BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Paper Names: A Novel
by Susie Luo

Great Story (3/3/2023)

I really really enjoyed this book. Typically, I don't enjoy multiple narrators but the author skillfully wove the narrations together to truly develop each character. This book would make a great book club book because it touches on so many different themes- immigration, family, what makes a "good person", relationships, work, cultural differences... etc. This book will stay with me a while.

The Lost English Girl
by Julia Kelly

Easy read (2/8/2023)

I did enjoy this book. I read it in a weekend, it was light and the subject matter was interesting. The reason I did not give 4 stars is because I didn't really feel there was a ton of depth to the characters. The story was engaging and I wanted to find out what happened but I felt it was a bit predictable. I don't want to give away the ending but I found it a little hard to believe.

Clytemnestra: A Novel
by Costanza Casati

Great Story (12/6/2022)

I really enjoyed this book, it was not a book you could skim through as there was important information on every page. It took me a while to read, but the story was so interesting. I knew a few of the Greek mythology stories but I had never heard of Clytemnestra, and I knew little of the women of Sparta. It was fascinating to read the story of Helen through a different perspective, and learn about the strength and determination of her sister. I highly recommend this book.

Our Missing Hearts: A Novel
by Celeste Ng

Great Story (9/13/2022)

Very timely dystopian story of a future society where our freedoms are taken away in the name of patriotism. Beautifully written and engaging. Young Bird's search for his mother who left him at 9 to protect him from being taken away. Through the stories she told him in his childhood he pieces together where she might be.

I loved this book. It was unnerving because I could see with our divided nation how something like what Ng described in the book could happen in real life.

Dirt Creek: A Novel
by Hayley Scrivenor

Great Story (3/22/2022)

I highly recommend this debut novel from Haley Scrivenor. Told from various perspectives it is different from the typical child goes missing mystery story. The characters are well developed and intertwined as can only happen in a small town. The different narratives add to the story and work very well together to draw the reader in. 5 stars from me!

Honor
by Thrity Umrigar

Must Read (9/14/2021)

Honor was one of the best books I have read this year. Not only was it beautifully written but the story enlightened me to the struggles of women from India as well as the animosity that still exists between Hindus and Muslims. I highly recommend this book.

Ariadne
by Jennifer Saint

Greek Myth Retold (4/5/2021)

I really enjoyed this retelling of Ariadne. I was not familiar with the story so I was throughly engrossed in the tale. I was surprised that this was the authors first novel. I hope she continues to write as she is very talented.

Of Women and Salt
by Gabriela Garcia

Short Stories told together (2/3/2021)

I really enjoyed this book even though it was not a linear novel. Usually I do not like books that jump around in both points of view and time periods but the author made this one work. I enjoyed each snippet of each person's story. Just enough information was provided to hold my interest, keep the story together, and provide a backdrop of Cuba that made me want to learn more. I would recommend this book.

The Affairs of the Falcóns
by Melissa Rivero

Insight into the Undocumented Experience (12/19/2018)

This was a very well written book. I can't say that I loved it or it was a page turner, as it wasn't really a plot driven book and I prefer plot driven books. However, the author kept me engaged as she slowly painted a picture of the Falcon's struggle to make it in America. Something that I found very interesting was the authors description of the racism within the Peruvian culture to explain the family dynamic between Ana and her cousin in law.

A Ladder to the Sky: A Novel
by John Boyne

Must Read (9/12/2018)

Once again John Boyne has crafted a very engaging story. Told through various narrators Boyne tells the tale of Maurice Swift and his ruthless climb to success. For me, the mark of a good book is one that calls to me while I am reading it making it hard to put down and stays with me after I turn the last page. I could not stop thinking about this story once it was over, I highly recommend this book. I think it would make an excellent book club book.

America for Beginners
by Leah Franqui

Beautiful Story (3/15/2018)

A beautifully written story of 3 people who would not have otherwise been friends or encountered one another if not for the journey they took together. It takes a very talented author to manage multiple narrations of a story without taking away from the flow of the book. Leah Franqui does this seamlessly. I never minded when the chapters switched voices as each one was engaging and added to the overall story. The friendships that develop over the course of the journey was heartwarming. A wonderful book that I highly recommend.

Next Year in Havana
by Chanel Cleeton

Beautiful Detail (10/14/2017)

I really enjoyed this beautifully written book. The author gave such vivid detail I felt I could truly experience the sights and smells of Cuba. Not knowing much about the history of Cuba the history buff in me loved getting an intimate picture of life during the revolution. I highly recommend this book.

The Story of Arthur Truluv: A Novel
by Elizabeth Berg

Delightful Story of Friendship (6/9/2017)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found myself stoping from time to time, re-reading sentences and looking for a pencil to underline them. The insights of both Maddy and Arthur were so profound that I wanted to make sure I could find them again when I went back to the book.

I wish the book was a little bit longer and that Berg spent a bit more time on Maddy's story between the time when she left her father's house and found Arthur. However, I think the take away from the book was the Friendships between Maddy, Arthur and Lucille and how it is never too late to let love into your life in all forms: Romantic and Friendship.

Extraordinary Adventures
by Daniel Wallace

A solid book you will remember (2/8/2017)

I had to wait a few days after finishing this book before writing my review. Now that it has been about a week I am confident that this book will stay with me and Edsel Bronfman will be a character I will remember. Daniel Wallace took on the task of making a character who shouldn't be interesting. Edsel a 34 yr old man who may or may not be a virgin (he isn't quite sure) is tasked with finding a companion for a trip he has won in 79 days. With small steps Edsel slowly inches his way out of his comfort zone towards the goal of creating a life for himself. His journey along the way will make you smile and route for him. I would recommend this book for fans of A Man Called Ove, and The Rosie Project.

The Secret Ingredient of Wishes
by Susan Bishop Crispell

Disappointing (7/26/2016)

I knew this book was going to be a light chick lit type of book and I typically enjoy that sort of book once in a while. But this book was poorly written with very little character development. I didn't really buy into the childhood friendship. There were too many coincidences once she got to Nowhere and the ending was too abrupt and not believable. I would not recommend this book to a friend.

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things: A Novel
by Bryn Greenwood

Just Beautiful (5/4/2016)

Have you ever read a book that was so beautifully perfectly written that you just had to put it down every once in a while to savor the words? That is this book. I don't want to say too much about the plot because part of the beauty of this book is learning how the story unfolds...

One of the unique aspects of this book that was perfectly done was the narration. It is very difficult to change narration's without breaking the flow in the story but somehow Bryn Greenwood is able to do it in a way that adds to the story.

I highly recommend this book.

The Midnight Watch: A Novel of the Titanic and the Californian
by David Dyer

Must Read for anyone interested in the Titanic (2/5/2016)

If you are interested in the sinking of the Titanic then this is a great book to read. This book is the story of the Californian as reported by a journalist investigating the tragedy of the Titanic. The reader experiences the sinking of the Titanic from the perspective of the crew of the Californian. The book is throughly researched as the author was allowed access to court documents from the official inquiry. I found the book to be fascinating and tragic - even though I knew how the story ended- I kept hoping it the Californian would come to the aid of the Titanic. The book kept me engaged through the very last line.

The Sound of Gravel: A Memoir
by Ruth Wariner

Enlightening (11/4/2015)

While I only rated this book 3 out of 5 stars I would still recommend this book. I am pretty selective about giving books 4 stars. I found Ruth's memoir riveting and an very enlightening account of life in a polygamist colony. My only complaint was the prologue led the reader to believe she was about to be married into a polygamist relationship so throughout the book I kept waiting for her to be "sold off" so to speak. I thought that was a bit contrived. I did fly through the book and finished it in 3 days. It was easy to read and very interesting.

The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes
by Anna McPartlin

Hard to read (6/30/2015)

I was so excited to be awarded an advanced copy of this book. I had read a few reviews and it received high recommendations from a few different sources. It has been on my to-read list since early January. Unfortunately, this book was not for me. It has nothing to do with the writing- in fact maybe if it wasn't so well written I might have been able to get through the whole book. I got about half way through and could not read any further. I just didn't want to read any more about this young mother with a 12 yr old child and a wonderful supportive family dying. Maybe if I wasn't such an empathetic reader I could have read Rabbit's story - but I just didn't feel like crying through another 150 pages. This book is not for the faint of heart- but perhaps someone who has cared for a loved on in their final days would enjoy this book.

Her Name Is Rose
by Christine Breen

Quick Read, but something was missing (1/27/2015)

I finished this book in one afternoon so it did hold my attention, and I wanted to see how it ended. I was very glad that the book did not follow a traditional- search for adoptive mother, tearful, heartfelt reunion track and had an interesting twist. However, I felt the author waited too long to introduce Rowan's character and the late introduction make the book feel a bit disjointed. I also felt the 2 "love stories" were unnecessary and far-fetched. Maybe one would have worked but two felt contrived.

That being said, I would recommend this book as a quick easy read, but nothing that thought provoking.

Reviews by Amy W. (Annapolis, MD)

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