BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Bad Animals: A Novel
by Sarah Braunstein

Thoughtful and Introspective (1/17/2024)

This book is a subtle, intriguing unfolding of Maeve Cosgrove's clouded perspective into more clarity and subsequently her awareness of her own emotional growth and power. This story will leave the reader feeling uneasy yet inspired by some aspects of the literary creative process. Good book to discuss.

Daughters of Shandong
by Eve J. Chung

Riveting and Inspiring (11/5/2023)

This is one of the best books I've read all year! The story of the Ang family and the harrowing journey of Hai, Di, Lan and their Mom as they flee Communist China to be reunited with their with Dad in Taiwan kept me turning pages to find out what would happen next. This novel is very good and it was hard to put down until the end.

This Is Salvaged: Stories
by Vauhini Vara

Interesting Common Theme (8/8/2023)

The short stories presented an interesting common theme — each story presents an aspect of the emotional and physical bodily functions we choose not to discuss but that keeps us all on equal footing. These stories were unique and original in their presentation of humility and humanity.

King of the Armadillos
by Wendy Chin-Tanner

Interesting and Absorbing Book (5/10/2023)

The story is well-written, interesting and absorbing. I was intrigued by the characters while learning about the nature of Hansen's disease. This is an inspirational story that presents a hopeful and realistic portrayal of experiencing life while living with chronic disease. I highly recommend this book.

Mrs. Plansky's Revenge
by Spencer Quinn

Sobering Yet Entertaining Novel (4/9/2023)

I really enjoyed this book! The writing style is witty and entertaining while shining a light on the serious nature of cyber crime. The author takes a familiar cyber scam and turns the tables on what is usually an unrecovered loss, revealing heroes where the reader least expects it. Hooray for Mrs. Plansky!

Moonrise Over New Jessup
by Jamila Minnicks

Too Much Is Happening In This Novel (12/24/2022)

I expected this book to come together with its various storylines but there seemed to be too much going on at once. The book presents the mystery of Alice's sister Rosie, the back and forth with the family's involvement with the NNAS integration vs. segregation efforts, and the Campbell family's local business relationships. There's a good amount of detail related to the various subplots but not enough depth. I read this book waiting for a big climactic resolution that never came. It's an average novel that starts off with an intriguing look at how a family and a community are impacted by the Civil Rights Era's pros and cons of segregation vs. integration but doesn't quite deliver.

Wade in the Water: A Novel
by Nyani Nkrumah

We Can't Erase The Past (11/13/2022)

This novel was a well-written, bittersweet story of how decades-old racism and colorism continue to impact the lives of black people and white people in their small Southern community. The parallel experiences of Ella and Kate and their resulting pain related to skin color and perceptions of racial inferiority highlight the overall theme of darkness and light. This novel exposes the emotional and physical impact of racial hatred starting with the secrets and lies of slavery to the Jim Crow Era and beyond. Building on its theme of the black and white experience in a small Southern town, the author skillfully weaves a riveting story around the ancient wisdom that what is done in the dark will be brought to light.

The Poet's House
by Jean Thompson

Well-crafted and Entertaining Novel (7/1/2022)

This book was unexpectedly funny, sad, artful and poetic. The warm-hearted telling of Carla's introduction to the business and art of poetry through Viridian's seasoned literary experience and wise philosophy of life was not only entertaining but also funny and a look at the less-than-perfect aspects of being vulnerable in uncertain times. This novel was much more than I expected and it was a very satisfying reading experience.

The Family Chao: A Novel
by Lan Samantha Chang

Simmering Family Drama Boils Over (11/23/2021)

The novel begins with repressed anger, resentment, self-loathing and rage that continues at some level throughout the book and can be overwhelming at times. Leo Chao's desire for success and riches emotionally and physically damages his wife Winnie and each one of his sons—Dagou, Ming and James— and the reader senses even as their lives continue after the story's climax there will be another generation paying the price. The characters are richly developed and the emotional sensitivities affecting those walking the line between two cultures are sometimes too painful to imagine. This is a timely and thought- provoking family drama.

Lady Sunshine
by Amy Mason Doan

Good Suspense in 1970s Northern California Setting (5/9/2021)

I was attracted to this book for the 1970s California music setting. Jackie as both narrator in 1979 and 1999 keeps the tension building toward the surprising conclusion. The story has just enough suspense to keep the reader turning the page and also provides a descriptive backdrop of the ocean, beach and natural surroundings. I enjoyed this book.

When Broadway Was Black: The Triumphant Story of the All-Black Musical that Changed the World (aka Footnotes)
by Caseen Gaines

Excellent History of Black Artists on Broadway (3/21/2021)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and even followed up with references mentioned in the notes section because I was curious to know more about Noble Sissle, Eubie Blake and the original cast of Shuffle Along. The author provided exceptional detail in an interesting, easy to read style. I highly recommend this book to show business fans and those who want to know more about the Black theater experience.

The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation
by Anna Malaika Tubbs

Great Expectations, Average Insight (11/19/2020)

I'm glad to have read this book because I learned background on Alberta King, Berdis Baldwin and Louise Little that I didn't previously know, but a good deal of what these mothers contributed to the lives of their sons seems to be what the reader would assume a "good" mother would do and the presumption that only their sons' better traits were shaped by their mothers. I'm still not clear how these women had insights that shaped a nation; however, this book is a good introduction to the lives of Martin Luther King, Jr., James Baldwin, and Malcolm X.

The Blind Light: A Novel
by Stuart Evers

Well Written Story of How Fear Dominates Family Dynamics (10/12/2020)

The Blind Light is a very well written story of two families whose lives intertwine yet run parallel through a generation. The story of Drummond Moore and James Carter and their families reveal how a promise the two men make to protect and be there for each other ends up psychologically weighing on their families and shaping the outcome of each family member's life. This is a story of how fear of the unknown stunts the lives of those affected by it. I highly recommend this book.

The Woman Before Wallis: A Novel of Windsors, Vanderbilts, and Royal Scandal
by Bryn Turnbull

A Fateful Set of Affairs (7/17/2020)

This is well-written historical fiction imagining the difficult family history of Thelma, Lady Furness, and her affair with the Prince of Wales. Through a series of sometimes confusing flashbacks, Thelma Morgan remembers the most crucial events of her life, starting with her fateful request of Wallis Simpson to look after the Prince of Wales while Thelma returned to the United States for a family concern. The author portrays Thelma as an interesting, passionate and courageous woman of her time and place. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy a bit of romance and royal intrigue.

And They Called It Camelot: A Novel of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis
by Stephanie Marie Thornton

Excellent Historical Fiction (12/8/2019)

Stephanie Marie Thornton has written a captivating and historically accurate novel of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. I was enthralled by this book from start to finish. The first person narrative is convincing and not over the top. The many conversations between Jackie and her immediate family, the Kennedys, and the Onassis family seem entirely plausible. I highly recommend this interesting and well-developed book.

Remembrance
by Rita Woods

Well Written Narratives Anchor Remembrance (10/16/2019)

This story is a well imagined telling of the power of memory to root us to time and place. The main characters of Mother Abigail, Winter, Margot and Gaelle are connected through a remembering of ancestors and the collective strength of creating and sustaining places of comfort and safety. I was captivated by the characters' connections with each other and would definitely read more should the author continue with a series.

Ordinary Girls: A Memoir
by Jaquira Díaz

Disjointed Story of an Extraordinary Girl (9/28/2019)

Parts of this book read as if pieced together, combining both past and future thoughts and actions with a present storyline. I struggled to maintain the thread as I read through sections of the book. I admire the author's survival skills and ultimate triumph to become the writer she is today. However, I would have better enjoyed my reading experience had the writing style been more chronologically fluid.

The Shadow King: A Novel
by Maaza Mengiste

Plodding Story of Italian Invasion of Ethiopia (7/5/2019)

It helps to have some prior historical background of Ethiopia falling to Mussolini's Italian forces to truly appreciate the story of The Shadow King and his female bodyguard fighters. The author's lyrically written novel proved more of an obstacle to the narrative than enhancing the story of the brave Ethiopians who fought and stood their ground to defend their country. I finished reading this book with some effort and I feel as if I missed something critical to the overall story.

Patsy: A Novel
by Nicole Dennis-Benn

Bittersweet American Dream (6/16/2019)

This book paints a bittersweet story of what it means to be an undocumented woman of color in the USA. On the face of it, Patsy's life in America over the years doesn't seem as successful as the life she led in Jamaica. However, the dream she imagines upon arriving in New York changes with time and becomes the grind of survival in a new country. The parallel story of Patsy's left behind daughter, Tru, seems to mirror Patsy's own emotional hard times in New York. I think it's arguable whether the story has a happy ending which may be why I think this is a good book. The story ends like so much of life as a work in progress.

The Last Romantics
by Tara Conklin

Contemporary Novel Set in the Future (12/14/2018)

This novel presents a story of contemporary familial dysfunction in a setting covering the years 1981 to 2079. Fiona is the narrator with the voices of her older siblings and mother also telling aspects if their individual perspectives. While I could relate to many of the family dynamics since arguably the old dysfunctional family is now the new normal, the story peaks about three-fourths into the book and then rolls downhill until the end. I think the novel presents several interesting dilemmas and situations that will facilitate lively conversations for book groups.

Reviews by Melanie B. (Desoto, TX)

Top Picks

Members Recommend

Who Said...

Wordplay

Reviews by Melanie B. (Desoto, TX)

Top Picks

Members Recommend

Who Said...

Wordplay

Newsletter