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Reviews by J W. (Davis, CA)

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Ariadne
Ariadne
by Jennifer Saint
Greek mythology made interesting (3/28/2021)
A fascinating mix of story and myth. We've all heard some of the Greek myths but often they were just bloody and we had to glean the lessons to be learned from them. Ms. Saint pulls a good many of them together, or references them in a cohesive way, to make this story of …more
Black Widows
Black Widows: A Novel
by Cate Quinn
Full of surprises to the very end (12/21/2020)
A very long book and I anticipated boredom somewhere along the way. Uhuhh...this one kept me guessing and interested the whole time. Obviously well researched and there must have been direct contact with participants in this whole unorthodox way of life to be able to relate …more
Piranesi
Piranesi
by Susanna Clarke
Weird and wonderful (8/16/2020)
This book will not be for everyone. It is fascinating and reads like you have been using a magic mushroom. Lots of detail and imagining. It boiled down to a very simple premise but took a most complicated path to that revelation. Susanna Clarke - I would love to get to know …more
The Sun Down Motel
The Sun Down Motel
by Simone St. James
A good ghost story (11/16/2019)
In general, this was a good mystery/ghost story. I found the past-present format a bit annoying, but understand why the author did this. It's just not my favorite way to read a story.
This was not a literary book but the writing and premise was sufficient to keep me going. …more
The Overstory
The Overstory: A Novel
by Richard Powers
Remorse (11/19/2018)
Reading this book brought a revelation. It also made me very sad that it was not available to read 70 years ago. I grew up in logging country and lived in Humboldt County during the 70s, 80s and 90s when all the timber wars took place. If I had had this book to read then, I …more
My Lovely Wife
My Lovely Wife
by Samantha Downing
Who is the psychopath? (10/14/2018)
This story is GOOD. Haven't enjoyed a mystery/thriller as much as this in a very long time. Just when the reader thinks they know it all - they don't! It is creepy and disturbing but so well constructed that one cannot put it down. The characters are believable and clever …more
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
by Hiro Arikawa, Philip Gabriel
Sweet story, but... (5/18/2018)
This is a sweet story and, if it wasn't so sad, it would make a good children's book. But, if it is intended for adults, it is very poorly executed. I am not sure if this is because of the writing (originally in Japanese) or the translation. The exchanges between characters …more
The French Girl
The French Girl
by Lexie Elliott
Tight editing may help (9/26/2017)
I'll probably be in the minority with my opinion of this book but, Oh well.
The letter from the publishing group, that came with the book, made it sound like it would be an in-depth study of six friends and a week of debauchery that took place 10 years prior. The six …more
Edgar and Lucy
Edgar and Lucy
by Victor Lodato
Better than anything I've read in a long time (12/14/2016)
Brilliant. This is not just a great American novel, it is a great human novel. This is the finest writing I've read in a very long time. Victor Lodato deserves every literary accolade available for this one.

The story is about human-ness. It is about love in all forms. It …more
The Next
The Next
by Stephanie Gangi
Generally well put together (7/16/2016)
I had a difficult time relating to Joanne. Perhaps because I've never been besotted by a man - or anyone else. I can't imagine the need to waste so much time dwelling on the life of someone who has proven to be less than admirable.
Joanne was not a stupid women but …more
The Life of the World to Come
The Life of the World to Come
by Dan Cluchey
Maybe needs a second chance (5/4/2016)
This story spent so much time on the main character's angst, phobias, love-lost, that by the time it got to the second part of story...the part that was worth reading...I had almost given up. Leo is pathetic. He is not interesting enough to care about. He is all that is …more
Hunters in the Dark
Hunters in the Dark
by Lawrence Osborne
Quiet desperation (11/18/2015)
A disturbing book. Leaves one with the feeling that there is little hope for future generations or, indeed, for any generation. At least in the part of the world depicted in Hunters in the Dark. Perhaps Southeast Asia is a magnet for the disenchanted but the lack of …more
Florence Gordon
Florence Gordon
by Brian Morton
Well written (8/30/2015)
I enjoyed the writing style. I abhorred most of the characters. The writing got me through the book in spite of the aversion to the characters. Particularly like the chapter treatment - some long, some very short. To the point and relevant.
The Well
The Well
by Catherine Chanter
A psychological drama written by a psychiatrist (3/3/2015)
This book takes place in an ordinary place under extraordinary circumstances. The time and place is a post global-warmed England. A country in extreme drought which spawns old fears, superstitions, cults, witch hunts and Big Brother among the citizens. It is the story of a …more
Backyard
Backyard
by Norman Draper
The gardening world's 'Best of Show' (10/26/2014)
This was a delight to read. One of my favorite movies of all time is 'Best of Show' which satirizes the dog show world and this book is the 'Best of Show' for the gardening world. If anyone doubts this, they haven't known obsessive gardeners. I have. I know 'Dr. Sproot' …more
Enduring Courage
Enduring Courage: Ace Pilot Eddie Rickenbacker and the Dawn of the Age of Speed
by John F. Ross
A man for the time (4/8/2014)
Enduring courage is truly what Eddie Rickenbacker exhibited in his lifetime. This story is interesting and gives a fairly rounded picture of his life. It was not my favorite true war story - nothing seems to compare with Laura Hillenbrand's "Unbroken" - but it does keep the …more
Girl on the Golden Coin
Girl on the Golden Coin: A Novel of Frances Stuart
by Marci Jefferson
Disappointing (12/29/2013)
Occassionally I'll read a book that leaves me feeling that it should not have been published or wasted the paper it was written on. This, unfortunately, is one of those books. I enjoy historical novels but this offered only surface history and does little to qualify as a …more
Safe with Me
Safe with Me
by Amy Hatvany
Not a 'feel good' book (11/13/2013)
This was a story of tragedy and grief in many domestic forms. The book was quite well written but it certainly didn't leave this reader feeling anything akin to happiness. The voices of Olivia and Hannah seemed genuine but Maddy sounded much too mature for a 16yr old. …more
The Affairs of Others
The Affairs of Others
by Amy Grace Loyd
A Stunning Story of Grief (8/16/2013)
This story is about grief in many forms and how each person deals with his or her own grief. Some ways are expected, others are very surprising. It's a beautifully written book that quietly tells the separate human stories which are at times shocking and often very sad, but …more
Bring Up the Bodies
Bring Up the Bodies: Wolf Hall Trilogy #2
by Hilary Mantel
Who knew history could be so much fun? (5/23/2013)
A very large book - in number of pages and in content - and every page worth reading. Thoroughly enjoyed this one and her first book on the subjects, Wolf Hall. This one was more tightly edited and a bit easier to read because of that, but would recommend both to anyone …more
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