BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

In the Garden of Monsters: A Novel
by Crystal King

Who is Julia? (8/7/2024)

Julia is a woman with no past. She remembers nothing! Now a model, she's hired by artist Salvador Dali and his wife Gala. The site is Italy's Garden of Monsters. The Garden has statures of the Greek Gods and Goddesses. She begins to see and feel unusual sensations, making her feel that she's been there before. Ignazio seems early familiar to her. I don't want to give away more the story. The characters are interesting and well-written. I liked learning about Salvador Dali and his wife. Utilizing real people, such as the famous Dali's, made the story seem more plausible. I'm not very familiar with Greek mythology so it was good to learn more about it. It's a different genre than my usual reading but it was a good change of pace.

Everything We Never Knew: A Novel
by Julianne Hough

Not My Cup of Tea (7/14/2024)

I finished the book but it didn't draw me in and genuinely compel me to keep reading. As a Christian, I just couldn't identify with the subject matter. I felt that I was reading science fiction. I did feel some empathy for the characters and what they'd experienced in their lives. However nothing made me sincerely care about them. It's just a book that didn't appeal to me.

The Cleaner: A Novel
by Brandi Wells

Stalking in the Shadows (2/4/2024)

What an intriguing concept for a book— the nightshift cleaning lady getting to know the employees she never sees, through her discoveries (and snooping) while cleaning the company floors and desks. It's also amazing that her behind the scene efforts actually make some profound changes in the company. However, she's not always accurate in her analysis of the individuals or their situations. She did evoke emotions from me in respect that sometimes I felt empathy for her, and at other times, I was rather disgusted with her. It wasn't my favorite book but I find myself thinking about the main character often so it evidently made an impact on me.

The Stone Home: A Novel
by Crystal Hana Kim

What does one do to survive?! (11/14/2023)

It is hard for us to fathom the existance of such institutions, past or present. How does one find the strength to survive? Eunju and her mother, Umma, are imprisoned in a Korean reformatory which is actually a place of forced labor and terror. A fellow prisoner, a young man named Sangchul, is captured with his brother. We witness him do things to others, just to survive. Loyalties are tested and betrayals common. We see Eunju find strength against all odds. Then there is Narae, a living memory from the past. She's come to Eunju to learn the story of her past, and find out who she really is. The story is definitely thought-provoking and a deep read.

Migrations: A Novel
by Charlotte McConaghy

Finding that which is lost (4/6/2020)

Imagine a world without wildlife. That is the backdrop for this unsettling story about Franny— searching to fill the holes in her life. How can she heal the feelings of loss, abandonment, and wanderlust that control her? She thought she'd found the answer with her husband, Niall. In homage to Niall, she undertakes a sojourn to trace the migration of the Arctic Tern, rumored to be the last of their kind. On the journey, Franny is forced to deal with her demons. The supporting cast of characters add flavor and depth to the story. The ending was unexpected and well worth the read. This well-written book also reinforces the timely ideal of protecting our habitat and wildlife. I recommend it.

Patsy: A Novel
by Nicole Dennis-Benn

Misguided dreams (6/2/2019)

I wasn't a big fan of the main character, Patsy. She basically abandons her daughter, Tru, to join her friend (former lover) Cicely in America. Cicely has lied about her life in America and is actually married and has a child. Patsy works hard to build a life, but ignores her daughter back home. Tru and Patsy both suffer because of Patsy's decisions. The book is well written. I don't think my book club of older ladies would like it.

After Anna
by Lisa Scottoline

Worth the Read (4/12/2018)

I enjoy Lisa Scottoline and this book didn't let me down. Maggie lost custody of her child, Anna, who is now 17. Anna's father and step-mother are killed in an accident and Maggie finally has the opportunity to have Anna rejoin her life. Her husband, Noah, and step-son are eager to have Anna join the family. However, Anna is not the sweet girl they expected. Anna sets Noah up. I won't tell you more as there are twists to this story. It definitely holds one's attention. My only complaint is the bouncing back and forth of the story in the beginning. Hang in there, because it is worth the read!

Motherhood
by Sheila Heti

Don't waste your time! (2/9/2018)

I had to force myself to finish this book. It was awful. It was so depressing. The narrator and her mother were both depressed, as was the whole book! The narrator was always whining and blaming others for her lack of decisiveness about having a baby. I also hated the coin answers to her self-centered questions. The whole book was a waste of my time!

All We Shall Know
by Donal Ryan

Didn't like the main character (1/17/2018)

This was an OK book but not my favorite. I just couldn't warm up to the main character, Melody Shee. I understood her need to become pregnant, but not her anger at the world. She doesn't seem willing to take responsibility for anything. I did like the ending as she seemed to be a more caring person at that point. I did like Mary Crothery, the young Traveller who was also an outcast.

Best Day Ever: A Psychological Thriller
by Kaira Rouda

Inside the Mind of a Narcissist (1/14/2018)

I don't think I've ever read a book in which I hated the main character, Paul Strom, yet couldn't stop reading. Little by little, the evil within this man is revealed. You can't help rooting for his wife, Mia, to escape. It's a dark book, but I liked it. I didn't give it five stars because he seemed to get away with some actions that I felt he would have been caught for, and prosecuted for. Not sure how he got out of those. Good read though.

Anatomy of a Miracle
by Jonathan Miles

Anatomy of a Miracle (1/11/2018)

I found this a very thought provoking book. Cameron, who has been paralyzed for four years, suddenly rises from his wheel chair and walks. Is is a miracle? Many try to prove or disprove the validity of the occurrence. Others try to profit from it. Cameron seems baffled by the whole thing. Even the Vatican gets involved, trying to tie it to a man they want to make a saint. The characters are well-written and easy to follow. I did find the book a bit long. I do recommend it and would like to add this quote from the book, p. 250, "...he'd stolen reality from them." An interesting concept— exactly what is the reality here? Read the book and find out!

The Weight of Ink
by Rachel Kadish

Nothing to rave about (6/22/2017)

The book was long! Take out at least 100 pages! The characters and story line were fine, but too drawn out. I forced myself to read the whole book and regret doing so. I would not recommend this book.

The Weight of Ink
by Rachel Kadish

Just too much (6/18/2017)

The book has two interesting main characters and a good story line. However, it needed to be shortened. I often felt the story was dragging on. It would have been better with 100 less pages, which wouldn't have hurt the story line at all. I saw that someone had written that it was a "page-turner". I found it slow. I wouldn't recommend it to others.

The One-in-a-Million Boy
by Monica Wood

The boys legacy (4/27/2017)

This was such a wonderful book. The characters are so well-written and you find yourself wanting the best for them. The boy touches hearts and changes lives. It's not your usual "feel good" story, as the characters experience pain.This is the story of their journey. In many ways. it's a story of acceptance. In all ways, in the end, it's a story of love. The boy would be proud!

American Street
by Ibi Zoboi

From Haiti to America (3/15/2017)

Fabiola Toussant and her mother come to America for a new life. Her mother is detained by customs and Fabiola must live with relatives she doesn't remember. The cousins are quite a mixture of personalities and very tough cookies. Quite the culture shock with a range of experiences. I liked the book but didn't love it. I think someone younger (not in their 60's) would like it better. My review is based on a free copy I received.

My Last Lament
by James William Brown

There is much in life to lament (3/2/2017)

The Last Lament is not a happy story. The main character, Alita, performs laments at funerals. She seems to fall into a trance and memorialize the deceased and their life through verse. When asked to tell her story as a lamenter, she actually tells her life story. The majority of which, concerns her life during the war in Greece. It is also the story of her first love, Stelios, and a young neighbor boy with some mental problems. The characters are well-developed. There is a twist at the end of the book, which leaves the reader, and Alita, with further questions.

Extraordinary Adventures
by Daniel Wallace

Edsel Finds His Way! (2/2/2017)

Edsel Bronfman is a character you can't help but root for, probably the most naive man I've ever read about. Yet, one can't help but hope he finds his way and the companionship and love he longs for. Is it an easy journey— absolutely not. The fact that he initially has a timetable to find someone to take a trip with, is the impetus that forces him from his comfort zone to tentatively and awkwardly reach out to others. The path isn't easy and the other characters are diverse and well written. I really enjoyed this book because it is so different. This would make a fun book club selection.

Rise: How a House Built a Family
by Cara Brookins

Finding the Strength (10/7/2016)

I so admire the Brookins family who pulled together to build their own house. Perhaps that doesn't sound so fantastic, until you realize that this was done by a single mother and her four children. (However, the youngest was really too young to help.) This family moved from abuse to strength because they formed a common goal and sacrificed and worked to achieve it. I so admire the fact that they didn't feel sorry for themselves or expect anyone else to "take care of them" or support them. I did like the book and think it would appeal to young adults and adults alike. When describing the abuse and fear, the reader truly feels the family's pain. You also want to cheer as they overcome each insurmountable step in building the house. It's a book of both sadness and joy, and most of all finding strength and each other. (I'm reviewing a pre-release book I won.)

Leave Me
by Gayle Forman

Looking for Answers (7/20/2016)

(I received this book as an Advance Reading Copy.) I really enjoyed this book. It's an easy and enjoyable read. Maribeth Klein is a character I liked and could identify with. After suffering a heart attack, she finds little support or assistance from her husband. Thus, she leaves him and her twins, both in protest and to "find herself." It's a "coming of age" story for adult women. Besides grappling with her marriage, she deals with the issue of her best friend's success, and her own adoption as a child. There are enough story lines to keep one engaged. Her journey is an enjoyable summer read.

The Tea Planter's Wife
by Dinah Jefferies

There are mysteries to sort out in this book (7/7/2016)

I liked The Tea Planter's Wife. The unanswered questions of Savi's intentions toward the various women in the story, Gwendolyn's interpretations of what was happening and had happened in the past, Laurence's not revealing the family history, Verity's treachery and manipulations, the story of twins raised apart— all compose an interesting story. I liked the history of Ceylon that the book revealed. I was glad the book delved into, to some extent, the mistreatment of the workers. There certainly were "haves' and "have nots" in this system. I did lose my patience concerning the poor communication between Gwendolyn and Laurence, but perhaps that was how it was at that time. The book seemed a bit long, but not a bad read.

Reviews by Marcia S. (Ackley, IA)

Top Picks

Members Recommend

Who Said...

Wordplay

Reviews by Marcia S. (Ackley, IA)

Top Picks

Members Recommend

Who Said...

Wordplay

Newsletter