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Reviews by Shirley F. (Franksville, WI)

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The Stolen Child: A Novel
by Ann Hood
Historical fiction from WWII and 1974 (7/10/2024)
This historical novel begins in 1917 with WWI in the trenches where a young American soldier, Nick, is painting a mural on the walls. A French woman hands his a bundle - a baby boy swaddled in a blanket, and 2 small paintings of the countryside with a blue figure- with amore
Only the Beautiful
by Susan Meissner
Eye opening Historical fiction (4/23/2024)
This powerful book takes place primarily within 2 settings - one in California in 1938, the other in Austria in around the same time.

The first part of the book is about Roseann, who is orphaned at 16 yo when her parents and younger brother are killed in a tragic accident.more
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
by Colleen Oakley
Cross Country with Tanner and Louise (4/16/2023)
This book started out with a college dropout coming to live with an elderly woman as her caretaker.

Tanner (the college dropout) only ever wanted to play soccer. However, her dream was shattered when she fell off a porch and broke her leg in several places. She lost hermore
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie
by Marie Benedict
What really happened to Mrs Christie? (10/13/2022)
What a creative novel based on a historical event. I thought that Marie Benedict offered some insight into the making of Agatha Christie as a mystery writer and creative murder methods.
She had little experience with men and when she met Archibald Christie, she fell in lovemore
The Paris Bookseller
by Kerri Maher
Paris in the 1920a (10/13/2022)
This book introduced me to Bohemian Paris in the 1920s that I knew .very little about. The Paris Bookseller was mostly a historical biography of Sylvia Beach, and her relationship with Adrienne Monnier. The 2 women were among the many avantgarde of Paris and the continentmore
Exiles: Aaron Falk Mystery #3
by Jane Harper
Another Aaron Falk Mystery (10/13/2022)
I just love the way Jane Harper develops a plot, adds tension and suspense, and brings out important themes of friendship and community. The book begins with a mysterious disappearance of a baby's mother, Kim. Her sneaker is found near a reservoir but there is no sign ofmore
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie
by Marie Benedict
Marie Benedict ala Agatha Christie style (1/30/2021)
What a creative novel based on a historical event! I thought that Marie Benedict offered some insight into the making of Agatha Christie as a mystery writer and her creative murder methods.
Agatha had little experience with men and when she met Archibald Christie, fell inmore
American Dirt: A Novel
by Jeanine Cummins
Migrant reality (1/1/2020)
I read the first chapter of this book and had to put it down - I didn't care to read about the rise of the drug cartels in Mexico, the violence that they produce, and the poor downtrodden Mexicans who are making their way to the US. Then I read the blurbs on the back of themore
Travelers: A Novel
by Helon Habila
Sad truth of the immigrant experience (6/6/2019)
This story of African immigrants to Europe paints a very human picture of immigration. The author shows a deep understanding of people, their families and their desire for freedom, safety,opportunities for a better life. At the same time, he shows the reader the sacrificesmore
More News Tomorrow: A Novel
by Susan Richards Shreve
More News Tomorrow (4/28/2019)
This story of a woman finding answers to a lifelong question approached the idea in a unique manner. When 70 year old Georgianna decides to return to the Wisconsin camp where her life changed forever, and take along her family, only one child was looking forward to the trip.more
The Scribe of Siena
by Melodie Winawer
Time to travel to Siena (6/15/2017)
There were many aspects of this book that I just loved. The characters were well developed, interesting, and their were explained. I loved the setting and contrasts between Siena in 1347 and today - well researched with focal points of the buildings. Especially the Duomomore
A Piece of the World: A Novel
by Christina Baker Kline
Christine's world (2/12/2017)
I loved this book and the way the author developed the character of Christine Olsen - the focus of a painting by Andrew Wyeth.
Christine suffered from a debilitating illness as a young child which affected her ability to walk. She attended a one room school and was easilymore
Amour Provence
by Constance Leisure
Trip to Provence (5/24/2016)
I liked the organization of the book and the way the story progressed in a series of vignettes. Fortunately, the author didn't switch back and forth between the main characters but devoted 2 chapters to each main character and presented them in a way to move the story along.more
The Book of Speculation
by Erika Swyler
What if... (8/9/2015)
I really wanted to like this book since it was compared to The Night Circus and Like Water for Elephants...but I think it fell short of both of these books. My main problem with this book was with Simon who, while the main character in the present day story, lacked muchmore
Her
by Harriet Lane
Unlikely friends (6/22/2014)
The characters were interesting and well developed and I liked the tension of Her. I thought that the friendship was unlikely -the main women really have very little in common - and the reason for the stalking did not seem to be something that Nina need to obsess about for 2more
The Cairo Affair
by Olen Steinhauer
Cairo Affair (1/29/2014)
I enjoyed most of this book although the changing viewpoints made Part IV a little difficult to follow. I didn't especially like the characters (which is not to say that I didn't like the book) but was intrigued by their changing roles throughout the book and I couldmore
Bitter River: A Bell Elkins Novel
by Julia Keller
Bitter River (8/16/2013)
I enjoyed the mental mechanics of this book and trying to determine who did it. The characters were for the most part well drawn, the story was engaging, and the ending a surprise. I did not care for the constant similes in the beginning of the book. It bothered me that somore
Close My Eyes
by Sophie McKenzie
Chills and thrills (5/9/2013)
Close my eyes will probably be this year's Gone Girl because it is a psychological thriller but not as dark. It took me a while to get into the book, and I thought Gen was whiny and a little obsessive about the loss of the child 8 yrs previously. Art was too intense for memore
My Brilliant Friend
by Elena Ferrante
What did I miss??? (7/9/2012)
The prologue grabbed my attention and I looked forward to unraveling the mystery of Lila's disappearance. The characters were well developed, the plot a little thin, the setting and the rhythm of the neighborhood were beautifully described (although not aestheticallymore
The Face Thief: A Novel
by Eli Gottlieb
Thief of my time (2/16/2012)
I thought this book would be a fast and exciting study of a sociopathic female. Although the premise of face reading is a little out dated, just like the yoga retreat for sex, the "psychological thriller" aspect kept me going back to the book. For me, however, the aura ofmore
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