Reviews by Joane W. (Berlin, MD)

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The Bandit Queens
The Bandit Queens: A Novel
by Parini Shroff
Bandit Queens (3/27/2024)
The story had a very interesting theme. The reaction of these women to a possible crime epitomizes a novel of black humor. The way each of these women interpreted the possible crime made the story a little more believable.
The Stone Home
The Stone Home: A Novel
by Crystal Hana Kim
The Stone Home (11/17/2023)
I had several problems with this book. First of all there were a lot of Korean words that I could not understand and there was a lot of violence. The main theme is of these young people thrown into a Reform School that was more like a prison. The treatment by the staff and …more
Devil Makes Three
Devil Makes Three: A Novel
by Ben Fountain
Devil makes Three (8/22/2023)
A novel of Haiti's President Aristides fall from power. An expat and a Haitian team up to fund a scuba business during a revolution. Along the way they discover that there is a better way to make money. During the Coup they decide to become treasure hunters by exploring …more
Banyan Moon
Banyan Moon: A Novel
by Thao Thai
Banyon Moon (5/16/2023)
I really enjoyed this book. It centers around 3 women in a familial relationship. I think the main protagonist is the matriarch who is the grandmother. Her daughter and her granddaughter revolve around her. The mother daughter relationship is one of hate and love. When the …more
The Gifts
The Gifts: A Novel
by Liz Hyder
The Gifts (3/2/2023)
TBD
The Last Russian Doll
The Last Russian Doll
by Kristen Loesch
The Last Russian Doll (10/12/2022)
I love generational stories especially when they are in an historical setting and go through different time periods.I had a problem with the development of the characters which I found confusing sometimes.The best part of the book was the amazing history of Russia.
The Family Izquierdo
The Family Izquierdo: A Novel
by Rubén Degollado
The Family Izquierdo (8/3/2022)
This book is a cultural examination of a Mexican family whose fears and beliefs in superstitions and curses has caused angst in each of the characters. The book is divided into stories that represent 3 generations of this family each with their own form of paranoia. I …more
The Shadow King
The Shadow King: A Novel
by Maaza Mengiste
The shadow king (10/2/2020)
I couldn’t really get into this book. I felt there was to much emphasis on the war. The characters were not transparent and I could not really see them beyond their surface.
The Voyage of the Morning Light
The Voyage of the Morning Light: A Novel
by Marina Endicott
The Voyage of the morning light (6/10/2020)
The book had an interesting theme: 2 half sisters a generation apart making their home on a ship and traveling to remote areas. When a young boy from an island takes on the demeanor of a don and brother things change for all. The story was good but the characters shallow.
The Yellow Bird Sings
The Yellow Bird Sings: A Novel
by Jennifer Rosner
The Yellow Bird Sings (12/4/2019)
The Yellow Bird Sings is a wonderful book depicting how music can heal broken spirits in the most horrific of times. The yellow bird represents an imagined entity that exudes sanity, comfort and safety during a time of bewildering horror. I truly enjoyed this book.
Remembrance
Remembrance
by Rita Woods
Rememberance (11/6/2019)
Rememberance is a book of magical properties, heroines, freedom, fantasy and a little tragedy. I enjoyed this book but found that going back and forth thru the years was somewhat confusing.
A People's History of Heaven
A People's History of Heaven
by Mathangi Subramanian
A People's History of Heaven (2/14/2019)
The book has positive and negative attributes. In the positive side it showed how a group of girls living in extreme poverty in a country where the goernment was destroying their unlivable homes attempted to salvage and take back what was theirs. The negative aspect was the …more
House of Stone
House of Stone
by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma
House of Stone (11/28/2018)
This book is about a young Zimbabwean man who lives vicariously through a man who has a missing son. He calls this man a surrogate father. The book includes racism, discrimination and revolutionaries. The young man attempts to infiltrate his surrogates life by digging into …more
Golden Child
Golden Child
by Claire Adam
The Golden Child (10/4/2018)
I did not enjoy this book.The story surrounding the twins did not ring true. The characters were not transparent and I found it hard to relate to them.I did not feel much emotion from the father considering the situation.I do like reading about other countries and cultures …more
Sold on a Monday
Sold on a Monday
by Kristina McMorris
Sold on a monday (8/21/2018)
It was an historical time, unemployment was rampant. In the depression there was not much money available, people did whatever was necessary to survive including selling children. Who would have known that a picture of two children for sale would change several lives forever.
A Place for Us
A Place for Us
by Fatima Farheen Mirza
A Place For Us (3/20/2018)
The story of a Muslim American family attempting to sustain religious and traditional family values in a country that is foreign to them. The many obstacles that conspire to tear their family apart are handled with faith, love and repentance. I enjoyed the book but I wish …more
The House of Broken Angels
The House of Broken Angels
by Luis Alberto Urrea
House of Broken Angels (2/2/2018)
I really enjoyed this book it's always interested to learn about other cultures. This Mexican family bears a striking resemblance to all ethnic families.similar disfunction,sibling rivalry etc.the ongoing theme of the story revolves around the patriarch of the family who is …more
Tell Me How This Ends Well
Tell Me How This Ends Well
by David Samuel Levinson
Tell me how this ends well (3/10/2017)
I loved this book. It is a many faceted story: black humor, anti semitism and a wonderfully dysfunctional family. I did not find it very futuristic except for an unerring prophecy of Israel. I would like to say more but it would be more enjoyable to read it yourself.
Edgar and Lucy
Edgar and Lucy
by Victor Lodato
Edgar and Lucy (11/22/2016)
I liked this book even though it was somewhat depressing.A story about an albino boy his overpossesive grandmother and a mother who can't find herself. The two women mourn the loss of the son and husband even though he was not worth it. Good book
The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko
The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko
by Scott Stambach
The invisible life of Ivan isaenko (7/14/2016)
This book is about a physically handicapped but intelligent boy attempting to survive in a depressing and occasionally gross atmosphere. He creates various situations to get the attention and hopefully response from the other inmates. Somewhat of a love story too. I liked the book.
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