BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

All the Sinners Bleed: A Novel
by S. A. Cosby

Falls short (8/21/2024)

This is my first Cosby novel and I will try one of his earlier ones for sure. All the Sinners is well written except for the abundance of cliche and a preachy tone that really was unnecessary and at times distracting. Very violent and graphic and was cluttered with way too many characters that felt like fillers for the plot. The novel has a depth to it that sets it apart from a lot of serial killer novels but somehow just felt out of balance to this reader.

The Story Collector
by Evie Woods

Misses the mark (6/30/2024)

If I had read this when I was back in high school devouring Victoria Holt novels, I would have given this 5 stars. I was entertained by the Celtic fairy stories and descriptions of Irish life in 1911. However, the modern day story of Sarah was beyond predictable. Woods tells Anna’s story through a dairy found hidden in a tree only the prose is exactly the same style as Sarah’s first person narrative-nothing resembling diary entries, I think book clubs and young adults might enjoy this, but if you are looking for substance and quality writing, look elsewhere,

Smothermoss
by Alisa Alering

Strange and Slow (5/8/2024)

I don't mind a strange book as long as it has interesting characters and a balanced plot. This has neither. Perhaps "rural gothic" is just not my thing-I did not care for The Waters either. The supernatural elements are confusing and the story slow and boring. Alisa Alering does have a way with words but a story revolving around the murder of two women should have been much more engaging.

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store: A Novel
by James McBride

Takes a Village (5/6/2024)

While there certainly is a cast of characters in this novel, McBride masterfully brings their souls alive to the reader with limited words. While primarily a tale of the struggles faced by the Jewish and Black communities in rural pre-war Pennsylvania, there are lovable Italians, Germans and Whites peppered throughout the tale. Love, human dignity and pride are the pervasive themes. Have tissue near for the ending. I particularly enjoyed the strong, tough as nails female characters.

Bad Animals: A Novel
by Sarah Braunstein

Deeply psychological novel (1/5/2024)

The first few pages of Bad Animals led me to believe that the book would be a lighter, more comedic parody of sorts. But, boy did that quickly change! Braunstein's novel honestly portrays the human animal in all its dysfunctional glory; however, the story also has a strong permeating theme of love-in all its at times twisted forms. She takes on a lot in this story but it never comes across as crowded or cluttered. The ending is very thought provoking and a bit open ended yet fits with the story. I am a librarian so perhaps this book particularly appeals to me. I think it would be a good book club choice but might not be uniformly liked.

The Waters: A Novel
by Bonnie Jo Campbell

Emotional disconnect (11/24/2023)

This is a lush, sensual novel set in the rural swamps of northern Michigan. I really tried to get into the story but found it a slog most of the way. I think if you are interested in herbal medicine and nature, especially snakes, it would be enjoyable as Campbell is a good writer. It definitely picks up speed in the second half but not enough for me to not be very glad when it was over. Think this one will have limited appeal to the general reading audience.

Lucy by the Sea: A Novel
by Elizabeth Strout

Crazy times (9/5/2023)

3.5 I enjoy how Elizabeth Strout takes ordinary folks and makes their stories extraordinary. In this one Lucy is in lockdown during the pandemic with William her ex. Having so much time of her hands makes Lucy particularly philosophical (IOW-annoying) but still makes for a good story. She comes across as caring yet a bit narcissistic, but I suppose fear and the unknown can do that to anyone. I did not think the graphic description of an example of police brutality was necessary and it really did not fit in with the style of the novel. I enjoy the Lucy books, but she is no Olive K!

This Is Salvaged: Stories
by Vauhini Vara

Stories to think about (8/6/2023)

I am very glad I read this collection over time - never reading more than one at any sitting. The stories are very intimate feeling - all but one is told in the first person. Vara tackles a myriad of themes: grief, belonging, but mostly the question, how do we survive in this world and manage to salvage anything meaningful? Indeed these are not exactly uplifting stories but Vara's accurate observations of human nature and her polished way with words combine to make this a worthwhile collection. The only story I did not care for at all was The Eighteen Girls. I felt she resorted too much on shock value at the end.

Banyan Moon: A Novel
by Thao Thai

Same ole, same ole….. (7/22/2023)

Entertaining enough but totally agree with a reviewer who said “I have read this book too many times before.” Contains lots of first novel problems: cliches, unresolved plot lines (mystery of how they acquired Banyan House?) and inconsistent, unrealistic behavior by most of the characters. The melodrama at the novel’s end made this reader think Thai had no idea how to tie up her story.

Beyond That, the Sea: A Novel
by Laura Spence-Ash

Amazing First Novel (7/18/2023)

Eleven year old Beatrix is sent by her parents from WWII London to stay with an American family until the war’s end. Those five years as she goes from child to young adult profoundly shape her life and future relationships. There are many characters in this story and short alternating chapters magically allow the reader to know them intimately. A tough thing for a writer to pull off! I cannot wait for more from Spence-Ash. If you love Maine, this is a particularly great book for you.

King of the Armadillos
by Wendy Chin-Tanner

Close to home historical fiction (5/24/2023)

I grew up not far from Carville and often heard stories and rumors about the "leper colony." Reading King of the Armadillos was shocking for me as I had no idea what life was truly like inside the Hansen's facility and figured it was just a locked down hospital. The description of the treatments and the effects of the disease were eye-opening to say the least!
The novel is both the immigration story of Victor's family and his own coming of age story as a musical prodigy with a terribly misunderstood disease. The novel succeeds on both levels. It's tough to write a "crossover" novel (YA to Adult). I do think if you can't write naturally flowing sex scenes, it's best to leave it to the reader's imagination, and in this case that is particularly true. Maybe better editing?
I do suspect a sequel might be in the making as Victor's life is just beginning and his family is in chaos.

The Long Ago: A Novel
by Michael McGarrity

Book about a missing person who isn't (3/1/2023)

I think Michael McGarrity should stick to crime writing as this book is very amateurish and poorly written. The plot centers around two siblings, one of whom supposedly is missing but in actuality just never thinks about informing her loved ones she is off to find herself. Characters come and go at random and the love scenes could be written by a high schooler. Absurd coincidences occur throughout the story. This novel definitely has the make it up as you go along feel as there was never enough substance for any real character development or emotion. I hate to be so harsh but this really was extremely disappointing.

Pieces of Blue
by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Pieces that don't fit together (2/3/2023)

I would describe this book as stuck in limbo between the YA market and beach reading adults. There are "pieces" of quality-the characters, while never fully developed, are interesting and for the most part likable. The Hawaii setting is rich in lush description and the restoration of an old hotel did engage my attention. I think YA readers would be bored with the ramblings of confused, troubled adults and serious adult readers will find the plot contrived and melodramatic (especially the hurricane and other events that would be spoilers). However, it did entertain and was a good book to have on a long plane ride. I think this could be popular with book clubs, but comparisons to Where'd You Go, Bernadette are a bit of a stretch.

The Book of Goose: A Novel
by Yiyun Li

Simple yet oh so complex (1/10/2023)

I love books like this-deceptively simple, straightforward plot, yet laced with a tremendous amount of dark, psychological elements. Two very smart, yet very bored young girls in post war southern France try to make sense of all the broken lives around them by playing a dangerous game that has life altering consequences. I think this would be an excellent book club choice for groups that enjoy serious discussions. There are so many themes and different ways of interpreting the characters’ actions!

Margot: A Novel
by Wendell Steavenson

Circus of emptiness (12/24/2022)

If you enjoy books about girls attempting to overcome horrible childhoods and basically failing at every attempt, then this is the book for you. Characters come and go inadvertently and there is an unnecessary abundance of "icky" sex and extremely unlikable characters. Throw in drug trips, possible rape, and a totally confusing, open-ended conclusion, and there you have Margot. Granted she does achieve some success at Radcliffe in biochemistry but this reader found the overly long scientific descriptions confusing and out of balance with the rest of the book. I suggest that if Steavenson writes a sequel, she hire a new editor. The writing fluctuates from choppy, verbless sentences to flowery, melodramatic sentences that seem neverending.

The Bell in the Lake: Sister Bells Trilogy #1
by Lars Mytting

Historical fiction at its best (10/10/2022)

I absolutely loved this epic tale of three people—a fierce young woman, her local Protestant pastor, and a young German artist and architect student. Set in frigid central Norway, the novel centers around the magical powers of the stave church’s “sister bells‘’ which were donated in the early 1800s in memory of two conjoined twin girls who died at a young age. The plot is rich with detail and imagery. The love triangle is fascinating as is the artistic descriptions and history of the Norwegian stave churches. The first in a trilogy, I cannot wait to get the next one. Definitely needed Kleenex at the end!

The Family Izquierdo: A Novel
by Rubén Degollado

Strangely flat (8/6/2022)

I often gravitate towards multigenerational family tales and enjoy the linked short story format. This story of a Mexican family trying to live their lives in south Texas while under the evil curse of a neighbor, had all the makings of an exciting, emotional experience. While Degollado, is a skilled writer, and there were a few sentences that caused a lump in my throat, not enough detail was revealed to emotionally move the reader. And the closing chapter takes place in Oregon???
See that the book is going to be released as a novel and not stories. Think this is a bad move and will change reader expectations in a negative way.

Dirt Creek: A Novel
by Hayley Scrivenor

Small Town Tragedy (3/1/2022)

I have read quite a few novels about how the death or disappearance of a child affects a community but this one is a cut above. It takes place in a small Australian town where everyone is connected to each other creating a claustrophobic atmosphere of doubt and suspicion. Past crimes surface to pollute the waters and the collective narrative voices make it abundantly clear that there will be no escape from the tragedies. Certainly dark and depressing but there are some glimpses of redemption for a select few. Interesting female detective that perhaps will appear in future novels as her story is left open ended.

Fencing with the King: A Novel
by Diana Abu-Jaber

A crowded jigsaw puzzle (12/3/2021)

I have enjoyed some of of Diana Abu-Jabar's other novels but this one is terribly disappointing. She tosses out lots of modern Jordanian and Middle East political info but much of it is lost on the reader. The "mystery" is about as obvious as it can get. The only truly interesting storyline is the conflict between the two brothers and it never really comes to a satisfying conclusion. I suppose the main character is Amani (a struggling poet) yet she is completely underdeveloped and I felt I did not know her any better at novel's end than I did at the start. To avoid a spoiler, I will just say that the romance element in the book felt childish and unrealistic. And don't think you are going to learn much about the ancient art of fencing.

Cloud Cuckoo Land: A Novel
by Anthony Doerr

Journey to home (11/13/2021)

I think one would be hard pressed to find a librarian (as I am) who would not love this book. While it’s packed with characters, sci fi/futuristic elements, and a complex plot—at heart, it’s about the power of books and the strength of the human spirit. Totally appropriate for strong teen readers as well.

Reviews by Margot P. (Mandeville, LA)

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Reviews by Margot P. (Mandeville, LA)

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