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Reviews by Cheryl W. (Crosby, MN)

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Demon Copperhead: A Novel
by Barbara Kingsolver
David Copperfield-Damon Fields-Demon Copperhead (12/11/2024)
This book is set in rural Appalachia where poverty, crime, drugs and death are everyday life. Demon Copperhead lives with his mother in a trailer, father deceased. When his mother dies he becomes part of the foster system. Most people become foster "parents" for the money.more
One Death at a Time
by Abbi Waxman
Quirky mystery (12/1/2024)
A little bit of everything in this mystery, several murders, AA, some great characters, and a few great lines. Julia Mann is an aging actress fond of alcohol and Natasha Mason, her sponsor try to solve murders related to one another in Hollywood. I could see this becoming a series.
Night Watch: A Novel
by Jayne Anne Phillips
Unique telling of the civil war (11/22/2024)
What a unique way to tell a story about the civil war. It is during the time of the civil war but more about the women who were left behind and their hardships. Men who could not deal with their women or wanted to get rid of them would take them to the Insane Asylum. Thismore
Harlem Rhapsody
by Victoria Christopher Murray
Harlem Renaissance (8/22/2024)
I really enjoyed this book. I did not know this part of history, the publishing world, the struggle to be black along with being a woman. This is based on the life Jesse Redmon Fauset. She becomes the literary editor of the black magazine The Crisis. Jesse is determined tomore
Only the Beautiful
by Susan Meissner
Tragic Humanity (4/27/2024)
This book is heart wrenching, Rosie cannot catch a break, losing her parents, brother, taken in by someone who despises her and uses her as a maid. She becomes pregnant and taking to a home for the mentally handicapped. This book address so many areas includingmore
The Women: A Novel
by Kristin Hannah
This book will resonate for a long time. (2/20/2024)
I grew up during the Vietnam war. I learned so much from this book that I did not know. I shed a few tears and throughly enjoyed this book. Great writing and characters-it will stay with me for a long time.
The Divorcees
by Rowan Beaird
The Divorce Ranch (11/11/2023)
The theme of this book was interesting. In the 50's women went to "divorce ranches" to obtain residency for a quick divorce in Nevada. The first half of the book was introducing all the women seeking a divorce. The middle of the book was tedious as they always went to Renomore
Zorrie
by Laird Hunt
How much pain can this woman endure? (11/1/2023)
Zorrie is a heart wrenching book of pain, losses and friendship. She lost her parents and goes to live with an aunt who gives her nothing. She worked at the watch factory where she was exposed to radium which had an impact on her life. She married only to lose him to themore
Saving Emma: A Novel
by Allen Eskens
Boady returns (9/24/2023)
Best book I have read this year and also one of my favorite authors. Story was so engrossing I couldn't stop reading as I had to know what was happening. Boady Sanden is a recurring character in his books. This book has it all, mystery, murder, criminal justice, lawmore
The Roaring Days of Zora Lily: A Novel
by Noelle Salazar
A favorite for 2023 (8/30/2023)
The story starts in 2023 when Sylvia, a Smithsonian curator discovers a label under a famous designers dresses from 1920's. Her question is, "Who the hell is Zora Lily?" Sylvia does her research and this the beautifully written story of Zora Lily's life. My best book of 2023!
The Vanishing Half: A Novel
by Brit Bennett
Twins-one black world, one white world (5/27/2023)
I found this story ho-hum. This is a story about twins who take different paths in life. They live in a town called Mallard. Only light colored blacks are welcome. Their choices make them estranged for most of their lives. I didn't like the ending as it seemed like a set upmore
King of the Armadillos
by Wendy Chin-Tanner
King of the Armadillos (5/12/2023)
Victor is the protagonist of this story. He is a Chinese immigrant who arrived here with his father and brother. They settle in New York where his father's business is. His mother was left behind in China to take care of parents. Victor was diagnosed with Hanson's Disease (more
River Sing Me Home
by Eleanor Shearer
Soulful journey for Rachel (2/16/2023)
This is a story of a slave in Barbados called Rachel. Great Britain has declared slaves free but plantations owner decided the would be apprentices for another 6 years. Rachel has had her children taken from her and she runs on a mission to finds them all. Her journey takesmore
The Love of My Life: A Novel
by Rosie Walsh
Not a great thriller (2/15/2023)
This book is supposedly a thriller. It was pretty boring as a thriller. An obit writer has to write his wife's obit when she has cancer. While doing research he discovers all that he believed about is wife is untrue even down to her name. The story is lovely and I enjoyedmore
These Granite Islands
by Sarah Stonich
Set in Minnesota by Minnesota author (2/10/2023)
I enjoyed this story even though it dragged in parts. The main character is reliving her life from the summer of 1936 after a stroke. Her son Thomas is by her side. Her husband bought an island and took their boys for the summer. She is a milliner and meets Cathryn a womanmore
The Bandit Queens: A Novel
by Parini Shroff
Reality in rural India (2/2/2023)
The Bandit Queens tells of the oppression of women in rural India. One husband disappears and rumors become murder. Other women ask her how she did it. She states she did not kill her husband. Geeta and the other women are part of a cooperative so they can make money andmore
This Other Eden: A Novel
by Paul Harding
Shameful (1/22/2023)
This is such a sad story when someone else decides what is best for others. I was so saddened. There is a great cast of characters who are living with poverty but surviving the best they can. A mainlander decided he would educate the children and decided the island could bemore
Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel
by Bonnie Garmus
She did it her way (11/22/2022)
This book was such a fun read. Set in the 60's when women were to stay home and raise babies. Elizabeth did everything her way despite being under the thumb of men who made all the rules. She meets Calvin who accepts her for who she is, a chemist. I kept thinking of all themore
Beautiful Little Fools: A Novel
by Jillian Cantor
Gatsby perspective from the women in his life (11/7/2022)
Jill Cantor tells the story of Jay Gatsby's relationship from the eyes of Daisy, Jordan and Catherine. I found this book a fun read especially if you have seen the movie or read the book, The Great Gatsby.
Honor
by Thrity Umrigar
Listening to this book added so much (10/31/2022)
I throughly enjoyed this book. Listening to it, read by an Indian woman added so much. Conflict between Hindi and Muslim people was so prevalent. I was in shock at the atrocities done by men against women. A highly recommended book by me.
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