BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Do Tell: A Novel
by Lindsay Lynch

Movie madness (6/13/2023)

The studio system was hard on everyone involved but especially women. It was profits over people. The actions of the studios and the moviemakers are vividly described in Do Tell. I felt overwhelmed by the number of characters and would have liked to learn more about some and less about others. The writing is moving and well done. 3 1/2 stars

Pieces of Blue
by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Winds of change (1/31/2023)

Good beach read about a family trying to start over again in Hawaii. Great descriptions of the flora and fauna in the island and how important it is to the people of Hawaii. Interesting plot lines for the family and how they struggled to make things work with some twists.

Our Missing Hearts: A Novel
by Celeste Ng

Bookmarks (9/11/2022)

Once again Celeste Ng gives us a compelling story about a family. The characters grab you and keep you interested. The subject matter is heavy and depressing. At times, I found it difficult to keep reading but the characters push you on.

A Theater for Dreamers
by Polly Samson

Greek Tragedy (3/12/2021)

Reading this is like visiting the Greek isles. You can feel the sun, sand and wind. Some parts of the book drew you in while other sections seemed wander and run on. Many of the characters were hard to keep track of. Their names seemed interchangeable. This was a solo read for me.

The Fortunate Ones
by Ed Tarkington

Class and secrets (10/25/2020)

Class, race and homosexuality are some of the topics that come up in this book. This book would appeal to book groups because of the many crises that occur in this story. Southerners may recognize many situations in The Fortunate Ones.

Actress
by Anne Enright

Many questions (11/5/2019)

Character driven story about an Irish ? Actress and her daughter . The writing was good but for me the story dragged and seemed to go in circles.

The Big Finish
by Brooke Fossey

Drama in assisted living facility (10/8/2019)

An assisted living facility is not your usual setting and octogenarians are not your usual characters. Fast paced story about family and friendship. The characters will keep you interested and touch your heart.

The Last Collection: A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel
by Jeanne Mackin

War and Pieces (2/23/2019)

The Last Collection was a fascinating read about two fashion industry icons in pre-WWII Paris. The Nazis were coming and Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel were expressing their feelings about that through high fashion and their often often dangerous rivalry. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of their collections and the reasoning behind the creation of them. This book would interest readers interested in women's roles during WWII and the history of high fashion.

Clock Dance: A Novel
by Anne Tyler

Family? (7/6/2018)

We are back in Anne Tyler land. Baltimore, disappointing family, finding a purposeful life and who makes up a family are some of the themes that crop up. Her writing is like slipping on an old sweater, warm and comforting. This may not be her best work but it was enjoyable.

The Family Tabor
by Cherise Wolas

The history of the Tabors (4/25/2018)

Well written but too much writing. I never connected with the Tabors. They were highly accomplished people who hid deep secrets from each other. Even when Harry disappears, they can't open to one another. The story never really pulled me to it.

The French Girl
by Lexie Elliott

Ghostly secrets (9/7/2017)

A page turner with a ghost lurking around for one member of group of friends who were part of a missing person story when they were young. The story moved quickly and kept you guessing. Everyone had something to lose but only one person knew the truth. True friends came forward in this riveting story.

The Stars Are Fire
by Anita Shreve

Choices (3/7/2017)

This was a quick entertaining read but I found the story superficial. I would have enjoyed more information about the fires and their aftermath. I couldn't understand many of the choices Grace made before and after the fires. Good read for he beach.

Underground Airlines
by Ben H. Winters

State of the Union (8/18/2016)

Intriguing idea of U.S. with no Civil War. Abolitionists who fight the system with cell phones and electronic trackers. The story took off well and got a somewhat bogged down in the middle but the premise and the characters propelled me forward. Loved the The Last Policeman series and I will keep watching for more from Mr. Winters.

Amour Provence
by Constance Leisure

Wildly rural Provence (3/16/2016)

This is a series of interconnected stories that all take place in very rural and wildly beautiful Provence. They occur in different time periods. Some serve as background for other stories and characters. I appreciated the vivid descriptions of rustic Provence and the arduous life lived there. The stories and characters were hard to connect at times and didn't flow. The description on the back cover was very inaccurate.

The Swans of Fifth Avenue
by Melanie Benjamin

More Truman (10/7/2015)

Many books and movies recently have been about the life and times of Truman Capote. The Swans of Fifth Avenue gives us another version of him. This is an entertaining book about Capote and how he inserted himself into New York high society. The story is well told but for me, it had too many overly detailed descriptions of clothes , food and furnishings. It did bring 1960s New York society to life as well as the rise and fall of Truman Capote.

The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs
by Matthew Dicks

Moving forward (5/28/2015)

A very quick read about a mother and daughter finding their way and the mother facing her past. I enjoyed the premise and the main character but was puzzled that the 15 year old was given the role of the wise one. The supporting characters were interesting people.

Everybody Rise
by Stephanie Clifford

New York, New York (3/5/2015)

This is between average and good. Evelyn is a very entertaining character who makes some poor decisions and pays the price. The story is about class, upward mobility and friendship. It was a little overdone in the middle. And did remind me of Bonfire of the Vanities.

The Rabbit Back Literature Society
by Pasi Ilmari Jaaskelainen

Magical Finland (11/4/2014)

The premise was intriguing and the story was full of mystery and magical happenings. I was disappointed that three story lines were never concluded in any way. I enjoyed the setting and the atmosphere the writing invoked. I would recommend this to Harry Potter fans and any reader who enjoys books in far away locales.

Last Train to Istanbul
by Ayse Kulin

Bumpy Ride Home (8/30/2013)

Interesting facet of WWII involving Turkish citizens escaping Vichy ruled France. The book gives a good insight into the role of the diplomatic corps in aiding citizens. Some of the main characters seemed self involved and unaware of the scope of the war. Some plot lines went no where. Also the translation seemed stilted at points during the story.

Lookaway, Lookaway
by Wilton Barnhardt

Crazy Family in Dixie (6/6/2013)

This is a sprawling family saga of secrets and grudges told by members of the Jarvis Johnston clan. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different member of the family. The story went in many directions and reminded me of Tom Wolfe. I felt is was longwinded in some spots, especially concerning Southern Civil War history.

Reviews by Eileen F. (Drexel Hill, PA)

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Reviews by Eileen F. (Drexel Hill, PA)

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