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Reviews by Ruthie A. (Jersey City, NJ)

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The World's Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant
The World's Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant
by Liza Tully
Start of a Fun Series?! (3/7/2025)
This was a fun, easy read, full of interesting characters and luxurious settings. Olivia Blunt is bored in her research job and applies for the job of assistant to Aubrey Merritt, the great detective. Olivia is young, carefree, overly confident in her abilities and very …more
One Death at a Time
One Death at a Time
by Abbi Waxman
A Fun Ride! (12/11/2024)
Author Abbie Waxman is new to me. I was looking for a non-stressful read, and this novel was truly engaging. The novel itself feels like an old school Hollywood movie, with mansions, burlesque, prison, and many interesting settings.

The characters are each very distinct and …more
The Funeral Cryer
The Funeral Cryer: A Novel
by Wenyan Lu
Different but Amazing (2/29/2024)
The writing in this debut novel is astonishingly beautiful. There are poetic sentences that amazed me with their power and insight. There are no wasted words in this book. There is humor, insight and memorable characters.

This book may initially turn off some readers because …more
The Adversary
The Adversary: A Novel
by Michael Crummey
Another amazing novel by Michael Crummy (12/19/2023)
I love Michael Crummy, He is one of my favourite authors. That being said he does not write sunny, shiny novels, he writes about hardship, strife, conflict and darkness. His characters live in remote communities in Newfoundland usually reliant on the fishing industry. The …more
Becoming Madam Secretary
Becoming Madam Secretary
by Stephanie Dray
Important Woman Unknown (10/31/2023)
Miss Perkins was a woman who defied societal norms to fight for change in American society. Raised in modest circumstances she became friends with a group of New York elite women who shared her passions and helped her achieve many outstanding achievements that changed the …more
All You Have to Do Is Call
All You Have to Do Is Call
by Kerri Maher
Super Important! (6/19/2023)
This book tells the fictionalized story of the Jane Collective, which was a real grassroots collective of women and doctors who worked to facilitate abortions for women in Chicago. They existed between 1969 and 1973. As demand skyrocketed and the doctors could not keep up, …more
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
by Colleen Oakley
Loved it, until the end... (10/11/2022)
This novel grabbed me at the beginning - a smart, crotchety senior is pressured to allow a troubled girl into her life as an aide, driving her about and living in her home. For the most part it was a light, easy read, if somewhat predictable. However, the last few chapters …more
Cloud Cuckoo Land
Cloud Cuckoo Land: A Novel
by Anthony Doerr
Fascinating, but not easy... (10/18/2021)
I am generally not a fan of books where there are multiple stories taking place in different time periods. I find that although the storylines eventually merge the journey is too disjointed and jumpy for my liking. This novel uses this format, and although I did not love …more
Housebreaking
Housebreaking
by Colleen Hubbard
Engaging Read (10/3/2021)
This is a novel about characters, and as a reader I loved watching them evolve and grow. Del is not the most lovable woman, she is aimless, drifting from one menial job to another, self-sabotaging and miserable. A few crucial events occur that force her to grow up and take …more
Beasts of a Little Land
Beasts of a Little Land: A Novel
by Juhea Kim
Decent Read (8/3/2021)
The author writes beautiful descriptions of Korea, it's people, clothing etc. Sadly I was disappointed with this novel. The story was very disjointed, with too many peripheral characters. Pacing was erratic, with some portions being long and drawn out, and then suddenly it …more
The Personal Librarian
The Personal Librarian
by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray
Fascinating Novel/Strong Female Character (2/9/2021)
An intriguing novel based on the life of the personal; librarian to J.P.Morgan. Bella da Costa Greene was a light skinned Black woman who, along with the rest of her family passed as White in order to escape the horrors of prejudice after Reformation. On the recommendation …more
Migrations
Migrations: A Novel
by Charlotte McConaghy
So Many Layers! (7/13/2020)
I love a novel that defies my expectations and takes me on a journey. Migrations has so many layers and explores so many themes, and yet the author masterfully ties everything together in a hauntingly beautiful tale. Franny is a character unlike any other, she is a " …more
He Started It
He Started It
by Samantha Downing
What is Happening??!! (2/11/2020)
This book really grabbed me by the throat! It is part road trip, part family drama, part mystery, and part psychological thriller! The writing is very fast paced, never lags at any point, and the story kept me up well past my bedtime!
The author slowly lets the reader get …more
Remembrance
Remembrance
by Rita Woods
Great story, some flaws... (2/11/2020)
I am a big fan of Historical Fiction and love learning about the past. This book deals with slavery, an uprising in Haiti, the recent earthquake in Haiti, the slave trade, the underground railroad and much more. There are also strong elements of magical realism.

I enjoyed …more
The Sun Down Motel
The Sun Down Motel
by Simone St. James
Surprisingly Good (11/17/2019)
I have to admit - I was not sold on this book right away. It is written with alternating narrators from different eras, something that is becoming very common and, for me, boring. The mystery seemed like it would unfold predictably and I was sure I knew within the first …more
The Kinship of Secrets
The Kinship of Secrets
by Eugenia Kim
Thought provoking, moving novel! (10/9/2018)
I really loved this story of a Korean family who emigrates to the U.S, leaving one child behind. The author does an excellent job of showing us the struggles each family endures; the Korea family faces war, displacement, famine and more. The new Americans deal with …more
Mothers of Sparta
Mothers of Sparta: A Memoir in Pieces
by Dawn Davies
The Struggle is Real (10/10/2017)
Mothers of Sparta is a series of essays that form a memoir. Dawn Davies offers glimpses into her life at various crucial moments. Some funny incidents are included, but overall the tone is of despair, anger, loneliness and frustration. Davies writes in both the first and …more
Young Jane Young
Young Jane Young
by Gabrielle Zevin
Breezy Read with a Message! (8/8/2017)
At once reminiscent and referencing of the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal, Young Jane Young is the story of an intern who has an affair with a Congressman and what happens when the affair becomes public knowledge. The story is told from differing viewpoints, most …more
Rise
Rise: How a House Built a Family
by Cara Brookins
Conflicted... (10/18/2016)
Cara Brookins grew up in poverty, had some brutal experiences in school (bullying directed at both herself and her brother) and went on to marry 3 times, twice to men who for very different reasons, abused her. Once free of these men she took stock of her situation, saw how …more
News of the World
News of the World
by Paulette Jiles
Wonderful Historical Fiction! (8/20/2016)
Army Captain J.K. Kidd is a man in the waning years of his life. Having joined the Army at age 16, he fought in 2 wars, and later lost everything; his home, his wife and his beloved printing press. Now, in 1870, he travels the northern towns of Texas, holding "Readings" …more
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    by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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