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Reviews by Mary B. (St Paul, MN)

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Jane and Dan at the End of the World
Jane and Dan at the End of the World
by Colleen Oakley
Jane and Dan at the End of the World (1/13/2025)
Knowing nothing about author Colleen OakLey I read and reviewed, before publication, The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise some time ago. I thoroughly enjoyed that book. I enjoyed Jane and Dan as well.

The story is a combination of mystery, thriller, romance and a …more
We'll Prescribe You a Cat
We'll Prescribe You a Cat
by Syou Ishida
We'll Prescribe You A Cat (6/15/2024)
As a cat lover, a book about cats, what's not to love?? Taking place in Kyoto Japan, several magical stories are told. Each story involves someone needing purpose and direction. Hence, a mysterious clinic found by those in need of it. The stories are magical, simply written …more
The Wren, the Wren
The Wren, the Wren: A Novel
by Anne Enright
The Wren, The Wren (8/13/2023)
Not being at all familiar with the work of Anne Enright I had no notion as to what to expect.
The story involves 3 generations of women all navigating through life with the scars of their upbringing.
Each of the women had their story told in alternating chapters of time and …more
The Little Italian Hotel
The Little Italian Hotel: A Novel
by Phaedra Patrick
The Little Italian Hotel (5/16/2023)
I received an advanced copy of this book to read and review from BookBrowse. I had read Ms Patrick's previous book, The Messy Lives of Book People and enjoyed it very much. I enjoyed The Little Italian Hotel just as much.
The cast of characters was wonderful, each with their …more
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
by Colleen Oakley
The Mostly True Story (11/12/2022)
This book was a delight to read. The two main characters are years apart in age and very different in temperament. Thrown together by misfortune, they struggle to maintain a relationship. Both characters became more likable to me as the story went on and I learned more …more
River Sing Me Home
River Sing Me Home
by Eleanor Shearer
River Sing Me Home (9/18/2022)
River Sing Me Home is a beautifully written novel. Ms Shearer states in the Acknowledgements that the main character's story(Rachel) is inspired by a real person. It is the story of a mother who is a slave and her courageous, desperate, and heartbreaking attempt to find the …more
One's Company
One's Company: A Novel
by Ashley Hutson
One's Company (6/7/2022)
One's Company is a very interesting book. The premise is certainly unusual, replication of the television show Three's Company, set and characters. The main character's obsession, in the present, of the 70's sitcom is over the top. As the first person narrative goes on we …more
Peach Blossom Spring
Peach Blossom Spring: A Novel
by Melissa Fu
Peach Blossom Spring (3/20/2022)
This was an incredible book. From the very beginning it held me in. The story is divided into sections by years, starting in 1938 and ending in 2005. Each section could have been its own novel. I was left wanting to know more about each time frame! The story revolves around …more
Housebreaking
Housebreaking
by Colleen Hubbard
Housebreaking (11/13/2021)
Del is a 24 years old, soon to be 25, who can not get her life on track. After her mother's death at age 17, she left everything behind, including the house her mother owned in a small New England town. She lives with her father until his death, only a few years later. One …more
When Broadway Was Black
When Broadway Was Black: The Triumphant Story of the All-Black Musical that Changed the World (aka Footnotes)
by Caseen Gaines
Footnotes (5/11/2021)
I enjoyed this book very much. It is the story of the making of the all-Black Broadway show SHUFFLE ALONG in 1921. It details how Eubie Blake, Noble Sissle, Flournoy Miller, and Aubrey Lyles overcame racism and many other obstacles to be able to bring the show to the stage. …more
The Thirty Names of Night
The Thirty Names of Night
by Zeyn Joukhadar
The Thirty Names of Night (9/6/2020)
I received a free e-edition through Bookbrowse and NetGalley. I very much enjoyed this book. It was not a quick or easy read, but very good. Going back and forth between time frames meant having to pay close attention to each segment. The writing itself was wonderful, …more
The Mountains Sing
The Mountains Sing
by Nguyen Phan Que Mai
The Mountains Sing (2/8/2020)
Beautifully written, but heart wrenching saga of a Vietnamese family through several generations. The story touches on human's inhumanity to others, but also the enduring hope and resiliency of family and friends. Nguy?n Phan's story is about the history of the Vietnamese …more
The French Girl
The French Girl
by Lexie Elliott
The French Girl (10/18/2017)
Written in first person narrative, we find the main character(narrator) dealing with events that happened 10 years ago. The story begins with the group at the center of the events having to reconnect. Some have remained friends through the years, others have not for various …more
Lady Cop Makes Trouble
Lady Cop Makes Trouble: Girl Waits with Gun #2
by Amy Stewart
Lady Cop Makes Trouble (5/29/2016)
I enjoyed Girl Waits With Gun and was excited to read Lady Cop. I was not disappointed. Ms Stewart weaves together a very interesting story based on historical events. In the continuation of Constance's story her character continues to develop, as well as those of the other …more
We That Are Left
We That Are Left
by Clare Clark
We That Are Left (8/18/2015)
I would have given the book a 4.5 rating if that had been a choice. I enjoyed the book very much but a few times I felt it moved to slowly. The historical aspects of life before and after WW1 I found very interesting, not only the changes in society but also the science …more
The Book of Speculation
The Book of Speculation
by Erika Swyler
Book of Speculation (5/19/2015)
I enjoyed this book very much. Ms Swyler did a wonderful job of moving the story between past and present times. The world of the traveling carnival in the 1700s was very vivid and interesting. The characters in both time periods were colorful and engaging. The book at the …more
Whispering Shadows
Whispering Shadows
by Jan-Philipp Sendker
Whispering Shadows (2/14/2015)
I enjoyed this book from the very beginning. The narratives of the sights, sounds, and history of Hong Kong, Lamma Island, Shenzhen,China and the surrounding areas were as important as the main characters and their individual stories. The food written about throughout the …more
All the Old Knives
All the Old Knives
by Olen Steinhauer
ALL THE OLD KNIVES (1/9/2015)
I enjoyed this book very much. I have read two other books by Olen Steinhauer and liked them very much. All the Old Knives takes place in one small setting with two main characters, but it has all the suspense and intrigue that Mr Steinhauer's other books generate. Although …more
The Paris Winter
The Paris Winter
by Imogen Robertson
The Paris Winter (8/13/2014)
I very much enjoyed the start of The Paris Winter. The story of Paris in the early 1900's and the art world was very descriptive. Strong characters, especially female, were introduced. Then I started to feel that the story was not going anywhere. I'm glad I continued with …more
The Cairo Affair
The Cairo Affair
by Olen Steinhauer
The Cairo Affair (12/26/2013)
I had heard of Olin Steinhauer, but had never read any of his books. After reading The Cairo Affair I will be reading more of his works. The main characters stories are told in separate narratives as they relate to the events in the story and the other characters. The …more
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