BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

The Little Italian Hotel: A Novel
by Phaedra Patrick

A fun escape (5/8/2023)

A good beach read with interesting characters who go a healing vacation with strangers who become friends and help each other overcome their heartbreak.

Ghost Season: A Novel
by Fatin Abbas

Life in Sudan during Civil War (12/11/2022)

I found this story of five very different people at an NGO compound in Sudan very interesting. The characters are well developed and sympathetic. The descriptive writing made me feel the heat, dust, and dirt of the area and the fear of the militiamen. I felt the ending was abrupt and disappointing, otherwise I would have given it 5 stars.

The Lost Notebook of Edouard Manet: A Novel
by Maureen Gibbon

Art History in Fiction (7/13/2021)

I was interested in this book because I like the art of Edouard Manet. The first part was rather boring but did give information on effects of syphilis and his interest in women. I especially enjoyed the parts about painting "A Bar in at the Folies-Bergere" which is a favorite of mine and the comments on the Paris Salon. It is a fast read

The Last Tiara
by M.J. Rose

2 romances and a mystery (12/30/2020)

This book tells the story of a painting restorer in Russia in the 1920's and her daughter's search for answers about her parents after her mother dies in 1948 having told her very little about her life before immigrating to New York. There are interesting facts about the Hermitage and the Bolsevics and about the difficulties women faced as architects in 1940's. The mystery is how the mother came to own the last tiara Faberge designed and made for the Tzar.

With or Without You: A Novel
by Caroline Leavitt

Perfect escape for stay-at-home (5/7/2020)

This was the first book I've read by Caroline Leavitt and I will now read others. Her characters are well drawn and feel like people you could know. This book grabbed my attention from the beginning and only got better. The characters grew and overcame their flaws as the story progressed. Interesting and enjoyable read.

The Big Finish
by Brooke Fossey

Story of roommates in FL nursing home (10/26/2019)

For fans of A Man called Ove, this books tells the story of 2 roommates in a FL nursing home when one's granddaughter climbs in the window smelling of alcohol, barefoot and with a black eye. Several people try to help her. The characters and their interactions are interesting.

Cartier's Hope: A Novel
by M. J. Rose

Cartier's Hope (10/26/2019)

A wealthy socialite in 1911 New York who wants to be a journalist at a time when women were not even allowed to vote. Interesting historical details She investigates the tales of bad luck with the Hope diamond that Pierre Cartier is selling.

The Guest Book
by Sarah Blake

Great historical fiction (4/10/2019)

This book follows the Milton family through 3 generations from 1935 to today. Grandmother Kitty has many rules the upper class live by and these lead to secrets that almost tear the family apart. I found the alternate chapters in different time periods hard to follow in the beginning, especially since two of the main women are named Evelyn & Evie. The last part of the book is hard to put down. It would make for good discussion in a book club.

The Summer Wives
by Beatriz Williams

Escape to Summer Island (5/27/2018)

This book is an enjoyable read about the haves and have-nots on an island off of Long Island. The wealthy summer residents spend most of their time drunk and the year round poor residents work hard & are not appreciated by the summer visitors.

The Story of Arthur Truluv: A Novel
by Elizabeth Berg

Delightful read (7/20/2017)

A charming story of an older man who meets a high school girl at the cemetery where he visits his wife's grave for lunch every day. A bond develops between the man, the girl & his neighbor and they all help each other. Fans of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand would like this book.

The Stars Are Fire
by Anita Shreve

Disappointing (3/19/2017)

I have read & enjoyed most of Anita Shreve's books but was disappointed in this one. It is a quick read for the beach but I would have enjoyed more depth on the fire and it's aftermath.

A Piece of the World: A Novel
by Christina Baker Kline

Christina's World (1/11/2017)

As someone who likes to learn about art and enjoys historical fiction, I was looking forward to reading this book. I found it to be a wonderful description of life in rural New England in the 1st half of the 19th century. I felt very sorry for Christina as she was so handicapped, had to do so much physical labor for her family, and was forced to leave school after 8th grade even though she was very smart. She became a lonely and sometimes bitter women whose life was enlivened when Andy Wyeth came to her farm to paint in the summers. She found she had much in common with the much younger man and finally felt understood when he painted "Christina's World".

News of the World
by Paulette Jiles

Quick read, interesting subject (8/24/2016)

I was not aware that men could make a living going from town to town & reading the newspapers to people who paid to hear. The bound that developed between the traveling man & the girl being returned to her relatives after many years of captivity with the Native Americans was touching. It covers a part of the history of Texas that I hadn't thought about.

The Imperial Wife
by Irina Reyn

Russian history & current events (6/28/2016)

I liked the story of young Catherine the Great within the story of Tanya, a Russian Jewish immigrant to the US. The details of the current Russian oligarchs & their wild lifestyles was very interesting. I would have like to have Catherine fleshed out a bit more. The story skimmed over her early years in Russia. Tanya's life as the auction house's Russian Art expert was fascinating.

The Dark Lady's Mask
by Mary Sharratt

Shakespeare & Women in Elizabethan times (3/4/2016)

As historical fiction is my favorite, I enjoyed this book very much. It showed how difficult it was for intelligent women to use their brains. The heroine was a real person who self published her poems. She, and all women, were at the mercy of their husbands financially & psychologically. It also showed a personal side of Shakespeare.

The Forgetting Time
by Sharon Guskin

Very thought provoking book (1/5/2016)

I haven't read many books about reincarnation & the effect on children. This was an excellent debut novel & I look forward to more from the author. I think this would be a good discussion book as it brings up ideas we in the West don't think of very often.

The Things We Keep
by Sally Hepworth

Fantastic read! (9/25/2015)

This is one of the best books I have read this year. Anyone who enjoyed Still Alice would like this one & I think it brings up many issues for book clubs to discuss. I like the way the 1st person narrative changes among the characters in each section. With the 7 year old daughter's narrative, I found myself laughing & crying. The characters are well drawn & believable.

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
by Fredrik Backman

Loved this book (7/2/2015)

I kept thinking of my grandson as I read this book. I loved the comments about "real Literature" that Elsa made. Her relationship with her grandmother was priceless & the way the tales her grandmother told her came true with the various residents of the apartment building was fascinating. I think this would be a great book for a book club discussion.

Blue Stars
by Emily Gray Tedrowe

War's impact on home life (12/31/2014)

This story of two very different women who meet under trying circumstances & help each other was well written. The characters are very believable and realistic. I learned a lot about the problems of our military care for the wounded & their families. I think Book Clubs could find a lot to discuss in this book.

Juliet's Nurse
by Lois Leveen

New viewpoint of Romeo & Juliet story (7/30/2014)

I enjoyed this all time favorite Shakespeare play from the viewpoint of Juliet's wet-nurse. She is a lower class woman who has lost 5 sons to the Black Plague when she gives birth to a daughter who she is told died shortly thereafter. She then is contracted to the Cappellittis to nurse Juliet. The story follows Shakespeare quite closely & explains the rivalries & intrigue in 14th century Verona.

Reviews by Mary B. (Laguna Woods, CA)

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Reviews by Mary B. (Laguna Woods, CA)

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