Reviews by Laurie W. (Sunnyvale, CA)

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The Divorcees
The Divorcees
by Rowan Beaird
An Influential Woman (12/15/2023)
The main plot of this book is about the relationship between two women. One of them (Greer) has a strong and compelling personality and the other (Lois) is eager to follow Greer's lead, whether for good or for ill. Reading it made me consider my own relationships and wonder …more
The Little Italian Hotel
The Little Italian Hotel: A Novel
by Phaedra Patrick
A Light & Uplifting Read (4/25/2023)
I requested this book because it takes place in Italy, hoping to read about familiar places I have visited. While there were brief visits to these popular places, most of the story takes place in a small town. A sub-plot follows two old friends who own hotels - one small …more
This Other Eden
This Other Eden: A Novel
by Paul Harding
This Other Eden review (1/19/2023)
This Other Eden didn't grab my attention from the beginning. I tend to like plot-driven stories. This book spent a long time describing the handful of families living on Apple Island and the day-to-day aspects of their lives, without much happening. However, all this …more
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
by Colleen Oakley
Intergenerational duo on a road trip (10/14/2022)
I expected this book to follow what seems to be a standard plot in a number of books I've read lately - an older person meets a younger person and both of them learn and grow from the experience. While I was correct about this underlying theme, the storyline was more like a …more
Some of It Was Real
Some of It Was Real
by Nan Fischer
Psychic Medium, Childhood Trauma and Romance (3/6/2022)
This book kept my attention from beginning to end. I was able to put aside belief and accept that Sylvia might have some actual psychic ability. The unknown events of her past kept me turning pages to find out what had happened. Narration by both main characters was …more
The Sunset Route
The Sunset Route: Freight Trains, Forgiveness, and Freedom on the Rails in the American West
by Carrot Quinn
Roaming the country to find herself (8/7/2021)
In part, this book is a glimpse into a different way of life that's totally unfamiliar to me. I had no idea that in the 21st century people were still hopping on freight trains to catch a free ride. I can't imagine doing this – it seems scary and uncomfortable – but it's …more
Crossing the River
Crossing the River: Seven Stories That Saved My Life, A Memoir
by Carol Smith
Sharing stories ease suffering (2/16/2021)
This book is at the same time personal and universal. Carol Smith smoothly intertwines narration of the tragedy of her own life – the death of her young son – with stories about tragedies in other people's lives. Being a medical reporter puts her in a unique position to …more
The Prophets
The Prophets
by Robert Jones Jr.
Challenging but worth reading (11/15/2020)
This was a difficult book for me in several ways. Firstly, the experience of slaves in the South is so far removed from my own experience that it's a stretch for me to visualize and identify with the characters. It's enlightening for me to be exposed to this piece of …more
The Big Finish
The Big Finish
by Brooke Fossey
Doing the best they can (11/10/2019)
As a woman in her 60's, I didn't connect with any of the main characters - two old men and an alcoholic young girl, none of whom seemed particularly likable - at first, so it took a while for me to get interested in the story. After a couple of chapters I did get pulled in. …more
Ellie and the Harpmaker
Ellie and the Harpmaker
by Hazel Prior
Quirky musician meets bored housewife (5/8/2019)
Dan, the harpmaker, is an engaging and quirky character that reminds me a little of Forrest Gump. He is extremely earnest, completely devoted to things he loves - making harps, taking nature walks, and making sandwiches to name a few - and rather befuddled by the rest of …more
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
by Hiro Arikawa, Philip Gabriel
For cats and their humans (5/26/2018)
I read Paul Gallico's "The Silent Miaow" many years ago and loved hearing about the world from a cat's perspective, so I was excited to get an ARC copy of "The Travelling Cat Chronicles." It did not disappoint. At first it seemed like a lighthearted adventure, a young man ( …more
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