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Reviews by Mary Anne R. (Towson, MD)

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The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World
The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World: A Novel
by Laura Imai Messina
The Phone of the Wind (1/23/2021)
This is the best novel I've read in a long time. I felt the spiritual message of the story and thought of it more spiritual versus fantasy. From the beginning I was touched by Laura Imai Messina's poetic manner of writing. She developed her characters in a delightful and …more
The Patron Saint of Pregnant Girls
The Patron Saint of Pregnant Girls: A Novel
by Ursula Hegi
The Patron Saint of Pregnant Girls (5/14/2020)
This was a difficult novel for me to get into at first. The beginning scenes enveloped me in sadness. Maybe because of the pandemic I had trouble reading further but I am glad I did. Once the characters,so many characters, appeared on the scene I wanted to know them and …more
The Yellow Bird Sings
The Yellow Bird Sings: A Novel
by Jennifer Rosner
The Yellow Bird (12/19/2019)
The yellow bird sings a song of hope,encouragement, and comfort in Jennifer Rosner's novel. The characters display the good,evil and mixed actions during WW2. The little girl,Zosia,strength and development is beautifully described as is the pain and courage of her mother.

I …more
The Seine
The Seine: The River that Made Paris
by Elaine Sciolino
The Seine (10/26/2019)
This is a book I needed to read slowly in order to absorb the wealth of the Seine's story. The author covers the geography,history,archaeology,ecology and other aspects of this river. Elaine Sciolino's bibliography is extensive. To get in the mood of traveling along the …more
The Volunteer
The Volunteer: One Man, an Underground Army, and the Secret Mission to Destroy Auschwitz
by Jack Fairweather
The Story of Witold Pilecki (5/10/2019)
This book is the history of Witold Pilecki's heroic efforts to let the world know of the evil of Auschwitz. I embraced the brave work of Witold and the many heroes I met in this book. The author includes a list of characters in the back of the book. When I met a new …more
Greek to Me
Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen
by Mary Norris
Greek To Me (3/3/2019)
Mary Norris' memoir shows how her love of things Greek-the language,the history and the myths-blended with her life experience of joys and sorrows to define who she is.

I found the in this author a kindred spirit because I too fell in love with Greece ago. The author's …more
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
by Hiro Arikawa, Philip Gabriel
The Traveling Cat Chronicles (12/14/2018)
I loved having a bright, funny, sensitive cat for the narrator. This novel has so many emotions displayed through the characters. It is a wonderful read.
The Night Tiger
The Night Tiger: A Novel
by Yangsze Choo
The Night Tiger (12/13/2018)
Yangtze Choo is a wonderful writer. She has written a multilayered novel with many twists and turns. Despite some dark elements like murder and nasty characters and other worldly characters like the weretiger I found the novel delightful.

The protagonists are beautifully …more
A Ladder to the Sky
A Ladder to the Sky: A Novel
by John Boyne
A Ladder to the Sky (9/18/2018)
Powerthesaurus.org has 913 synonyms for the word despicable. If there are even more words for despicable I would lump them together to describe Maurice Swift, the novel's main character. The author is very gifted in character development. It is Swift's innate evilness that …more
Paris Echo
Paris Echo
by Sebastian Faulks
Paris Echo (8/11/2018)
I thought this was a thought provoking novel. I needed to read it slowly to understand the complex characters and their relationship,especially between Hannah,the American historian and Tariq,the young man on a mission to learn about his deceased mother.

I liked the …more
The House of Broken Angels
The House of Broken Angels
by Luis Alberto Urrea
The House of Broken Angels (2/12/2018)
When I came to the last page I asked myself if if the story really ended. I wanted more.

I became very fond of Big Angel and his complicated family and their complicated lives. Big Angel is vulnerable man who is full of life, energy and kindness despite life events that …more
Extraordinary Adventures
Extraordinary Adventures
by Daniel Wallace
Edsel's Adventures (2/14/2017)
This is a fun novel to read. The protagonist, Edsel, is the type of person I at times felt very sorry for. At other times I laughed out loud with him and cheered for him The author created a delightful and memorable character.

Edsel's quest for a partner to join him on a …more
Karolina's Twins
Karolina's Twins
by Ronald H. Balson
Hope in the midst of darkness (7/14/2016)
I loved Lena's story of love and friendship amid the horrors of the Nazi occupation. Lena is a survivor-she is strong but has secrets.

I loved the authors character development of the people in Lena's life. Even characters we meet only once are memorable,like the Rabbi who …more
Everyone Brave is Forgiven
Everyone Brave is Forgiven
by Chris Cleave
A war story to read and reread (5/12/2016)
This novel takes place on 2 fronts of world was 2---London and Malta. The description of the destruction done by the Blitz to places and to the people is heartbreaking. The sacrifices of the soldiers on Malta made me cry.

The characters are complex. Most I wanted the best …more
The Language of Secrets
The Language of Secrets
by Ausma Zehanat Khan
The Language of Secrets (11/14/2015)
From the beginning this novel propels the reader into a complicated web of tension. The tension is global;Islam vs the West; Toronto's Islamic community versus the non-Islamic community; Esa(the protagonist) vs other authority in the police department. The tension continues …more
When the Moon Is Low
When the Moon Is Low: A Novel
by Nadia Hashimi
When the Moon Is Low (9/3/2015)
Nadia Hashimi has written a novel that touched my heart. Fereiba's love of family and Saleeem's burning desire to support and protect his family as he matures from boy to man propels this novel. I held my breath as each challenge resulted in success,escapes or another …more
Jade Dragon Mountain
Jade Dragon Mountain
by Elsa Hart
Jade Dragon Mountain by Elsa Hart (6/5/2015)
Jade Dragon Mountain is a novel to be savored. At times I forgot to follow the complex and simply enjoyed the sights, the sounds, tastes and smells of 18th century Yunnan China. She has a gift for description-I felt I was present in this place.

Through the story I received …more
Little Black Lies
Little Black Lies
by Sharon Bolton
Little Black Lies (4/17/2015)
Sharon Bolton uses three individuals to narrate her story of how these people were touched by the death of Catrin's children. All three people are flawed and all affected by the death. In each of the narrations we learn the of angels and demons. Her characters are dynamic. …more
House of Echoes
House of Echoes: A Novel
by Brendan Duffy
House of Echoes (2/9/2015)
Mysteries of the past of this house are connected to mysteries of the present by a cloud of sinister activities. These events are skillfully crafted by the author Brendan Duffy. Character development Is excellent. I wanted the best for the main characters from the beginning …more
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