The Lost Apothecary: A Novel
by Sarah Penner
The Lost Apothecary (9/11/2020)
Once I started reading this book, I found it hard to put down. I liked reading the stories of Nella, Eliza, and Caroline, and didn't even mind the way the story switched back and forth from Victorian England to the present day. In some books, that annoys me, but this book made it work. I cared about all three of the women, and couldn't wait to find out how things worked out for each of them. I will certainly recommend this book to friends and family.
Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History
by Keith O'Brien
Fly Girls (6/13/2018)
At an early age, our son declared to everyone who would listen that he was going to be a pilot when he grew up. He is now a pilot with the US Air Force, and our family has been interested in all things associated with aviation and aviation history for years. This book sounded right up that alley, and I couldn't wait to start reading it.
While it seems to be a bit of a bandwagon topic right now -- the women who did this, the women who did that -- that's not necessarily a bad thing. The world at large needs to realize and acknowledge the contributions made by women in many fields that have typically been male-centered for decades. This book fulfills that purpose, although some of the reading was a bit dry and almost textbook-like.
I know it's hard to make a non-fiction book read like a fiction book, but other authors have done it and done it well (David McCullough, anyone?). Perhaps a bit more 'character development' would have brought this from a 4-star read to a 5-star book?
The Second Mrs. Hockaday
by Susan Rivers
The Second Mrs. Hockaday (12/13/2016)
Being a fan of books set during the US Civil War, I couldn't wait to read this book, and I'm glad it didn't disappoint. While other readers were put off by the letter/diary format and the bouncing around in time, neither of those bothered me.
Once I got into the story, which didn't take long, I had a hard time putting the book down. Some of the subjects that arose are hard to read about, and some of the language that was true to the time would be considered objectionable today, so this might not be for every reader. When I read that the book was based on a true story, that made it more compelling for me.
The Midnight Watch: A Novel of the Titanic and the Californian
by David Dyer
The Midnight Watch (3/5/2016)
I have always been fascinated by stories/movies about the Titanic, so I was excited about reading this book by David Dyer. Many times, when I go into a book with such high expectations, I am left disappointed by the time I finish reading, but this was not the case for The Midnight Watch. The author manages to write a compelling novel while basing the book on historical fact, a feat many authors are unable to accomplish. If I could, I would give this book 4.5 stars rather than just four.
Thank you to Book Browse and to St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book!
First Frost
by Sarah Addison Allen
First Frost, a magical book (11/20/2014)
Despite having heard nothing but rave reviews for years, I'm relatively new to Sarah Addison Allen's books. If this book is any indication of the rest of her work, however, I can see what everyone has been raving about. Loved the story, the characters, the setting ... I stayed up way too late reading "just one more chapter" because I simply could not put the book down. If I could, I've give it 4-1/2 stars :)
The Scavenger's Daughters: Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters, Book One
by Kay Bratt
The Scavenger's Daughters (7/31/2013)
If it were possible to give half stars, this book would have gotten 4.5 stars instead of only 4. Although the subject is not "feel good," the book is well-written, the characters well-drawn and the content informative and engaging. I have already recommended it to co-workers and library patrons, and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
The Woman at the Light: A Novel
by Joanna Brady
A great summer read (7/14/2012)
I love historical fiction books, and lighthouses are a passion of mine, so this book caught my eye from the moment I first heard about it. I got caught up in the story almost immediately, and had a hard time putting it down. I liked the characters, the setting and the story itself, and will happily recommend this book to friends, family, co-workers and our library patrons.
The Red Book: A Novel
by Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Red Book (2/18/2012)
I usually really enjoy books about women's friendships and relationships, so I was really looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations, as I had a hard time caring much about any of the four major characters. Maybe it was because most of them were very "privileged" women, and I found it hard to identify with their lifestyles, attitudes and even some of their morals (for lack of a better word), or maybe there were too many other characters in the story to focus on the four women. I'm glad I finished the book, but I doubt I'll be recommending it to anyone.
The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks and Giants of the Ocean
by Susan Casey
The Wave (8/13/2010)
I've always been fascinated by the ocean and its many personalities, so I couldn't wait to start this book. It did not disappoint, and I've been recommending it to friends and co-workers, who teased me about waiting until after our recent cruise to read the book! The combination of scientific data and "real-life" experiences kept it entertaining and educational at the same time.
The Book of Illumination: A Novel from the Ghost Files
by Mary Ann Winkowski
an enjoyable read (10/20/2009)
I enjoyed this book more than I expected to, although the ending seemed a bit hurried and anti-climactic. The main characters were all believable, and the story itself kept me wondering what would happen next. I hope this is the first in a series, as I would love to read more about Anza and Henry!
The Fisher Boy
by Stephen H. Anable
A so-so book (3/3/2008)
I found the first part of this book hard to get into, and the gay aspects of the story bothered me, not because I'm anti-gay, but in the way that gratuitous sex in any book would bother me. However, the second half of the book was much better, and once the story picked up, it was hard to put the book down. I enjoyed following Mark around, trying to help him figure out who was behind the nasty goings-on in Provincetown while trying to keep himself out of harm's way, and was as surprised as he was when the murderer was finally revealed.
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