BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

This Strange Eventful History: A Novel
by Claire Messud

Not for me (4/26/2024)

I loved Claire Messud's other books but not this one. This is a very slow moving family saga. I found that the fine storytelling got lost or bogged down in description minutia. As a result, i lost interest in the characters and the narrative. I know that much of the story is based on Messud's life and i wonder if it would have been better as a memoir.

Afterlife
by Julia Alvarez

Enjoyable Read (3/9/2020)

I was delighted to be selected to get a copy of this novel as I'd never read anything by Julia Alvarez. Although she won't become one of my "go to" authors, I did enjoy reading AFTERLIFE. It took me a while to get used to her style and into the book. When I appreciated the way she developed the characters, both individually and as the sisterhood. Though the story focused on Antonia, each supporting character brought out a part of Antonia's personality and that was very effective.

More News Tomorrow: A Novel
by Susan Richards Shreve

A Good Read! (4/22/2019)

This is a most enjoyable and quick that can not be easily classified. The focus is definitely on family relationships, but there is a dash of mystery and a pinch of history to make the story more exciting, The characters were convincing and the author's use of dialogue moves the story along at a good pace.

Paris Echo
by Sebastian Faulks

Disappointed (10/2/2018)

I was very excited to read a book by this author, but Paris Echo proved to be a let down. I appreciate the superb writing style, the wonderful details and the clever intertwined story. But the main characters left me cold and I didn't really care what happened to them.

Sometimes I Lie
by Alice Feeney

An Amazing Debut (12/9/2017)

The book didn't grab me from page 1, but Amber, the main character, intrigued me and the superb writing style kept me going. I'm certainly glad I did. "Sometimes I Lie" turned out to be a masterful thriller with a brilliant narrative that goes back and forth in time very effectively. The author leads the reader bit by bit, clue by clue to an ending that will leave you gasping. I can't wait for the author's next novel.

Love and Other Consolation Prizes: A Novel
by Jamie Ford

A Little Disappointing (7/25/2017)

"The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" was one of my favorite novels. Naturally I had high expectations for this novel. Unfortunately, "Love and other Consolation Prizes" did not move me in the same way. While I did appreciate the novel's back and forth structure, the eloquent writing style, the satisfying character development and the rich historical detail, it won't make my list of favorite reads.

Cruel Beautiful World
by Caroline Leavitt

Cruel Beautiful World (8/21/2016)

Reading a novel like Cruel Beautiful World that evokes an array of emotions in a subtle way is a pleasure. At various times during the story, I felt like shaking Lucy, comforting Iris and Charlotte, crying with Patrick and yelling at Michael. All these characters stepped off the pages into a totally engrossing novel. It is definitely worth reading.

Hunters in the Dark
by Lawrence Osborne

It was all about the writing! (11/15/2015)

I had a very time hard getting into this book. And even when I finally did, I didn't really care very much about the collection of characters. But, I was almost mesmerized by Osborne's precise and elegant writing style. He captures Cambodia's atmosphere so well that I could almost feel the sweltering heat of the jungle. His characters are brilliantly described and his comments about human nature are spot on. I'm glad that I experienced Osborne's suspenseful novel, but I wouldn't seek out another one of his works.

The Good Neighbor
by Amy Sue Nathan

Learning from a Lie (8/27/2015)

Divorced, single mom, Izzy, moves back to her childhood home with her son, Noah where the only person left is her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Feldman. Izzy's ex annoys her because he has moved on and so Izzy decides to start a personal blog as a way of keeping herself amused. When the blog becomes popular, Izzy decides to invent a boyfriend, Mac. This move makes a mess out of Izzy's life and she is forced to deal with the fallout.
The book is both funny and touching. Izzy's character is very well developed and realistic. The story moves along at a turn the page pace and as it does, Izzy's journey is well worth reading about. Her voyage is, at times, frustrating, but in the end, she is rewarded, as is the reader. Izzy learns the meaning of friendship and being true to yourself - an important lesson for all of us.

Between the Tides
by Susannah Marren

Fine First Novel (4/18/2015)

An impressive first novel, "Beneath the Tides" follows the intertwined lives of two women: Lainie Smith Morris, content with a enviable life in New York, who is forced to give up New York and move to Elliot, New Jersey for her husband's job; Jess, the would-be star of the "Housewives of Elliot, New Jersey, if such a reality show existed. These two knew each other as teenagers and the rivalry that existed then continues when their paths cross again in Elliot. One of them is clearly still harboring the animosity and that plays itself out over the course of the novel. The story is told in alternating points of view and that technique was very effective in developing the characters. It was well written with the tension building in a way that turned the novel into a surprising thriller. It's a fun read.

The Silver Witch
by Paula Brackston

Fantasy is not for me (2/17/2015)

My review is a little biased because I am not a fantasy/magic novel fan and reading "The Silver Witch" did not change my mind even though I found it very well written and easy enough to read. It was interesting the way the story alternated between the women in the present and the past: Tilda, the potter who moves to an isolated Welsh cottage, seeking solace after the death of her husband; Seren, the ancient witch who inhabited the lake in Celtic times. Their lives connect through magic, visions, prophecies, and that's when it loses me. For fantasy novel enthusiasts, this is probably a good read. It's just not for me.

The Secrets of Midwives
by Sally Hepworth

Secrets, Secrets (12/23/2014)

I really enjoyed this poignant novel about three generations of midwives, each of whom carries a secret that is revealed during the course of the narrative, told through the eyes of each character. I found that structure quite effective as it helped to paint a picture of not only the character, but also the relationship between them The story is well told and perfectly paced with enough tension and suspense to keep you reading. Pick up this book if you are looking for a story with heart.

Small Blessings
by Martha Woodroof

A Solid Debut (5/20/2014)

Thanks to Martha Woodroof for crafting such an entertaining novel about love and second chances. She created a cast of quirky characters and gave them a plot with enough clever twists and plenty of soul. The crisp dialogue and succinct descriptions help keep the novel moving along. There was good humor as well as sweet sadness --- a good balance.

Last Train to Istanbul
by Ayse Kulin

Now I Know More about Turkey (9/27/2013)

One of the reasons I requested this book was that I didn't know much about Turkey's role in World War II. I did come away from the novel with a much better sense of how Turkey worked to protect its citizens, including Jews, from the Nazis, by jumping through hoops to get them home safely. However, as a novel, it wasn't as compelling by the end as it was at the beginning. The plot became predictable and the characters no longer held my attention. Nevertheless, It was a palatable way to learn a history lesson.

A Man of His Own
by Susan Wilson

Let there be Pax (8/23/2013)

I requested this book because I enjoy books in which dogs play a major role and that was certainly the case with this engrossing and sensitive novel. When, in the Prologue we meet the Pax, puppy abandoned by his mother, it is pretty clear that he is a survivor and is sure to become pivotal in the lives of the other characters, Richard, Francesca and Keller. And that he does. The author tells the story from the point of view of each character, including Pax, and it is very effective. There are dog books and there are dog books and this is one that soars to the top of my list.

Three Things You Need to Know About Rockets: A Memoir
by Jessica A. Fox

You Won't Learn about Rockets (6/26/2013)

This engaging memoir is NOT about a dysfunctional family. It is Jessica Fox's story about how instinct led her to leave a job as a filmmaker at NASA and Google helped her find her destination – a second hand bookstore in Wigtown, Scotland. Waiting for her is Euan, bookstore proprietor and future romantic interest. Fox spins her tale with keen and often humorous observations about her new relationship and her adopted countryside. It's an entertaining enough read and one that may even bring a smile to your face.

The Caretaker
by A .X. Ahmad

What an Impressive Debut! (5/4/2013)

A.X. Ahmad has crafted a riveting mystery with a highly unlikely but engaging hero, Ranjit Singh and he is one of the reasons I enjoyed this so much. Singh has fled his past in the Indian military and now lives on Martha's Vineyard where he labors as a caretaker. When he takes a position working for a Senator, he discovers that the Senator has secrets that could have international implications. As the intrigue unfolds, Ahmad uses flashbacks very effectively to reveal what Singh is hiding and for me this character development is very important. Add crisp dialogue and vivid descriptions and you have a recipe for making me look forward to Ahmad's next book.

Children of the Jacaranda Tree
by Sahar Delijani

Better than average - a 3.5 (2/28/2013)

Set in Post Revolutionary Iran, "Children of the Jacaranda Tree," presents an extraordinary though disturbing picture of the interconnected lives of a group of characters. The more I read, the more I wondered whether the material would have been better suited to a collection of short stories. The writing is compelling and graphic. The novel's weakness is its loose plot which never grabbed my attention even though I found each character's story engrossing.

With or Without You: A Memoir
by Domenica Ruta

Without Me...... (11/24/2012)

If you enjoy reading memoirs about dysfunctional families, then this book is for you. The author is both eloquent and honest. Most readers are sure to empathize with the story she weaves about her childhood and toxic relationship with her mother. I appreciate the author's struggle, but the book just didn't grab me.

The Forgetting Tree: A Novel
by Tatjana Soli

On The Fence (8/13/2012)

The Forgetting Tree has a bit of a saga quality as it follows the journey of Claire, the head of a California ranch family, through tragedy, divorce, cancer and survival. It’s a lot to tackle and it succeeded on several levels, but failed on others. It was very well written and the characters were multidimensional though not always credible. It moved along with a lot of intensity for the first two parts of the book. The third part dragged and lost me. I finished feeling a bit frustrated, but decided that I should try her first book because she is such a superb storyteller

Reviews by Vicki O. (Boston, MA)

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Reviews by Vicki O. (Boston, MA)

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