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Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line
Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line
by Deepa Anappara
Poignant story of Indian children (3/4/2020)
I received this as an ARC from Random House and Netgalley. I'm not sure I would call the book enjoyable, because it ends on a dark note and I wished there had been a different ending. But the author has done a masterful job meeting her stated intentions (in her notes …more
American Dirt
American Dirt: A Novel
by Jeanine Cummins
A different look at the migrant story. (10/30/2019)
Thank you to Flatiron Books and Bookbrowse for giving me the chance to read this upcoming novel. And thanks to Linda as well! After reading an excerpt, I worked so hard to obtain an ARC of this title, I eventually ended up with two!

This is a fantastic slant on the …more
Your House Will Pay
Your House Will Pay
by Steph Cha
Surprising find, great take on 90s race relations (10/30/2019)
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC of this novel. I enjoyed this a lot. It paints a nuanced picture of the aftermath of a racially based set of tragedies, modeled on the killing of a black teenage girl by a Korean business owner in the early 90s. I remember …more
The Lost Man
The Lost Man
by Jane Harper
A Western for those who don’t read Westerns (10/25/2019)
I read this book earlier in the year when it came out in hardback. I can’t remember what caused me to be interested, but my records show I actually bought it on my Kindle. Something or someone’s review must have convinced me to try it! I really do not like Westerns and I …more
The Only Plane in the Sky
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11
by Garrett M. Graff
A must read book for all. (9/18/2019)
A masterpiece of the oral history form. I try not to use hyperbole but I don’t think that statement is. Of course, it’s as heart-rending as you might expect. This narrative style gives a visceral “you are there” feeling more than anything I’ve read about 9/11 (I also rated …more
Cold Storage
Cold Storage
by David Koepp
Not so thrilling thriller (8/21/2019)
Thanks to Ecco and Edelweiss for the ARC of this book. If it wasn’t trying to be a serious thriller, I think I would term this book as silly. Perhaps inane is a better choice here. While this is a thriller along the lines of other biological contaminant-based stories, it …more
The Chestnut Man
The Chestnut Man
by Soren Sveistrup
Engaging Scandinavian serial killer thriller (8/21/2019)
Thanks to Harper Collins and Goodreads for the ARC for review. The writer of “The Killing” TV series (which I enjoyed) has written his first novel. Definitely a must read for fans of Scandinavian crime stories, like the Harry Hole novels. I thought this book was very good, …more
The Long Call
The Long Call: The Two Rivers Series Book #1
by Ann Cleeves
So-so mystery title (8/21/2019)
Thanks to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this upcoming mystery. Overall, it fell flat for me. I didn’t find the mystery story that compelling and yet still felt it was wrapped up rather quickly towards the end. The main character is a …more
The Beekeeper of Aleppo
The Beekeeper of Aleppo: A Novel
by Christy Lefteri
A moving tale of the travails of immigration (8/21/2019)
Thank you so much to Random House Ballantine and Netgalley for the advance reader copy of this book. Wow. What a novel. It’s definitely given me a book hangover because I know the next thing I pick up will not compare. I have read a number of refugee novels over the past …more
The Nickel Boys
The Nickel Boys
by Colson Whitehead
Almost as good as The Underground Railroad (8/1/2019)
I’m starting to think Colson Whitehead is a god. The fact that he can write so well, on so many topics, and entertain and get a message across, it’s just a WOW for me. This is a pretty dark story and I’m sure some will not like it for that reason alone. Read it anyway, even …more
Dread Nation
Dread Nation
by Justina Ireland
Surprising book for me (8/1/2019)
This book was recommended to me in May 2018 at an event at Northshire Bookstore in Vermont so I bought it. Then it sat in a pile of others. And sat. I finally got around to reading it early this year and loved it! The concept is so great, historical fiction and zombies! I …more
City of Girls
City of Girls: A Novel
by Elizabeth Gilbert
Main character has a lack of self-awareness and growth. (6/8/2019)
So you might have guessed by my title that I did not like this book. I found the main character shallow, and did not find her asserting her agency strictly through sex to be interesting or admirable. I got very tired of reading about her sexual exploits, as it seemed she …more
The Guest Book
The Guest Book
by Sarah Blake
Not a fan of these characters (6/8/2019)
I would say this was a 3.5 star read for me, rounded up. I was dying to read this after seeing a glowing review from the owner of the Northshire Bookstore, but unfortunately it didn’t live up to my expectations. The plot line was interesting and kept me surprised and …more
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