BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Scatterlings: A Novel
by Resoketswe Martha Manenzhe

A Mixed Bag for Me (10/22/2022)

Resoketswe Manenzhe certainly has a way with words. I was captivated in the beginning of the novel by the story, and the lyrical, poetic writing. The writing was thought provoking and many passages I re read because they were so touching. I also enjoyed the folklore aspect of the novel. That being said, I did get bogged down in the middle to end of the story for some reason; I am not completely sure what caused this. Was it the storyline, the change in writing style of the journal pages, too much time in between reading sessions? Regardless, I am glad I read the novel and think it would be a good pick for Book Clubs as there are many themes to discuss. I would read this author again if she writes another novel.

Honor
by Thrity Umrigar

Thrity Umrigar at her BEST (9/11/2021)

There are only a handful of books that I don't want to end because I am so taken into the story; and when it does end, I cannot get it out of my mind. HONOR is one of those books. It is a hard subject matter to read, but Umrigar does it in such a way that you feel the injustice, the hate, the pain, but can continue reading. She is a master at balancing the horror of what mankind is capable of; while also showing the love, loyalty, and compassion that lives within so many. Loved the book, loved the title, loved, the cover, I hope the publisher keeps the mangos. Such a simple image, but really the start of a love story. Highly recommended!

Of Women and Salt
by Gabriela Garcia

Mixed Feelings (1/1/2021)

This is a difficult review to write. On one hand I loved the writing and some of the characters, but on the other hand I found it somewhat confusing and draggy. The beginning of the book with the storyline of Maria Isabel was wonderful and I was very excited to keep reading. Unfortunately the one character that was a thread through out the book (Jeanette) was confusing and I had no interest in reading. The book had too many characters to keep track of in such a short novel.The multiple narratives did not work for me in this book. I started out loving it, but just wanted it to end by the middle of it. I always finish books that I review so I was glad this was a short one.

Small Days and Nights: A Novel
by Tishani Doshi

Beautiful Writing, Slow Reading (11/23/2019)

This is an interesting book to review. On one hand, I loved the writing. Beautiful, descriptive, and pulled you into the story and setting, On the other hand I really did not connect with the main character, and at times felt the storyline dragged and got bogged down into a story that I could not, or really didn't care if I followed. A slow read for me and even tho I loved some of the writing, I would not recommend this book to my book club. Interesting title and cover, not sure I cared for either.

The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After
by Elizabeth Weil, Clemantine Wamariya

Lost Childhood and Stolen Identity (2/28/2018)

This was a difficult book to read. Not the writing, that was direct, straight forward, and sometimes poetic. The subject matter was "hell on earth". To read about the horrors that people can inflict on one another for no reason is insanity!
It gives one hope that refugees can find a better life, but as we saw with Clementine, even with the comforts of the United States, and a good education obtained, she still seeks for her basic identity. This book would be a great starting point for so many discussions and would be a great Book Club selection.

The Scribe of Siena
by Melodie Winawer

The Scribe of Siena (5/18/2017)

I thought Melodie Winawer did an excellent job of giving the reader an idea of what Italy was like during an important event in history; the Plague. The characters were well developed, and I loved the detail when she was describing the cities. Her writing style was a pleasure to read. There was not constant back and forth between the two time periods so that piece worked. I would recommend it as a Book Club read because there were so many items to discuss. As a side note, I think the cover of the book we received ( the gold cover) is much more attractive than the one with the picture of a woman on the blue cover book.

The Weight of Ink
by Rachel Kadish

Love the title and the book! (3/13/2017)

The Weight of Ink was a treat to read. The writing was lovely. So detailed; I felt like I was walking in the streets of London in 1665! The characters were well developed and it worked going back and forth from the two time periods (which does not always work in books).

So much to discuss, it would be a perfect book club selection. I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction.

Karolina's Twins
by Ronald H. Balson

Well Researched Book (7/13/2016)

I feel that the author did an excellent job of researching the history,events, and time period. I enjoyed all of that part of the book very much! I did feel however that the writing lacked detail, and sophistication. As another reviewer stated it felt like a book written for YA audiences. It was a book I read, instead of a book that I savored while reading. It would however be a great book for a book club discussion.

What Lies Between Us
by Nayomi Munaweera

What Lies Between Us (11/30/2015)

Nayomi Munaweera has an amazing gift of being able to blend beautiful writing with heart wrenching topics. Often such stories are too difficult to read, but her ability to draw the reader in and keep them captivated is what makes her such a talented author. Like her first novel,"island of a thousand mirrors" this book takes place in Sri Lanka as well. Yes, part of the story takes place in the United States, but some of the most pivotal scenes take place in Sri Lanka.

I enjoyed this novel as much as her first one, which I recommended to my book club as a "great discussion" novel.

I would recommend this book, and am thrilled to have found a new author to follow.

The Caretaker
by A .X. Ahmad

Family Man caught up in thriller (4/9/2013)

The book was a good read that was filled with enough suspense and story line that it kept my attention to the end. I learned some interesting facts both about India and the people of that country.

I enjoyed the relationship between Ranjit and his daughter; I felt that it gave a good understanding of his character, and love of his

Family, which to me, that was the center of the story . He was a good guy who got caught up in a tangle of circumstances. Some he handled better then others .

The Light Between Oceans: A Novel
by Margot L. Stedman

A Lovely Read! (7/10/2012)

It is always a pleasure to read not only a good story, but one that is so well written. The author has a gift with words and I was sad to see the novel come to an end. The book was filled with wonderful descriptive writing, symbolism, and an element of not ever quite knowing what would turn up next. Put all that together, and you have a great read. The book has many topics that would make a great discussion for a book club. Great first novel!

The First Warm Evening of the Year: A Novel
by Jamie M. Saul

Life in Jr. High School (5/5/2012)

Where to start with this review? I felt the writing was amateurish, and terribly dragging in plot and character development. The worst of it was I felt like I was back in Jr. High School. The story, the crushes, the "love at first sight". Please, he does not even know the woman and he is in love with her and can't stop thinking about her! I am forgiving on plot and characters if the writing is good. I felt like a High School teacher reading a really bad, really long student paper.
Like another reviewer, I only finished it because I committed myself to reading it and reviewing it. I would never recommend this to anyone. With so many talented and accomplished authors trying to publish; it is sad this is what is being offered to readers.

Across Many Mountains: A Tibetan Family's Epic Journey from Oppression to Freedom
by Yangzom Brauen

Across Many Mountains (8/24/2011)

Not many authors can combine so much history and personal experiences and have them work together. This book does a fine job with both areas. The knowledge I gained about Tibet and the Buddhist religion was an added bonus to gleaming into the lives of these three woman. It was refreshing to read about people who still hold tradition, and "homeland" so dear to their heart. A great read that I will recommend to my book club as well as a handful of friends.

The Sweetness of Tears: A Novel
by Nafisa Haji

Two completely different books (3/5/2011)

I felt like I was reading two different writing styles within one cover of a book.The chapters with the voice of Sadiq and Deena; with much of their story taking place in Pakistan were delightful! Those chapters were well written, descriptive, and I loved them. The title "The Sweetness of Tears" was perfect for them. Sadly, much of the rest of the book was just average writing that brought the whole reading experience to a disappointing letdown. I think the author has true talent that we only saw glimpses of in this book.

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
by Amy Chua

Tiger versus Pussycat (11/9/2010)

What an interesting study in two very different cultures! The book was easy to read, and keeps the readers interest. At times I had a difficult time believing what I was reading. Do parents really treat their children that way? Apparently so, and they are proud of it! Like everything, extremes are not usually the best solution. While I find much of "Western Parenting" too lax and undisciplined, the "Chinese Parenting" style seems way over the top. A meeting in the middle would seem like a good compromise to me. I think Book Clubs would have a heyday with this book. I have a list of people I want to pass this book on to.

The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise: A Novel
by Julia Stuart

Split Down the Middle (8/15/2010)

After reading several other readers reviews, it seems that people either absolutely LOVE this book, or are not taken by it. I fall into the latter category. It was a clever idea, had some fun quirky, moments, but I felt that the author tried so hard to be clever that it lost most of its charm. Julia Stuart certainly has a way with words but she went overboard on this one.

A Thread of Sky: A Novel
by Deanna Fei

Unraveled Threads (4/18/2010)

I was anxious to read this book because I thought the subject had so much potential. It was not a bad read; not a great one either. I felt like all the characters were too similar in that they were all unsatisfied, and unfulfilled with their lives. I could not identify with, or really have empathy with any of them. The writing was also average. I felt like I was reading a first time author. With so many exceptional books in the market this is one that I would not recommend for my book club.

The Russian Dreambook of Color and Flight
by Gina Ochsner

Quite a Read. I Loved it! (12/23/2009)

The title alone was appealing to me; the book did not disappoint. The author is certainly gifted, and has a wonderful way with words. I enjoyed how each chapter was written from a different characters point of view. Many readers have stated how it was depressing or hard to read. To me, it followed real life. A life many of us cannot imagine. People are unpredictable, they react differently under stress. I think the character Tanya stated it perfectly. "Whether we are savage or civilized, I can"t say. But we are authentic, this much I know." I think it would make a wonderful book for book clubs. Good discussion, good characters,a Russia many of us know little about.

Dragon House
by John Shors

Mixed Feelings (7/8/2009)

I have mixed feeling about the novel. The story was interesting and I enjoyed reading it. That being said, I felt that the writing was a bit uneven. The author is a good storyteller and did a wonderful job developing the characters. I actually cared what happened to them. What took away from the story was frequent "repeating" of feelings, thoughts, etc. I also found the ending a bit too "tidy". It felt more like a made for T.V movie than a serious novel. It was not a bad read, but I felt left with a "wanting more" feeling.

The Secret Keeper
by Paul Harris

Strong story, average writing (3/13/2009)

The story is interesting and fast paced. There are some nice twists and unexpected occurrences in the novel. That being said, I felt like I was reading a "novice" writer. In the hands of a more experienced author, I feel like it could have great potential. I liked the story but was a bit disappointed by the writing.

Reviews by Kate S. (arvada, CO)

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Reviews by Kate S. (arvada, CO)

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