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Reviews by Laura D. (Newmarket, NH)

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In the Garden of Monsters
In the Garden of Monsters: A Novel
by Crystal King
A Delicious Story (8/25/2024)
I was drawn to this book because it took place in Italy, had Salvador Dali as a character, referenced mythology, and contained descriptions of fabulous meals. The author did a great job of integrating all of these elements. I know quite a bit about Dali and Gala, and I felt …more
Above the Salt
Above the Salt: A Novel
by Katherine Vaz
Above the Salt (10/1/2023)
What I will remember most about this novel is the stunningly beautiful use of words to convey feelings and images! The author possesses an amazing gift in her ability to put into words things that I did not imagine could be described. This is an immigration story, a war …more
Devil Makes Three
Devil Makes Three: A Novel
by Ben Fountain
Unique Story (8/28/2023)
This book is difficult to get into. Persevere! I recommend reading the first two chapters, reading a Wikipedia article on the 1991 Haitian coup d'état, and then skimming the first two chapters again. That will give you enough information to get into the story. After 50 …more
Hotel Cuba
Hotel Cuba: A Novel
by Aaron Hamburger
Unique Immigration Story (4/16/2023)
The strength of this book is the story itself. It was wonderful to experience Pearl's journey with her, but without the physical hardships that she endured. Cuba as a location on an immigrant's journey to the United States is one that I had not previously encountered in my …more
Paper Names
Paper Names: A Novel
by Susie Luo
Engaging Debut (2/26/2023)
I loved everything about this book! It was an engaging story, revealed through the perspectives of three characters within four decades. The book's non-linear time line worked wonderfully, with each chapter adding dimension to the characters and story line, without ever …more
Ghost Season
Ghost Season: A Novel
by Fatin Abbas
Debut Novel (11/23/2022)
I cannot believe this book is the author's debut novel! It was precisely written with character development that enabled me to understand and be empathetic to all the main characters. I thought the technique of introducing the characters in the first section, and the …more
Scatterlings
Scatterlings: A Novel
by Resoketswe Martha Manenzhe
Historical, Yet Timely (10/16/2022)
I love reading fiction by international authors because of the cultural subtleties that come through in the story telling. The author's beautiful use of language and the unique writing style immediately captivated me. The variety of characters from representative groups of …more
Natural History
Natural History: Stories
by Andrea Barrett
Intertwined Short Stories (8/18/2022)
I had not read any of the author's work prior to hearing about this book. Given that Natural History includes characters from prior stories, I decided to read Ship Fever and Servants of the Map first. I highly recommend reading these two other collections prior to reading …more
Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden
Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden: Two Sisters Separated by China's Civil War
by Zhuqing Li
Jaw Dropping Details (5/28/2022)
I don't read a lot of non-fiction books. However, I was immediately drawn to this book because it was the story of two sisters, with very similar childhood backgrounds, yet vastly different adult lives due to the Chinese Civil War. I was eager to learn about a part of …more
On a Night of a Thousand Stars
On a Night of a Thousand Stars
by Andrea Yaryura Clark
Enlightening Historical Fiction (2/13/2022)
On a Night of a Thousand Stars is enlightening historical fiction, illuminating a part of history not commonly known. The story is told in segments that alternate between the 1970's and 1998, which is especially effective because the reader learns about the past in parallel …more
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