Reviews by Ann B. (Bethlehem, PA)

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The Lost Notebook of Edouard Manet
The Lost Notebook of Edouard Manet: A Novel
by Maureen Gibbon
Marvelous (7/2/2021)
Marvelous, a work of art. While Manet painted his masterpieces with a brush, Maureen Gibbon paints with words. Using a journaling style, Gibbon recounts the final years of Manet's life as he endures complications from syphilis. As an art enthusiast, selecting this book …more
Raft of Stars
Raft of Stars
by Andrew J. Graff
Harrowing Adventure (11/14/2020)
The story's core revolves around two boys, Fish and Bread, who have formed friendships during several years of summer vacation time together. While their friendship has grown over the years, it is laden with secrets and lies that haunt them. One evening, after confronting …more
The Paris Hours
The Paris Hours: A Novel
by Alex George
Breathtaking (2/1/2020)
After receiving The Paris Hours this week, I began eagerly reading this highly endorsed book. The consistent arrangement of the chapters in repeated quartets was genius, a foreshadowing of how the characters' lives are woven together like a beautiful hair braid. I read with …more
The Yellow Bird Sings
The Yellow Bird Sings: A Novel
by Jennifer Rosner
A Musical Concerto (12/4/2019)
The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner is a tribute to the resilience of human nature and the bond between a mother and daughter. Rosener seamlessly weaves the lives of Rosa and her daughter Shira together like a beautiful piano concerto. First, the right-hand plays its …more
The Secrets We Kept
The Secrets We Kept: A novel
by Lara Prescott
A Back Story to Die For (7/18/2019)
A novel comes along every once in a while that one regrets it reaching an end. This is truly one of them. This historic back story to one of the most famous modern love stories in literature is extremely convincing and heartbreaking. Doctor Zhivago enlightened many …more
Never Have I Ever
Never Have I Ever
by Joshilyn Jackson
Never Did I Ever Really Get It (4/25/2019)
I was very excited to choose this book, as I loved Joshilyn Jackson's Gods of Alabama. This was a much different venture which covered some disturbing topics of abuse, predatory behaviors, and deceit. However, while this was a thriller, it just never rang true. Perhaps the …more
Sold on a Monday
Sold on a Monday
by Kristina McMorris
A Sad Era in Our History (8/30/2018)
While Kristina McMorris acknowledges that the story was not true, it very likely could have been. My own mother, as a young girl, was farmed out to an aunt in Maryland because my grandparents could not feed them all with the small rations allotted. I so love that McMorris …more
A Piece of the World
A Piece of the World: A Novel
by Christina Baker Kline
A Perfect View (1/2/2018)
Beautifully written and hauntingly moving; this story of the life of Christina Olson, the model of the famous Andrew Wyeth painting, Christina's World, will not disappoint and more likely cause you to explore further the amazing artist and his work.
The Essex Serpent
The Essex Serpent
by Sarah Perry
The serpent in us (2/23/2017)
The Essex Serpent in many ways, like Strout's "Olive Kitteridge", details the human element in the characters as they relate to one main character. In this case it is Cora, a recent but not totally unhappy widow. Each character seems to have a story, and Cora becomes …more
The Girl Before
The Girl Before
by JP Delaney
Another Girl Gone Awry (11/14/2016)
I must admit I was drawn to all the "Girl" books that have preceded this one. Yes, I was gone with Gone Girl, rode the Train , and rented Cabin 10, so it was natural for me to elect this First Impressions selection; The Girl Before. The story interestingly moved between, …more
The Book That Matters Most
The Book That Matters Most: A Novel
by Ann Hood
A Book Club Matter (6/5/2016)
The concept of the book sold me immediately. I belong to several book clubs and knew this was a perfect choice for me and perhaps a future book club selection. I read Ann Hood's, 'The Knitting Circle', and enjoy her style and vivid characters. She did not disappoint me in …more
The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs
The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs
by Matthew Dicks
Took Me Back (6/13/2015)
The Perfect Comeback... took me back to my high school lunch table and I realized that no matter what decade we come from that is where the socialization and jockeying for position took place. I embraced the characters and rooted for them to succeed. I loved their journey. …more
The Well
The Well
by Catherine Chanter
Conundrum (2/21/2015)
Indeed Catherine Chanter is a wonderful writer, but I wonder why she chose a paranormal, mystical, suspense crime thriller to debut her prose. At first, I thought I might be reading a story line similar to the movie, "The Village", a cult classic by M. Night Shyamalan. Was …more
The Secrets of Midwives
The Secrets of Midwives
by Sally Hepworth
Not disappointing (12/28/2014)
It was with great anticipation that I selected The Secret of Midwives. After all, I am an ardent fan of the PBS series Call the Midwife and still hold Chris Bohjalian's book, Midwives in a place of honor among thrilling reads. However, as I began to read, I quickly wondered …more
Vanessa and Her Sister
Vanessa and Her Sister
by Priya Parmar
An enlightened read (10/21/2014)
The story of Vanessa ( Stephen ) Bell and her famous sister, Virginia ( Stephen) Woolf is brought to life through the journal entries and correspondences of the sisters and other friends of the famous Bloomsbury Group at the turn of the century. As an art lover of the …more
Under the Wide and Starry Sky
Under the Wide and Starry Sky
by Nancy Horan
A Love Story (11/14/2013)
I was so excited to read Nancy Horan's new book after her dynamic first book, Loving Frank. Although the subject, the tumultuous relationship of Robert Louis Stevenson and Fanny Osbourne, seemed a similar topic. While Under the Wide and Starry Sky is not nearly as fast …more
The Edge of Normal
The Edge of Normal
by Carla Norton
An Edgy Read (7/10/2013)
The Edge of Normal certainly has a current event theme, namely, Cleveland, Ohio's recent kidnap scene. At the heart of Edge... is a depraved serial kidnapper and rapist. I applaud Carla Norton for not becoming overly graphic in her details of rape and torture, but …more
Close My Eyes
Close My Eyes
by Sophie McKenzie
A Thrilling Ride (4/22/2013)
Like any good roller coaster thrill ride, you climb into the car, strap yourself securely, and begin the climb to the top. So goes this mystery thriller. Along the way, the characters are introduced, setting and plot are developed and predictions and conclusions are drawn …more
Palisades Park
Palisades Park
by Alan Brennert
Take the ride with Palisades Park (2/13/2013)
Alan Brennert has written a wonderfully descriptive book that entertains, enlightens, and at times leaves you breathless.

As a ten year old boy, Eddie Stopka spent the best day of his life with his family at Palisades Park in 1922 . There was a reverence he felt just …more
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