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Reviews by Sandi W.

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A Burning: A novel
by Megha Majumdar
three separate story lines... (10/9/2020)
Contemporary India - three separate story lines - a debut novel.

There is Jivan a young female finding herself in jail for the terrorism act of causing a fire on a public train filled with people...

There is Lovely, a hijra, known as a 'he-she' desiring to be a famousmore
Ask Again, Yes
by Mary Beth Keane
challenges that a family can face... (10/9/2020)
Neighborhood children fall in love and end up years later married. But not before there is a shooting of one parent and one parent committed. A lot of drama and obstacles to overcome between these two families to be able to find a happy ending.

This is the first Keane book Imore
Nothing to See Here
by Kevin Wilson
laughing out loud funny... (10/9/2020)
A quirky story about a dysfunctional family and children who needed the best of care.

The twins, Bessie and Roland, tended to combust into flames when things did not go their way. Lillian was their governess and the only one who could help them and calm their fears. Set upmore
When These Mountains Burn
by David Joy
Joy is gritty and in your face... (10/9/2020)
I enjoy books by David Joy due to their grit and salt of the earth presentation. The blatant in-your-face, no-holds-barred story telling. Stories told clear and precise. Joy tells stories that other authors placate and tell through assumptions and overtures and by hintingmore
My Dark Vanessa: A Novel
by Kate Russell
from the teenagers’ point of view... (10/9/2020)
Do not be fooled - this is a book about sexual abuse. It is not about seduction, or about love. This is a story about an adult, 42-year-old, male teacher grooming his teenage students. There are parts that are hard to read after understanding the premise of the story.

Withmore
Valentine
by Elizabeth Wetmore
Seven narrators sounds like a lot...but... (10/9/2020)
Originally I wanted to give this book 4 stars - I did really enjoy most of it. However this author wrote without quotation marks. WHY??!?! In my opinion, a terrible mistake for an author, especially for a new author. Usually I would have just quit the book and given it away,more
The Reckless Oath We Made
by Bryn Greenwood
duped by the synopsis... (10/9/2020)
Basically this is the story of a Zhorzha, who is trying to find her missing sister LaReigne. Along for the ride is Gentry - described as "Gentry is an actual knight, complete with sword, armor, and a code of honor." Therein is where the problem exists...

I must admit that Imore
Such a Fun Age
by Kiley Reid
clutter of characters... (10/9/2020)
I like to change it up every once in awhile and read a contemporary cozy or fluff piece. Usually I really like them because they are of a light subject and easy read. In my literary world they are a pallet cleanser, entertaining and easy on the brain.

However... I was not amore
Burial Rites
by Hannah Kent
will you commiserate with Agnes... (10/9/2020)
I like historical fiction in general, but I really liked this story. Add mystery on top of historical fiction and that made it all the better. This was based on a true story, and even some names and places are actual, while others were changed for privacy reasons and themore
The Vanishing Half: A Novel
by Brit Bennett
our past helps to dictate our future... (10/9/2020)
We all know that our past helps to dictate our future. We can run from our past, turn our backs on people and places from the past, disavow our past in many ways, but still it remains. Everyday of our life stays with us, including the past.

Two girls, twins, take separatemore
Curious Toys
by Elizabeth Hand
All the elements that I like... (10/9/2020)
All the elements that I like - some characters based on real live people, takes place in the early 1900's, a little bit of a mystery, and set in an amusement park.

The protagonist is Pin, a young girl, who dresses as a boy (not a spoiler) and roams the midway while hermore
The Big Door Prize
by M.O. Walsh
enjoyable... (10/9/2020)
Swab your cheek. Read your DNA. Change your life! What could be easier?

That is the premise of the story. Small town Louisiana installs a photo booth type DNAMIX fortune teller in their local grocery store. For $2 change your life - get the readout and learn just what yourmore
Ruthie Fear: A Novel
by Maxim Loskutoff
Very unusual... (7/9/2020)
2.5 stars Thank you to BookBrowse and W.W. Norton Company for allowing me to read this book. Expected publication: September 1st 2020

For me this book was very unusual. There were some beautiful descriptions of the Montana landscape and mountain ranges throughout the story,more
The Madwoman and the Roomba: My Year of Domestic Mayhem
by SandraTsing Loh
Neurotic !! (5/4/2020)
2 stars Thanks to BookBrowse and W W Norton and Company for allowing me to read this ARC. Publishes June 2, 2020

Totally neurotic!! Throughout the whole book there was only a couple of spots that I could relate to this woman. Having been born to a hypochondriac drama queen,more
He Started It
by Samantha Downing
Surprise... (3/25/2020)
From page one I started enjoying this book. It is a book of secrets, told through a family trip. And a trip it is, not a vacation.

A family of three sibling, plus spouses, take a cross country trip, one they took as children. Then they took the trip with their Grandfathermore
I Want You to Know We're Still Here: A Post-Holocaust Memoir
by Esther Safran Foer
'A Post Holocaust Memoir' (12/15/2019)
It has been a while since I have read a book on the Holocaust. Although I am not of Jewish faith, each book seems to dredge up feelings and images that are simply overwhelming. Knowing that this was a memoir - dubbed as 'A Post Holocaust Memoir' - I went into it very slowly,more
The Big Finish
by Brooke Fossey
Laugh out loud funny... (11/5/2019)
What a funny, funny book. Has been some time since I have laughed out loud at a book. But this one did it.

A local nursing home, an old curmudgeon and his roommates granddaughter. These make for a cute, funny and heartfelt story. As Duffy and Josie come to an understanding,more
Never Have I Ever
by Joshilyn Jackson
slow start to devious plot (8/9/2019)
A knock comes at your door. A new neighbor introducing themselves. How innocent can that be?

In this case, nothing but madness. As Roux injects herself into Amy's life all hell breaks loose. Amy is a happy comfortable house wife with a new baby, step daughter and wonderfulmore
My Life as a Rat
by Joyce Carol Oates
Relationships, survival, and overcoming family separation... (7/21/2019)
3.75 starts Thank you to Ecco for allowing me to read and review this ARC. Published on June 4, 2019.

How do you make moral decisions? Does it depend on the circumstances? Depend on who may be involved? Depend on the outcome or on who knows what your decision is? Would thatmore
The Silent Patient
by Alex Michaelides
Where does the transference start and stop? (7/21/2019)
4.5 stars

Ewww! I feel like an idiot! I did not follow the clues at all! I was gobsmacked when the plot twist happened. This was a good book! I look forward to reading more by Michaelides. This book is worthy of a seasoned author, and being Michaelides' debut novel only hasmore

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