Reviews by Elizabeth L. (Langhorne, PA)

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In the Garden of Monsters
In the Garden of Monsters: A Novel
by Crystal King
Wanted to leave the table (8/27/2024)
Having previously read Circe by Madeline Miller, which was a thrilling retelling of Greek mythology, I chose to review In the Garden of Monsters. Unfortunately, the comparisons stop at the reference to Greek mythology. I found Ms. King's writing to be quite repetitive in …more
Romantic Comedy
Romantic Comedy: A Novel
by Curtis Sittenfeld
Funny Girl (5/3/2024)
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how at show that is based on SNL comes together. I found the characters believable and lovable. I was rooting for Noah and Sally! The novel is current and refreshing. There are some laugh out loud moments and endearing ones as well. The …more
Help Wanted
Help Wanted: A Novel
by Adelle Waldman
Not for me (1/24/2024)
Unfortunately, I had a difficult time engaging in and relating to the characters and storyline of Help Wanted. Obviously working in retail is difficult yet I did not feel sympathetic to the workers' plight. I found the use of the names Big Will and Little Will distracting, …more
Digging Stars
Digging Stars: A Novel
by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma
Far out! (7/22/2023)
This tale definitely stretched the limits of my knowledge about astronomy, Zimbabwe, and elite private college programs. The overall story was quite interesting but personally boring in regards to the descriptions of the stars and constellations. I enjoyed the characters …more
The Long Ago
The Long Ago: A Novel
by Michael McGarrity
Easy like a Sunday Morning (4/10/2023)
I had never read a Michael McGarrity novel and pseudo-mysteries are usually not my preferred genre. So, I thought I would come out of my comfort zone and was pleasantly surprised. Mr. McGarrity's style was warm and laidback, honest and unassuming. descriptions of meals …more
The Lost English Girl
The Lost English Girl
by Julia Kelly
Feeling a mother's pain (3/4/2023)
The primary story of Viv, Joshua and Maggie is a sad tale but a realistic one where love triumphs in the end. I did not know that children were evacuated from Liverpool during WWII, and Viv's pain at leaving her daughter behind was palpable.The description of Catholic …more
Wade in the Water
Wade in the Water: A Novel
by Nyani Nkrumah
Engaging and heartfelt (11/14/2022)
The story of Miss St. James and Ella will stay with me for a long time. I found it to be an easy but thought provoking read, and I could not wait to pick it up each day. Katherine's story is so unfamiliar to me, and I found it hard to believe that it happened between the …more
Fly Girl
Fly Girl: A Memoir
by Ann Hood
More like a history lesson than memoir (4/24/2022)
Unfortunately, this book felt more like reading "a history of flight attendants" than a memoir. The use of precise dates, makes of planes, and chronological order of events was quite textbook-like. The few lines which were laugh out loud funny and spoke to the heart were …more
The Latinist
The Latinist: A Novel
by Mark Prins
It is a love indeed (10/26/2021)
I found The Latinist to be an intriguing tale of obsession but did not consider it a "mystery" in the truest sense of the word, because we know who did what to whom from the start. Having earned a doctorate myself, I recall the delicate balance between mentor and student …more
The Sunset Route
The Sunset Route: Freight Trains, Forgiveness, and Freedom on the Rails in the American West
by Carrot Quinn
Something is missing (7/28/2021)
Having enjoyed non-fiction "survival" stories in the past such as Wild and Educated, I eagerly dove into Carrot's story and was immediately intrigued and scared by the details of riding freight trains. Her raw and honest details of her abusive and terrible childhood gave me …more
Lady Sunshine
Lady Sunshine
by Amy Mason Doan
A blast from the past! (6/1/2021)
Lady Sunshine was an easy read and kept me intrigued. The descriptions of the Sandcastle and its surroundings were vivid and easy to picture, and references to the 70's (Max Factor!; the Hustle) let me feeling nostalgic. I did not guess the ending as it seemed a cruel and …more
Morningside Heights
Morningside Heights: A Novel
by Joshua Henkin
Simply Honest (4/18/2021)
Morningside Heights came at me quickly and kept me riveted through all the details, the dialogue, and the feelings. The prose is straightforward and realistic. It is still hard to believe that the novel spans forty years in the lives of Pru and Spence Robin. Because a good …more
With or Without You
With or Without You: A Novel
by Caroline Leavitt
Just not feeling it (5/16/2020)
I had hoped that a story of woman coming out of a coma and dealing with a changed life and old relationships would be insightful or at least moving, but I was very disappointed. The three main characters are continually grappling with questions of "What should I do?" as if …more
The Last Train to Key West
The Last Train to Key West
by Chanel Cleeton
The Perfect Escape! (3/21/2020)
The Last Train to Key West was a joy to read from start to finish. I loved the author's choice to tell the story from the viewpoint of each of the three women lead characters.Each woman was unique and fully developed. Her style was easy to read and full of vivid details. …more
Actress
Actress
by Anne Enright
Insightful story with luscious language (11/13/2019)
Actress by Anne Enright is a daughter's reminiscence of her mother, Katherine, who was a brilliant actress in her time, yet struggled with mental health issues. I still cannot decide how I feel about Katherine as a mother. Along the way, we get to know Norah and I like her …more
Crudo
Crudo
by Olivia Laing
Not for the faint of heart or Trump supporters (10/23/2019)
This book felled most of the members in my book club as it is a departure from any novel we have ever read!. It is written in a stream of consciousness style and refers to many events occurring in the real and fictional (TV) world of 2017. I found the book to be confusing …more
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