Reviews by Kay D. (Strongsville, OH)

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The Dream Hotel
The Dream Hotel: A Novel
by Laila Lalami
Engaging and Disturbing (1/3/2025)
Truly engaging, yet so potentially realistic that it is disturbing enough to make me want to disconnect from all the tech that monitors our lives. The main character, Sara, returns home from abroad and is detained at the airport by the Risk Assessment Administration (RAA) …more
The Bog Wife
The Bog Wife
by Kay Chronister
The Bog Wife - A Great Read (8/12/2024)
One of the best books I have had a chance to read recently. Well written. Engaging storyline. Borderlines reality and mystical. Pacing is good. I didn't want to put it down once I started. The relationships among the five siblings was well done. Each character had a unique …more
Smothermoss
Smothermoss
by Alisa Alering
The Otherworldly World of Smothermoss (5/6/2024)
This was one of the oddest, well written, lyrical, mystical, and mysterious books I have read in a long time. I found myself constantly questioning is this real or is this one big dream. Whichever, I was continually compelled to keep reading. Both Sheila and Angie were …more
The Flower Sisters
The Flower Sisters
by Michelle Collins Anderson
Small Town Historical Fiction (3/3/2024)
A wonderful, easy read. Storyline based on a factual tragedy in a small town in 1928. Well written. Multiple angles and characters provide a 360 view of the event and of the town and its "survivors" 50 years later in 1978. Characters were well defined and provided a wide- …more
The Waters
The Waters: A Novel
by Bonnie Jo Campbell
Intense Lyrical Read (11/7/2023)
Well worth the read. The cover art depicts a lush, natural, overwhelming feel and truly represents how I feel about this book. A deep wander into a unique place. Strong female characters who also have their weaknesses. Male characters who swing from strong to weak and from …more
Above the Salt
Above the Salt: A Novel
by Katherine Vaz
Slow Start to a Beautiful Read (9/8/2023)
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The beginning was a bit tough for me and didn't catch me into the storyline, however, that soon changed. This is an epic book with a long and winding story that is beautifully written. Sometimes confusing due to the construction of the novel …more
Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs: A Novel
by Lydia Millet
Simple Yet Elegant (9/8/2022)
A small, quiet book with beautiful writing. The simple storyline - all about one very rich yet simple man and his interactions with life, money, people and animals is full of deep pockets of insight. A book that reads easy yet makes the reader pause and think about it even …more
Fencing with the King
Fencing with the King: A Novel
by Diana Abu-Jaber
Family Saga with Mystery and Intrigue (12/9/2021)
Rich prose, diverse characters and a story-line with lots of twists and turns. A little bit mystery, some political intrigue and a look inside Jordan, a country I knew little about. Lots of family sagas and how one's family impacts their life, even when divided between …more
Flesh & Blood
Flesh & Blood: Reflections on Infertility, Family, and Creating a Bountiful Life: A Memoir
by N. West Moss
Amazing Little Book with Big Impact (8/9/2021)
This was an amazing little book. The title, Flesh & Blood, carries dual meaning - not only the literal flesh and blood of the author's illness but also the "flesh and blood" of her family connections, and the discussions on family legacy. Beautifully written. Serious …more
Appleseed
Appleseed
by Matt Bell
Appleseed - An Amazing Read (3/8/2021)
I thought I would like this book. Then, after starting it, I thought I was wrong. After more reading, I knew I was wrong. I loved this book. Extraordinary and original.

An amazing read that compelled me to keep reading and experiencing the awesomeness. Thought provoking. …more
Of Women and Salt
Of Women and Salt
by Gabriela Garcia
Women: Who are we? Weakness. No, we are force. (12/21/2020)
Struggled with my rating for "Of Women and Salt" by Gabriela Garcia. Leaned towards a 5, but not quite there for me.

This is a strong book of mother/daughter relationships and also a story of choices made in moments of desperation and their impacts, often for generations to …more
Piranesi
Piranesi
by Susanna Clarke
An Amazing Read (8/11/2020)
So thrilled that I was able to read an advance copy of this book. Although a bit of a struggle at the beginning, I soon got into the rhythm of the writing and then found I didn't want to put it down. I was compelled to keep reading. The descriptive details were at first …more
With or Without You
With or Without You: A Novel
by Caroline Leavitt
With or Without You Left Me More Without than With (5/3/2020)
I struggled a bit with reading this book. I had a difficult time relating to the characters and found them a bit weak. I had trouble liking any of them.

The tragedy of Stella's coma could have been more intensely written about. I just didn't feel real compassion for the …more
The Mountains Sing
The Mountains Sing
by Nguyen Phan Que Mai
Vietnam: A View from Inside (1/16/2020)
A sweeping novel covering most of the 20th century in the tiny country of Vietnam and its people who have endured a multitude of challenges. From the perspective of one family, a shared story from a Grandmother to her granddaughter brings to light the significant impact of …more
The Affairs of the Falcóns
The Affairs of the Falcóns
by Melissa Rivero
The Affairs of the Falcons Challenges (12/5/2018)
An easy read about a difficult subject in today’s world. Focusing on an undocumented family from Peru living in New York City, the circumstances of their lives both enlightened and challenged. It was not easy to like the main character, Ana, as she went to extremes to …more
Sold on a Monday
Sold on a Monday
by Kristina McMorris
Thought Provoking on Multiple Layers (8/14/2018)
Desperate times spawn desperate acts in a variety of ways. "Sold on a Monday" by Kristina McMorris explores a single act and how it impacts various individuals and their related lives and secrets. A young reporter "creates" a photograph to replace one that was destroyed …more
As Bright as Heaven
As Bright as Heaven
by Susan Meissner
An Engaging Read (10/13/2017)
Covering roughly 8 years, this engaging novel dips into World War I and the Spanish Flu of 1918 and the impact these major events have on one family. Written from the point of view of Paulina, the mother, and her three daughters, Evelyn, Maggie and Willa, the reader is …more
Mothers of Sparta
Mothers of Sparta: A Memoir in Pieces
by Dawn Davies
Memoir of Note (9/13/2017)
Great read! Writing style was captivating and drew me in to each chapter/story. Loved the way they held up as separate pieces, yet tied together to create an epic story. Couldn't put it down once I started. Dawn Davies has a gift for expressing herself. All the moments were …more
My Last Lament
My Last Lament
by James William Brown
Greek Tragedy in Modern Times (3/20/2017)
I found this book to be well written and an interesting story. It covered a time in Greek history that I knew little about, and provided a personal view of life there during World War 2 and the immediate aftermath of the war. Using an elderly woman and the tale of her …more
The Typewriter's Tale
The Typewriter's Tale
by Michiel Heyns
A Return to Literary Writing (1/2/2017)
After a slight need to adjust to the flowing language of this novel, I fell into it completely. In fact, it was a joy to re-engage with literary writing. Given the short, abbreviated writing of the current day (texts, emails, etc.) it was a wonderful experience to submerge …more
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