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Reviews by Iris F. (West Bloomfield, MI)

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Black Widows
Black Widows: A Novel
by Cate Quinn
The Black Widows (1/13/2021)
To coin a phrase "this book had me at hello...". Short succinct chapters drew me in immediately. My curiosity about Mormons and other secretive groups such as Scientology, Jim Jones cult grabbed me. The three wives had well developed and distinct personalities and I felt …more
With or Without You
With or Without You: A Novel
by Caroline Leavitt
With or Without You (5/11/2020)
With or Without You was a perfect book for a shelter at home binge read. It grabbed my attention from the very beginning and never let go.

It started with an argument between Stella and Simon, a very happy and loving couple. The conflict was put aside due to a medical …more
You Were There Too
You Were There Too
by Colleen Oakley
You were there too (8/15/2019)
I began this book reluctantly as I felt the writing style was juvenile and trite. There were very long and rambling run-on sentences and an abundance of trite, needless metaphors.

At some point the writing style improved and the story had my full attention. There was much …more
Never Have I Ever
Never Have I Ever
by Joshilyn Jackson
Never Have I Ever (4/16/2019)
I have come to enjoy the many psychological thrillers that have been on the market in recent years and find them to be a fun change from the more serious books I'm typically drawn to. I did enjoy this book even though it was flawed.

Char's neighborhood book club had been in …more
The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls
The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls
by Anissa Gray
The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls (10/24/2018)
Reading this book was like peeling an onion. There were many layers and the author cleverly revealed them one layer at a time which made for an interesting read. Each character with the exception of Joe was flawed which made them more believable. Told through the …more
Salt Houses
Salt Houses
by Hala Alyan
Meaningful and Well Written (7/12/2018)
This was a meaningful and well written book. My heart went out to this family and I was moved by the women who took their food and customs with them wherever they went to make every new residence a home.

As a Jew it was difficult to see the animosity and the radicalization …more
Our House
Our House
by Louise Candlish
Our House (7/11/2018)
I was looking forward to reading this book. From the description it sounded like it was in the same genre as Gone Girl or Girl on the Train. These books are not fine literature but they are a fun, fast read. I was highly disappointed. The premise was based on preposterous …more
The Resurrection of Joan Ashby
The Resurrection of Joan Ashby
by Cherise Wolas
The Resurrection of Joan Ashby (6/6/2017)
At the start of this book I was put off by what I came to realize were excerpts from Joan Ashby's prize winning short story collection. When I got beyond that I settled into what I thought would be an enjoyable read. I was wrong. I found this book mildly disturbing and much …more
Karolina's Twins
Karolina's Twins
by Ronald H. Balson
Karolina's twins (7/14/2016)
From the very first page of Karolina's Twins I was hooked. There was never a place where I felt "safe" to put the book down as I was always eager to see what followed. The writing was fluid and seamless The story is told by the protagonist, Lena Scheinman in a …more
The Children
The Children
by Ann Leary
The children (5/26/2016)
I was initially very disappointed with this book. For almost 100 pages I felt that the story felt contrived as the author worked hard to be funny at the expense of the story. When the "humor" ended the story improved tremendously. The characters were fleshed out and …more
What Lies Between Us
What Lies Between Us
by Nayomi Munaweera
What lies between us (12/2/2015)
Every once in a while a book comes along that grabs your attention immediately so that you are almost mesmerized. This is such a book!

Set on the island of Sri Lanka the story is told in first person. The protagonist's
name is never mentioned. I feel that this was very …more
He Wanted the Moon
He Wanted the Moon: The Madness and Medical Genius of Dr. Perry Baird, and His Daughter's Quest to Know Him
by Mimi Baird with Eve Claxton
He Wanted the Moon (2/12/2015)
Personally aware of the devastation to family and friends as well as to the victim of manic depression I had some misgivings about reading this book. However, I was immediately absorbed in the tragic story of the brilliant
Dr Perry Baird. This was a man whose life was …more
Her
Her
by Harriet Lane
Her (5/28/2014)
Through two incidents which should have appeared to Emma to have been too unlikely to be a coincidence, Emma and Nina become friends. The cause of Nina's obsession,when it is finally revealed, doesn't seem significant enough to have warranted her actions. At times I found …more
House of Bathory
House of Bathory
by Linda Lafferty
House of Bathory (1/4/2014)
When I requested The Countess of Bathory I was unaware that the Countess was an actual historic figure. My first impression was that I had entered into a book dealing with supernatural characters which is a genre that doesn't appeal to me. However, I was almost immediately …more
The Mouse-Proof Kitchen
The Mouse-Proof Kitchen
by Saira Shah
The Mouse-Proof Kitchen (7/1/2013)
This book begins with the birth of Freya, a profoundly disabled baby whose parents, Anna and Tobias, have very different views of how they wish to handle the future of their child, I could empathize with both. I thought that this would develop into an emotional read that …more
Golden Boy
Golden Boy
by Abigail Tarttelin
Golden Boy (1/20/2013)
It's a rare treat to come across a novel that is as well written and compelling as Golden Boy. From almost page one I was hooked and found myself sneaking away to read. Though there is a scene early on that is not for the feint of heart, and the subject matter is …more
The Good Father
The Good Father: A Novel
by Noah Hawley
The Good Father (12/8/2011)
I began reading The Good Father with the expectation that it would have the same emotional impact of We Need To Talk About Kevin. The opening pages flew through my hands, but disappointment came quickly. The emotional response of a father who comes face to face with his son …more
The Homecoming of Samuel Lake
The Homecoming of Samuel Lake: A Novel
by Jenny Wingfield
The Homecoming of Samuel Lake (7/15/2011)
Every once in a while a book comes along that takes you on a ride and touches your very soul. The Homecoming of Samuel Lake has that rare quality. Set in Arkansas in the '50's and beginning with a family reunion, this is a family saga that is rich in character development …more
The Sweetness of Tears
The Sweetness of Tears: A Novel
by Nafisa Haji
tHE SWEETNESS OF TEARS (3/1/2011)
When brown-eyed Jo March discovers that it is genetically impossible for her blue-eyed parents to have produced her and her twin brother, she seeks answers to her true parentage. Thus unfolds a multi-generational and multi-cultural story which is told in the voice of many …more
The Beauty of Humanity Movement
The Beauty of Humanity Movement: A Novel
by Camilla Gibb
The Beauty of Humanity Movement (12/24/2010)
As one who lived through the turmoil perpetuated by the Vietnam War, I've reacted to this lovely book on many levels. The first was in the reliving of the horror of body bags televised nightly combined with the civil unrest perpetuated by this very unpopular war. Now some 30 …more
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