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Reviews by Darra W. (Mendocino, CA)

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Bright and Tender Dark
Bright and Tender Dark
by Joanna Pearson
Nope ... (4/11/2024)
I was so looking forward to losing myself in Joanna Pearson's debut novel, Bright and Tender Dark! Instead I found myself working much too hard through a meandering plot and superfluous characters to reach the "big reveal" ... and then whodunit? While I appreciate the …more
Above the Salt
Above the Salt: A Novel
by Katherine Vaz
Too Much of a Good Thing (9/24/2023)
On the plus side: In "Above the Salt," the author presents an interesting, well-researched (and to me, largely unknown) slice of 19th century history, particularly about the Catholic/Protestant unrest on the isle of Madeira and the mid-century Portuguese settlement of the …more
The Last Grand Duchess
The Last Grand Duchess: A Novel of Olga Romanov, Imperial Russia, and Revolution
by Bryn Turnbull
Good ... but not "Grand" (12/6/2021)
"The Last Grand Duchess" is a serviceable, if uninspired retelling of the fall of the Romanov dynasty as seen though the eyes of Olga, the eldest of the Tsar's five children. I found the characters rather thinly drawn, and the frequent, alternating timelines distracting, …more
The Fortunate Ones
The Fortunate Ones
by Ed Tarkington
A mixed bag ... and missed opportunity (11/14/2020)
Perhaps Tarkington's novel would have worked better as a series of interconnected short stories, a la Elizabeth Strout's "Olive Kitteridge." Instead, this cautionary tale reads as a rather bloated, disconnected, and at times highly unlikely single narrative that fails to …more
Women Rowing North
Women Rowing North: Navigating Life's Currents and Flourishing As We Age
by Mary Pipher
A mixed bag (5/15/2019)
Given that I'm a fan of Dr. Pipher's earlier work, and that I am well into the "river" that she references in her title, I anticipated the opportunity to review this book with enthusiasm. Sadly, it was not my personal cup of tea. I don't consider my life experience …more
American Princess
American Princess: A Novel of First Daughter Alice Roosevelt
by Stephanie Marie Thornton
Fun, Fast-Paced Historical Fiction (12/1/2018)
Had publications like People, Rolling Stone, and The National Inquirer existed at the dawn of the 20th century, no doubt Miss Alice Roosevelt would have been a frequent cover girl. Stephanie Thorton’s take on the adventures of this larger-than-life “first daughter” reveals …more
The Kennedy Debutante
The Kennedy Debutante
by Kerri Maher
Disappointing (6/16/2018)
I approached this book with great anticipation, given the subject matter...and I was so disappointed! I found the storytelling repetitive, the characters one-dimensional, and the writing itself unsophisticated--almost childlike. It's never a good sign when I find myself …more
A Place for Us
A Place for Us
by Fatima Farheen Mirza
Stunning Debut (4/5/2018)
A Place of Us is an amazing debut on many levels. It ticks off all the expected boxes for good fiction. It is well-written, plotted and paced, and peopled with finely realized characters who speak with clarity and honesty. But it is so much more than that! Perhaps most …more
The Garden of Small Beginnings
The Garden of Small Beginnings
by Abbi Waxman
From the tiniest seed... (5/17/2017)
The garden as metaphor for rebirth is hardly new, but in the hands of author Abbi Waxman, this familiar convention blooms anew. Lilli, a thirty-something widow and mother, discovers an unexpected source of healing when she finds herself coerced into a local gardening class. …more
Les Parisiennes
Les Parisiennes: How the Women of Paris Lived, Loved, and Died Under Nazi Occupation
by Anne Sebba
The "Back Story" (7/25/2016)
If you've ever wondered about the "back story" to recent book-club favorites such as Sarah's Key or Suite Francaise, or films such as Casablanca and The Monuments Men, this detailed, well-researched accounting of life in Paris during WWII provides many answers. Focusing …more
Tuesday Nights in 1980
Tuesday Nights in 1980
by Molly Prentiss
Art (and a City) in Transition (1/13/2016)
In the spirit of full disclosure, I must confess that I have a weakness for books about the art world, particularly the New York art scene of the late 20th century. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed "Tuesday Nights in 1980" . . . and would have regardless of any personal …more
Maud's Line
Maud's Line
by Margaret Verble
Disappointing . . . (7/15/2015)
Based on its subject matter, I had high hopes for this first novel, but sadly, I must agree with those previous reviewers who felt the book lacked depth. It seems that in her eagerness to tell the story, the author skimped on character and thematic development. The ending, …more
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