Reviews by Elizabeth L. (Salem, OR)

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Pony Confidential
Pony Confidential
by Christina Lynch
Funny and Heartwarming (6/5/2024)
Told from the perspective of a pony and the woman who was once the girl he loved. Both of the characters take an emotional and physical journey. The pony in particular is somewhat like Odysseus with wild adventures and memorable companions. But the heart and social …more
The Cleaner
The Cleaner: A Novel
by Brandi Wells
Unsettling (2/22/2024)
The writing really walked the tightrope of 1) highlighting how we dismiss the labor of people who aren't part of "our caste" and 2) showing that laborer is mentally disturbed. This was a hard book to read since everyone - except M - was occasionally sympathetic but more …more
Daughters of Shandong
Daughters of Shandong
by Eve J. Chung
Interesting Topic (11/24/2023)
This book dealt with a moment in time I hadn't read - or even thought - about very much, the fall of the Nationalists and the rise of the Communists and the immediate aftermath. The juxtaposition with the Chinese cultural preference for sons and the treatment of daughters …more
The Witches at the End of the World
The Witches at the End of the World
by Chelsea Iversen
Witchcraft in Norway (8/28/2023)
Enjoyed this book and the differing perspectives of Kaija and Minna. I thought Tante Tilda was fantastic and would love a book about her. Other characters were a bit one dimensional. My main quibble is the ending. I felt that the story was tied up in a rushed manner and not …more
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
by Colleen Oakley
Fun Read (11/11/2022)
I really enjoyed this book. It parallels the movie Thelma and Louise but puts a fresh spin on it. I'm not (too) close to the ages of either character but thought that the depictions were age appropriate. Well written and did not have any "take you out of the book" phrasing/ …more
The Latinist
The Latinist: A Novel
by Mark Prins
Tough Start but Good Finish (11/4/2021)
I'll confess that after the first section I put the book down for at least a week. Not another "academia is a snake pit" book, I thought, only this time with Latin. But I enjoyed the book when I picked it up again. The author does a good job of making both main characters …more
Smalltime
Smalltime: A Story of My Family and the Mob
by Russell Shorto
Facinating (3/21/2021)
I really enjoyed the book despite not having any connection to Italy, Pennsylvania, the Mafia, or deeply dysfunctional families! Even if you are not interested in the life of second and third generation Italian immigrants, the author's journey to understanding his father …more
He Started It
He Started It
by Samantha Downing
Enjoyed but didn't love (2/23/2020)
The unreliable female narrator is a played out genre in my opinion unless the book is really special and this book isn't. That said I thought the book was well written and although the final twist was maddening I prefer that over a tidy bow!
Meet Me at the Museum
Meet Me at the Museum
by Anne Youngson
Enjoyable (5/3/2018)
I enjoyed the depiction of older middle aged people coming to terms with their remaining time and being satisfied with what has occurred and what can occur. And yet something surprising (to them) can still happen. I was a little disappointed in the convenient affair of …more
Next Year in Havana
Next Year in Havana
by Chanel Cleeton
Disappointing (11/4/2017)
I requested this book because my in-laws left Cuba much in the early 60s and I was curious to see a book written by someone who would have grown up like my husband.

I enjoyed the chapters narrated by Elisa. While the actions and words of the characters were dramatic, it was …more
Seven Days of Us
Seven Days of Us: A Novel
by Francesca Hornak
Couldn't Put It Down (5/29/2017)
Despite its many serious topics - ebola-like disease, PTSD, cancer, death - this book is really quite funny. The author doesn't shy away from those topics but uses a light touch and focuses on how they affect the family dynamic. Even the slightly less weighty issues - …more
The Girl Before
The Girl Before
by JP Delaney
Good Fast Read (11/26/2016)
This is a well written addition to the unreliable narrator, "girl" in the title genre.

I really enjoyed the way this book combined the idea of how our environment influences mood and behavior with the connected house. I can see how the latter could make you feel spied upon …more
The Next
The Next
by Stephanie Gangi
Excellent (7/23/2016)
I rarely read the ghost/horror genre. But I really liked this book.

The writing is excellent. The scenes are very vivid and while the characters don't break new ground (with the exception of Joanna) they are well drawn.

Joanna was a revelation. I found her obsession with Ned …more
The Witch of Painted Sorrows
The Witch of Painted Sorrows: A Daughters of La Lune Novel
by M. J. Rose
New Genre to Me (3/13/2015)
This is my first what I call "erotic horror" book. I do read a lot of fantasy and historical fiction, though. In that vein, I have read a number of books with alchemical motifs and found this book pretty standard in that regard. I particularly enjoyed the references to Art …more
Shocking Paris
Shocking Paris: Soutine, Chagall and the Outsiders of Montparnasse
by Stanley Meisler
In want of editing (2/6/2015)
This is a five star story with 2 star writing and organization. I wish the author had chosen a rough chronological order with short side trips into other persons and world happenings. As it was, I found very hard to keep track of the primary subject's - Chaim Soutine - …more
Juliet's Nurse
Juliet's Nurse
by Lois Leveen
Enjoyable (7/18/2014)
Books about the little people behind the story are always interesting. A recent book in this vein is Longbourn, the story of the help in Pride and Prejudice. And certainly Downton Abbey taps into this, as well. The character of Angelica, the Nurse, was well developed and …more
I Am Livia
I Am Livia
by Phyllis T. Smith
Piqued My Interest (1/13/2014)
I wasn't very knowledgeable about this period of time so I found this book quite enjoyable in that aspect. I would have enjoyed more discussion of the larger societal and political changes but I can see that that might not be consistent with the point of view of the …more
The Spy Lover
The Spy Lover
by Kiana Davenport
Horrifying and Beautiful (12/16/2012)
This is one of those books that is both hard to pick up and hard to put down. Nearly every page contained a tragedy or degradation but it was all so wonderfully written that I was enthralled. The three main characters are well drawn and their actions and feelings are …more
The Art Forger
The Art Forger
by B. A. Shapiro
Interesting (9/19/2012)
I read this in stops and starts until about halfway through even though I found the descriptions of copying/forging a painting to be fascinating. But once the story started moving, I finished the book quickly. The writing itself was good but I thought Claire was too naive …more
Sentinel
Sentinel: A Spycatcher Novel
by Matthew Dunn
A Big Disappointment (5/30/2012)
The author may have the skills needed to write a report for one of his 70 successful missions (per the back cover) but he does not have the ones needed to write a novel. I found myself wincing at his phrasing and sentence construction on nearly every page and thus found it …more
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