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Reviews by Suzanne G. (Tucson, AZ)

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Remarkable Creatures
by Tracy Chevalier

Based on history— (8/15/2012)

This is a wonderful story taking place on the shores of Lyme England. Elizabeth Philpot and Mary Anning have a love of fossils in early 1800s. A strong bond of friendship develops between the women, although their social circumstances and backgrounds are so dissimilar. …more

The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl
by Timothy Egan

So much history (8/15/2012)

This was an excellent book: a true story about the the dust storms of the plains during the Depression. Timothy Egan carries a person around the Dust Bowl, showing the reader the courage of those who stayed to endure the terrific tragedy affecting their fields and homes. I …more

The Sometimes Daughter
by Sherri Wood Emmons

Good story line.... (8/15/2012)

Judy was born at Woodstock Festival in 1969. Cassie and Kirk are her hippie mother and father. Cassie is in and out of Judy’s life, constantly leaving to try to find herself. This is the story of Judy’s life with Kirk, who goes back to school and becomes an attorney, and …more

This Burns My Heart: A Novel
by Samuel Park

A tale of Korea (8/15/2012)

It is postwar 1960s and 1970s in South Korea. Soo-Ja doesn’t marry the man she loves but marries the man she feels will fulfill her chance at a successful career. The drama of the love story that evolves is a chance for the reader to learn of the development in South Korea …more

Turn of Mind
by Alice LaPlante

Engaging book (8/15/2012)

An engaging book! An orthopedic surgeon suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. Her best friend is dead. Did Jennifer commit a crime and murder her? The book searches thoughts and actions of those troubled by dementia and the problems of family members dealing with the disease. …more

Winter Garden
by Kristin Hannah

What a shame--a usually good writer (7/14/2012)

This book was far-fetched and full of unbelievable occurrences. I don’t recommend Winter Garden--unless a reader is ready for a stupid fantasy.

Baker Towers
by Jennifer Haigh

A family... (6/28/2012)

The book takes place after WWII in Bakerton, Pennsylvania, a mining town. The Italian and Polish immigrant miners live within the company confines without much of a future. The Towers are two huge piles of mine waste that play a part in the background of the town’s story. …more

The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins

and--I'm not a young adult (age range) (4/20/2012)

I bought this for my granddaughters (10 and 16) and figured I "need to read a few pages in case it might not be suitable." Ho, ho I couldn't put it down and finished it about 6 hours. This is one excellent book. The hype is valid. This story will be a favorite of mine. ' …more

A Partial History of Lost Causes: A Novel
by Jennifer duBois

Fate (12/20/2011)

This is a great book. The time frame of the story is 1979 through 2007. Two main characters meet in Russia in 2006; Irina finds Aleksandr, a former chess champion who she hopes has answers for her questions regarding the outcome of fate. Irina was in first person while …more

Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel
by Jeannette Walls

And the winner is....... (11/17/2011)

Jeannette Walls writes that she honestly has to call her story a novel. She writes about her grandmother's life in the first person, recalling her distinctive voice. After her family interviews she had to use her imagination to write the details of Lily Casey Smith's life. …more

Falling Together: A Novel
by Marisa De Los Santos

Falling, falling, falling (8/29/2011)

This is one of the most unorganized, or maybe I should say over-organized, books I believe I've ever read. There is too much information and over-explaining about insignificant events that have nothing to do with the flow of the story. Not only was I irritated by the …more

Lime Creek: Fiction
by Joe Henry

LOVED IT...... (6/30/2011)

"Lime Creek" is one of my current do-love books. It is written in an unfamiliar manner to me, but after the first page, I was hooked; I couldn't put it down. Even without quote marks (which often nag at me) I felt the story was easy to follow. I just plain was delighted …more

The Language of Flowers: A Novel
by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

A rather interesting story (6/2/2011)

You need to know...I love gardening and flowers. But when a relationship depends on what a given flower portrays, and after a while reading that over and over, I eventually became annoyed. Are there really people who live their lives around such? I liked the character …more

The Year We Left Home: A Novel
by Jean Thompson

LOVED IT...... (5/21/2011)

This was another can't-put-down book. I lived with every family member during the years but actually they lived with me for the two days it took me to read the book, then for a few days thereafter. Jean Thompson's writing seems so smooth and flows so easily. Her …more

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake: A Novel
by Aimee Bender

A very different story (4/11/2011)

This book is fiction and that fact needs to be remembered by the reader! Aimee Bender has created a character who has a terrific burden to bear. I liked her. I thought she stood up so solidly whenever she began to realize what she was eating had an emotional effect for her. …more

Outlander
by Diana Gabaldon

Hard to believe I felt this was a good book!! (3/30/2011)

Outlander is a good story with a lot of action, love, and sex that I usually skipped over. The book was written with great talent: the sentences read smoothly and full of information and great flow. I'm not sure I will search out sequels as I had to question the cool and …more

Ever By My Side: A Memoir in Eight ~~Acts~~ Pets
by Dr. Nick Trout

A good story...... (12/28/2010)

I loved this book. The story contained the full gamut of feelings, from sadness, to laughter, to love, to caring. I particularly enjoyed the parts referring to clinical judgments; the why-fors so to speak. It will be enjoyable for all animal lovers as well as those who may …more

Raising Wrecker: A Novel
by Summer Wood

A good story...... (11/10/2010)

I enjoyed the book very much. I felt some characters could have been expanded to get a better picture of their involvement. For instance: What was Ruth's story? Or Johnny Appleseed's story? "Wrecker" had a predictable ending but the journey there kept my interest peaked. I …more

The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise: A Novel
by Julia Stuart

Love, Love, Love (8/7/2010)

This is a great book. Not knowing about the Tower of London, I learned so much. The characters are wonderful. I had two or three laughs per page. This was such a pleasing read. I have to disagree with one review: I found no repetitiveness of phrases within the book. But …more

A Thread of Sky: A Novel
by Deanna Fei

Just OK (4/12/2010)

This book didn't keep my interest. I feel it to be superficial and hard to understand the whys and why-fors. It took rereading sections, yet I still had trouble getting everything straight. Such a shame for me; I'd looked so foreword to reading it. An Amy Tan? Not!

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