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Reviews by Vicky S. (Torrance, CA)

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The Mystery Writer
The Mystery Writer: A Novel
by Sulari Gentill
Some surprises (1/4/2024)
The book kept me reading from the start. I appreciated the conspiracy theories though they were a bit crazy, but they usually are, aren't they? I did start to wonder if one of the main characters were not who they seemed to be. Conspiracy is contagious. There was some …more
Delicate Condition
Delicate Condition
by Danielle Valentine
It kept me reading (7/26/2023)
Like many others, I read this book quickly. It kept me engaged and interested. Some parts were a bit over the top but overall I enjoyed it and I appreciated the ending - it surprised me and creeped me out a little. Book clubs would definitely have a lot to talk about from …more
The Gifts
The Gifts: A Novel
by Liz Hyder
The Gifts - it gives you wings (3/10/2023)
I loved the idea of women sprouting wings at different times of their lives and appreciated those characters as well as Mary. It took me a bit to get into the book and did enjoy the last 1/2-1/3 most of all - probably because it was coming to a culmination. The …more
The All-American
The All-American: A Novel
by Joe Milan Jr.
The All-American (2/8/2023)
I'd like to give the book 4.5 stars. The beginning pulled me in though there were some spots in the book that were a bit slower and the last part I could not put down. Some parts may seem unbelievable but people we meet can be wacky and the situations even wackier. I …more
The Nazi Conspiracy
The Nazi Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill
by Brad Meltzer, Josh Mensch
The Nazi Conspiracy (12/19/2022)
This book hooked me from the beginning. The writing style was very engaging and informative. I have not read much about WW2 and had no clue that the 3 main Allied leaders had met. The intrigue around if the conspiracy was real and the thoughts around why it may or not have …more
Scatterlings
Scatterlings: A Novel
by Resoketswe Martha Manenzhe
Scatterlings - starts out great (10/12/2022)
I zipped through the first part of the book as I was enthralled. I was heartbroken by some actions in the beginning, including by the government who made the act of interracial relationships illegal - horrible! I appreciated learning some history of South African including …more
Free
Free: A Child and a Country at the End of History
by Lea Ypi
Free - A Different Perspective (11/30/2021)
Just as I enjoy International movies for the varied approach and perspective, different from the typical US point of view, I appreciate international books for the same reason. Free offered the idea of Freedom from an Albanian point of view at two different times in history …more
Motherhood So White
Motherhood So White: A Memoir of Race, Gender, and Parenting in America
by Nefertiti Austin
Mothers (8/19/2019)
I looked forward to receiving this book and reading Nerertiti's perspective on motherhood and adoption. Parts of the book kept me engaged as when she wrote about her parents and grandparents. Her descriptions had depth and I felt like I'd met her grandparents. I loved the …more
Beirut Hellfire Society
Beirut Hellfire Society
by Rawi Hage
Slow to get going but engaging later (5/22/2019)
I considered not finishing this book as I could not first connect with the story however I always tell myself to read 50-60 pages before deciding and I ended up enjoying the book and had moments where I did not want to put it down. I appreciated the work done by the …more
Love and Other Consolation Prizes
Love and Other Consolation Prizes: A Novel
by Jamie Ford
Love & Other Consolation Prizes (8/3/2017)
I'd prefer to give the book a 3.5 rather than the 4 I chose. I enjoyed the history in the novel as well as the experiences of races and classes in Seattle. I did find some of the characters in the Tenderloin hard to believe and not many that I cared about. It has taken me …more
What Lies Between Us
What Lies Between Us
by Nayomi Munaweera
What Lies Between Us - cultures (12/10/2015)
I appreciated the description of the two countries from the characters' points of view and how different situations are dealt with and perceived from the different cultures - marriage, gender roles etc. It was obvious from the beginning that something awful was going to be …more
Make Your Home Among Strangers
Make Your Home Among Strangers
by Jennine Capó Crucet
Nowhere to call home - Living among Strangers (4/25/2015)
There were parts of the book that I appreciated such as learning about another culture - the Cuban immigrants in Miami, the title of the book relating to the main character's feelings when away at university or going "home" and the story or Ariel being among strangers …more
Her
Her
by Harriet Lane
More descriptions than story (5/10/2014)
I found Her to have wonderful descriptions of the environment, detail about what each character was doing or wearing but little actual plot or story. It seemed the descriptions were added to make the story long enough. I did appreciate some of the suspense and seeing …more
Mating for Life
Mating for Life
by Marissa Stapley
Mating for Life from multiple points of view (4/4/2014)
I enjoy books where different characters share their individual perspectives on the same situation and have different takes on it. This books does this with 3 sisters, their mother and others. I also appreciated that not everyone had a happy ending but were still able to …more
The Cairo Affair
The Cairo Affair
by Olen Steinhauer
Mystery in many countries (12/18/2013)
This book takes place over a handful of countries and times. I enjoyed moving from country to country and the variety of characters' points of view. There were parts where I did not want to put the book down though I struggled a bit to figure out where the next character …more
A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar
A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar: A Novel
by Suzanne Joinson
Lady Cyclist's Guide (6/8/2012)
I enjoyed the interplay of the two stories and timelines and I was surprised by how they connected but I didn't care very much about the characters. I set it down before a a weekend trip since I was nearly done with it and wanted a new book to take me through the weekend …more
Before the Poison
Before the Poison
by Peter Robinson
Before the Poison (12/5/2011)
This book was enjoyable with a murder mystery from years back and current emotional and relationship turmoil. I would look for other books by this author. Book clubs would enjoy the discussion about possible motives for murder as well as the movie music portion.
Low Town
Low Town: A Novel
by Daniel Polansky
Great Descriptions (6/15/2011)
The author does a great job of describing the environment and I could feel that I was there while reading the story. I liked the mixture of fantasy, adventure, relationships and mystery though the writing felt a bit affected at times.
Outlander
Outlander
by Diana Gabaldon
Can't Believe I'd MIssed it Until Now (4/7/2011)
There is so much going on in this book just like the cover describes. It has something for everyone with history, romance, timetravel etc. I liked that the main characters had to make very serious choices that effect the lives of themselves as well as others around them. …more
The Philosophical Breakfast Club
The Philosophical Breakfast Club: Four Remarkable Friends Who Transformed Science and Changed the World
by Laura J. Snyder
Interesting HIstory of Science (1/9/2011)
I found this book to be hard going. It wasn't difficult to understand but rather dense. I did enjoy the mixture of personal information about the men as well as the scientific history. I don't agree that the book would appeal to a wide variety of readers. I could see my dad, …more
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