives. The story moves along although I found it slow going at times. I did finish the book and I will be interested to see what she writes next.

Afterwards: A Novel
by Rosamund Lupton

Afterwards (4/29/2012)

I do believe in "out of body" experiences but I wasn't sure that I would enjoy a book with that theme. I almost didn't finish this book but once I decided to give it a chance, I found myself enjoying it more and more. The story is told in a unique way and the plot twists and turns to keep you interested. It is a well written commentary on family relationships - how much we know about our loved ones - how much we think we know - and how much we don't know. I think book clubs would love this book as there is quite a bit to discuss. I am now going to go back and read the first book by this author.

Reviews by Eve A. (Henderson, NV)

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Reviews by Eve A. (Henderson, NV)

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