I should mention upfront, that this genre of book is my least favorite. I took the plunge with this book because I was intrigued by the book title: Bright and Tender Dark. I was hoping for a quick and engrossing read. Unfortunately, for me, that didn't happen. I made several attempts, but unfortunately I didn't make it to end. In my opinion, was just too choppy and difficult to hold my attention. Sorry to be the bear of an unfavorable review.

Although the subject matter was not of great interest to me when I started reading the book, my opinion quickly changed when more of the narrative was developed. The author takes a maritime scandal and engulfs the reader in a suspenseful historical thriller! Although I usually avoid this genre of book, I suddenly was reading page after page with no thought of stopping.

I enjoy reading insightful and informative history as long the most important events are covered in the book. Indeed, the authors Meltzer and Mensch do admirably in focusing in on the highlights. I enjoyed the shorter chapters to read! A book I would highly recommend!

This book captures a multitude of experiences resulting in the main character, Bonnie Lincoln, removing herself from society after winning an enormous lottery. What starts off in a "once in a lifetime dream" of winning a lottery to the demons that come to possess Bonnie's life of residing in a self-imposed world of loneliness. At times this novel can be troubling to read due to Bonnie's decision to remove herself from society to live in a fantasy world of a 1970s TV show, "Three's Company". The depths that the author goes to revealing the innermost thoughts of the main character is brilliant! I believe this is a book that would be engaging to discuss at a book club.

I was thoroughly engrossed in reading this book. The author had so many twists and turns in this book that at times it was difficult to sort the facts from the fiction of the story. I did not have a clue as to the actual mystery of Sylvie's early struggles or how she found the strength to cope with her past and pending end to her career as a psychic. The injection of the antics of the dog and cat in the story added much needed humor to the dark underpinnings of the book. An engrossing read!

An engaging first novel on the interconnection between work and life, loneliness and kinship, and the projects that occupy our time. A careful and focused reading is imperative in separating fact from fiction, as the author shuffles back and forth in presenting opposite stories of reality. A slower paced second reading is encouraged! Enlightening reading!

Upon noticing the book title and the book cover for "The Paris Bookseller", I was hooked on this book. I have had the opportunity to visit the bookstore Shakespeare and Company in Paris several times on my trips to France. After reading this inspiring book by Kerri Maher, I long to once again visit the place that Sylvia Beach make possible for unknown, but talented, writers to create books that will live on through the ages. I found myself captivated by Kerri Maher's ability to draw the reader into a personalized way that Sylvia provided financial and moral support to some of the best "Lost Generation" authors. I think a book club would be an ideal forum to review and discuss this book! This is a book I would highly encourage any visitor to Paris to read; even those readers that might not able to actually travel to the "magical" place!

This book, which the author, Katy Regan, describes as a epic journey between a brother and sister is captive reading. Even if the reader is not an acclaimed ornithologist or even a casual birdwatcher, the family dynamics that exist within the nuclear family is justification for diving into this book. Truly the relationship between the brother and sister is gripping! The author generates an ongoing an ebb and flow in emotions to the characters in this novel. A surprised ending makes this book an engaging read. Ideal selection for a book club!

Carrot Quinn's book provides a vivid in-site to an adventurous life that most people would not even consider. Her risks and dangers would pale in comparison to what most adolescent girls would ever encounter. Quinn's memoir revolves around her self-discovery of herself and a determination to rid herself of the physical and mental abuse she experienced earlier in her life and the decision to seek the freedom to emerge from an devastating life with no future she sees in Alaska. This book should be a recommendation to any book club that is seeking to offer its participants an "arm chair" adventure!

This book had me off and running from the very beginning. I was engaged from the start about a story based in the California coastal region in the 70's. I was heavily engaged to the music scene at that time.

What really captured the essence of this book is the close relationship that developed between two teenage cousins Jackie and Willa. This period of time the girls engage in the communal living that was popular in certain places the country and the California musicians and their lifestyles.

It is an engaging book from start to finish. Its primary focused on Jackie and Willa's developing and enduring friendship keeps one reading at a rapid pace.

The beauty of this book is that the plot and story presents an unexpected turn of events. When this happens, the race is on to finish the book for a very surprised ending. An ending one doesn't see coming.

The cover page of the book caught my eye: "Blake's dead. His wife killed him. The Question is...which one? Then in reading, I quickly noticed the author uses short chapter pages, which I very much like! After about reaching the midpoint of the book, I noticed my interest in the book declining. I quickly acknowledge this type or genre of book does not fully engage me. I think this a good book for certain book clubs. I am sure a steady dialogue of comments would be forthcoming. Overall, I would give this book a positive rating!

What a remarkable reading experience! I was clueless at what to expect from reading this marvelous book. I did know I was looking for a read that would take me away from the daily bombardment of news about a vicious and unrelenting virus spreading throughout the world. This book took me to a place I could escape this horrible reality for at least a while. I admit I was perplexed as to what I was actually reading about. I was so focused on rationalizing the characters Piranesi and Other that I was missing the wonderful story being told. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking a break from the strife and distress of the alarming news we are being constantly being saturated with and as yet with no end in sight. I plan to reread this book at a more leisurely pace to dwell in the labyrinth of halls, the thousands upon thousands of statues, the tides which thunder up staircases and everything else occurring in the House.

What an enjoyable and insightful memoir. I'm normally not an enthusiast reader of memoirs, but this book captured my attention from the very beginning! The book title in itself is a drawing card to read this book. I do have to mentioned that someone with my limited knowledge about our universe and even less about astrophysics, I found the book gripping and a good read. After reading the book, I did go to one of author's TED Talks, which helped me immensely to visually grasp an understanding of what the title of this book is referencing. A suggestion would be to include so type of charts and graphs referencing the subject matter. The non-scientific parts of the book are extremely captivating. Some book clubs might welcome such an enlightening subject matter, but others book clubs might not want to engage in this type of adventure. A target audience should those in the scientific research community that could relate to the demands of balancing work and family life.

From the start of reading this book I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride. A story would slowly start off and then gradually pick up speed before one story ended and the next one began! I enjoyed the book, although as a male, senior citizen, I might be the targeted audience. The humor in the stories were infectious! If my local library book discussion group selected this book, I would gladly participate in the discussion.

I was first intrigued by the title of the book. I have visited Paris several times and I am scheduled to be in Paris again in May of this year. Then I discover that the book covered Paris in 1927 with the added touch of famous figures of Marcel Proust, Gertrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway being included in the story made it a "must read" for me. I found myself plowing through this book with my reading pace rapidly increasing towards the end to discover the finale. This would be a great book club selection. I am now going to read this book again at a more leisurely pace to savor the characters and what life was like in Paris in the 1920s.