BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Harlem Rhapsody
by Victoria Christopher Murray

Rhapsody hits flat note (9/24/2024)

I was excited to read this new offering by Victoria Christopher Murphy about the Harlem , Renaissance in the 1910s. While I learned much about the rising literary stars of the period, I was sorely disappointed by the storytelling. Jessie Fauset , accompanied by her stepmother as her chaperone, had just arrived in Harlem to begin a position as editor of The Crisis magazine. W.E.B. DuBois, Civil Rights activist and co-founder of the NAACP, created the magazine as well as the position for Jessie as the literary editor Jessie was a talented young person but also aided by her secret affair with the married DuBois. The book slogged through endless pages of constant and tedious praise of DuBois. As the story developed, it became clear that Jessie was a woman of unbridled ambition that superseded any morality, love or respect for others. I was left wondering if Murphy really intended her as a role model for young Black women when, to me she was not a role model for women of any color.

Bad Animals: A Novel
by Sarah Braunstein

Bad Animals (1/14/2024)

What began as an introspective and mundane bit of belly button gazing by an insecure librarian became a complex and fascinating look at the true inner workings of a repressed an deluded middle-aged woman. Maeve's identity as a wife and mother is fragile, so her sense of self is sustained by her work at the library. When that abruptly ends, Maeve must find another way to feel meaningful. So begins a story whose multi-layered characters lead us to see that reality exists in the mind, and one mind is not necessarily sharing the reality of another's.
Braunstein's prose is elegant and compelling. However, she muddied the narrative with sub-plots that go unresolved and are unnecessary. The bold daughter and her botany experiments lends nothing to the narrative except to point out how different she is from either parent. One the other hand, Braunstein deftly weaves seeming disparate plot lines – Libby's tale, the lives of refuge Will and librarian Katrina, and the famous author and his wife's relationship into a whole with Maeve as the common thread. Clearly Braunstein is a writer who forces us to ponder what is real and whether perception is reality.

Leaving: A Novel
by Roxana Robinson

Why They Leave (12/9/2023)

This beautifully written novel explores the power of intimacy: what every human needs and what happens when it escapes them. When Sarah and Warren renew their relationship after decades apart, they find the intimacy they lacked in their youth that was the cause of their split. Both have spent years raising children who are now grown, so it seems it is their turn to find happiness together. Robinson's ability to draw the reader into the lives of her main characters is achieved through pitch-perfect dialogue and exquisite description. After finishing the book, I thought about it for days, wondering why Warren's daughter was so despicably characterized. I didn't see the motivation for her feelings about her dad. I finally realized that his betrayal of their intimate father/daughter relationship was an unforgivable act in her eyes. Ultimately this is a story of love –and how communion of two souls is the necessary core of it. Without it, there is no real love.

Above the Salt: A Novel
by Katherine Vaz

A Must Read (9/29/2023)

What an astonishing novel this is. To describe its parts almost seems to diminish the whole that is so much more than the sum of its qualities. Beginning in the mid-19th century and continuing to the end, it is a chronicle of the vast changes taking place America and the turmoil of the Civil War. Ostensibly a love story between John and Mary that survives many obstacles, it is truly a love story of the power forgiveness. Mary's husband, Edward, is the archetype for that, continually displaying a capacity for infinite forgiveness and being rewarded with a lasting love. This saga is wrapped in such beautiful prose that I had to stop and reread so many passages. I can't recall such writing with so many original metaphors. What a treat it was to receive and read this book.

The Witches at the End of the World
by Chelsea Iversen

The Witches at the End of the World (8/10/2023)

I can't decide in which genre this novel belongs. If it is a YA (Young Adult) novel, I would rate it higher than if it is in adult fiction. The mostly flat characters, the predictable plot and the happy ending are all elements that appeal to young readers. Those characteristics are also the ones that do not appeal to me as an adult reader. The sisters were polar opposites, representing good and evil until the very end when they finally had some blurring of their back and white edges. l I found the plot was plodding through more than half the book. The ending invites a sequel, for which I am sure many younger readers would be grateful.

Mrs. Plansky's Revenge
by Spencer Quinn

I love Mrs. Plansky (4/19/2023)

What a refreshing romp I had with Loretta Plansky as she takes matters into her own hands to recover funds that cyber criminals stole in a telephone scam. Armed with a new hip and an indefatigable spirit, she travels alone to Romania to track down her money and to recover her pride. Author Spencer Quinn exhibits his usual clever humor as he treats us to quirky characters both foreign and domestic. At the forefront, though, is Mrs. Plansky who, bolstered by her memories of her dead husband, Norm and skills she gained in her 71 years, proves that a septuagenarian with verve and courage can complete a nearly impossible mission.

The Critic's Daughter: A Memoir
by Priscilla Gilman

Co-dependency at its Worst (1/30/2023)

I was intrigued by the author's mercurial father, the renowned drama critic, Richard Gilman. But as the book progressed, I became increasingly frustrated by the severe co-dependency suffered by the two. Unfortunately, that issue was never resolved, so I failed to understand why she even wrote this. While there were references to her treatment by a psychiatrist, it became clear that her need for unhealthy relationships proceeded from her father to her husband, her sons and finally to her mother. I expected some enlightenment, some progress towards good mental health but there was none. If you want to read a case study of the harm of co-dependency, read this. I did not enjoy it at all. P.S. And lose the overused adjectives!

Moonrise Over New Jessup
by Jamila Minnicks

Unique view of Utopia (12/30/2022)

Historically there has been a longing for an idyllic life. In Jamila Minnicks' new offering, Moonrise Over New Jessup, a black community sees its hope for Utopia resides in segregation. Although all utopian dreams fail, the sincere desire and moral standing of the people of New Jessup make us wish that the dream is realized. Set in the 1960s amid the growing push for integration, the townsfolk, represented by characters Alice and Raymond and his close-knit family, long for a world in which they are not daily humiliated or bullied by the white people of Alabama. Building an independent world with free elections and schools: Raymond knows that by doing so he is preserving the legacy of generations of his family. Alice, his wife, his love, his best companion, and an outsider, comes to cherish this life as much as the generations of New Jessup residents.

While the book ends on a hopeful note, history has taught us that the outside world will encroach on this idealism. Minnicks' prose is lovely and she creates characters that we truly come to care for.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
by Colleen Oakley

On the Road Again (10/13/2022)

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise is a delightful romp across state lines as the title characters try to evade the law. While the road trip and odd couple characters are common tropes, octogenarian Louise is fresh and clever. She is the heart of the story. Author Colleen Oakley's writing is energetic, driving a well-paced plot, involving these two misfits. There are twists and surprises along the way, so really it is not surprising that the ending has an unexpected revelation. Pick up this book if you have nothing else to do, because that is what will happen when you read- nothing - until you finish.

River Sing Me Home
by Eleanor Shearer

River Sing Me Home (9/8/2022)

I was immediately attracted to this book by its lyrical title, and the writing throughout did not disappoint. What did disappoint me was the pace of the narrative. While certainly I felt the long, arduous journey Rachel and her family made through the islands, it was a slog much of the time. Many of Rachel's thoughts were repeated and repeated and while thought-provoking, lost their power through the constant reiteration. I enjoyed the historical aspect of the post-slavery era in the islands, not knowing much of what went on at that time. An average read at best.

The Empire of Dirt: A Novel
by Francesca Manfredi

Coming of age story (6/22/2022)

Frankly, I'm not sure what to think of this book. I even reread the Book of Exodus to see how the plagues in the Bible were relevant to those in the novel. As the plagues freed the Israelite slaves so did the plagues free Valentina from the superstitions of her ultra-religious grandmother and the guilt of her ultra-feminist mother. Or so I guess. This pubescent girl's coming-of-age story is written with vivid honesty, portraying her summer of female awakening; even as a septuagenarian, I could reminisce about her feelings. Author Francesca Manfredi's prose is beautifully translated in this jewel of a book.

On a Night of a Thousand Stars
by Andrea Yaryura Clark

A Book of a thousand details (2/17/2022)

On a Night of a Thousand Stars belongs to a subgenre of historical fiction that toggles between two parallel narratives – set in the past and the present – which play off each other to reveal the horrors that occurred in Argentina's recent past. While I particularly enjoy this way of storytelling, both narratives were sadly bogged down with excruciatingly detailed descriptions of people, locations…everything. This impeded the movement of the plot and detracted from any suspense the author was trying to create. While I wanted to cheer for Santiago and Valentina's love affair, I found their relationship to be callow and not well developed. I did, however, thoroughly enjoyed the history of this time in Argentina and felt well-educated about the political turmoil of those times, something I knew little about.

Housebreaking
by Colleen Hubbard

Housebreaking a disappointment (11/21/2021)

While the tediousness of dismantling a house is clearly felt by the ad nauseum description of it, I was bored by the nearly unrelenting destruction of an empty life. Adela, now known as Del, finds that changing her name does not change her past. Faced with forfeiting her family home, she decides to taunt her treacherous family by moving it across a pond, piece by piece. Hubbard's writing is competent but her unbelievable plot and heavy-handed symbolic ending left me shaking my head.

How to Find Your Way Home
by Katy Regan

How to Find Your Way Home (10/22/2021)

While the premise of a devoted sister finding her long-lost brother is an intriguing one, it in fact falls flat. Author Katy Regan can't seem to decide if the story is a social commentary on the homeless, or a mystery or an ode to nature. The trope of amnesia is well worn and the heavy-handed metaphor of the birds seems strained and awkward. Regan's writing shines when she writes about nature, but it doesn't enhance the plot or characters; rather it is too sharp a contrast to the mood she tries to create otherwise. Not a book I would recommend.

A Million Things
by Emily Spurr

A Million Things (5/11/2021)

Following a gruesome event, youngster Rae must find a way to cope while maintaining an appearance of normalcy. Her elderly neighbor, Lettie, provides a begrudged friendship and the lonely twosome bond. While I liked both spunky Rae and irascible Lettie, I found other characters to be flat and merely foils to move the narrative along. The incident with the dog, Splinter, was implausible though it should have been heart-wrenching. While the ending appears hopeful, I instead felt that it portended more loneliness and isolation for Rae, as her grandmother tries to repair the damage she did to her own child.

The Narrowboat Summer
by Anne Youngson

The Narrowboat Summer (12/14/2020)

Author Ann Youngson has a gift for taking the ordinary and using it as a background to explore complexities of friendship. Two complete strangers agree to ferry a narrowboat through canals in England as a favor to a third stranger. During their languid trip through locks, tunnels and bridges, Sally and Eve perform the quotidian chores of life on a boat while experiencing new relationships. These two women and Anastasia, the narrowboat owner, are each facing an uncertain future where they must decide their places in it. Their newly forged friendship will be the bond that helps them steer the path forward. Beautiful, lyrical writing and a keen sense of place makes this a leisurely read through the English countryside much as the narrowboat glides through the canals.

The Blind Light: A Novel
by Stuart Evers

The Blind Light by Stuart Evers (10/27/2020)

Living with the fear of nuclear holocaust, two families' lives are intertwined after the partriarchs – Carter and Drum – meet as young military men who witness the aftermath of the Bomb in a military simulation. This saga spans nearly 60 years in which we become intimately involved with generations as their stories are told by married couple Drum and Gwen. There is much intimacy between characters, and we get to know these two best. Because of the limited point of view, it is difficult to understand why Drum and Gwen's kids are so angry. But it is the story of Carter and Drum and their devotion to one another that drives the plot. Beautifully written with well-defined settings, this is a book that begs you to slow down and enjoy it.

You Were There Too
by Colleen Oakley

Unable to suspend disbelief (9/4/2019)

When reading literature, we are often asked to suspend our disbelief, to immerse ourselves in the story, to let tale surround and uplift us to join the author in her world. I was never able to do so in Colleen Oakley's You Were There Too. I couldn't buy the constant dreaming of the mystery man who stepped into Mia's reality in small town Pennsylvania. Yes, this is supposed to be a love story, but Mia's perfect husband felt more like a caricature than a fully realized person. The ending was too tidy; and overall it was too predictable.

More News Tomorrow: A Novel
by Susan Richards Shreve

Whodonit With a Twist (4/15/2019)

Creating suspense with a question about an old murder leads this book off with a grabber. The main character, Georgie, is an anthropologist who is driven to discover things that are lost so they can be found. In this instance, it is the true murderer of her mother. Shifts in point of view as well as time slowly reveal the pieces of the murderous puzzle. While several of the characters are well-drawn, others are stock characters who just seemed needed to populate the book. I had hoped for a more satisfying ending – felt a little cheated.

Reviews by Molly O. (Centennial, CO)

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