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Reviews by Barbara S. (Gig Harbor, WA)

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This Strange Eventful History: A Novel
by Claire Messud

An historical saga you will not forget (4/8/2024)

Each of our lives can be described as a "strange eventful history" and Claire Messud masterfully depicts one family's intertwined relationships through almost a century and across several continents. The characters are richly developed through the years as they navigate …more

The Mystery Writer: A Novel
by Sulari Gentill

Fast paced, fun read (12/17/2023)

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill is a fast paced, tightly woven thriller with many twists and turns. In fact, though the reader wants to keep reading at a fast pace to find out what will happen next, it is advisable to slow down to catch up with some of the twists this …more

Day: A Novel
by Michael Cunningham

One Day leaving many questions (10/3/2023)

Day, by Michael Cunningham is another novel which is set in the time period of COVID and its aftermath. Cunningham uses an intriguing device of following an extended family through the same day in 2019, 2020, and 2021. This is a very effective way of showing the the …more

The Continental Affair: A Novel
by Christine Mangan

The Continental Affair (6/30/2023)

The term "affair" has various nuanced meanings in this novel which leads the reader through a journey of time as well as place. The author uses a well developed past and present timeline to allow the reader to learn the storyline through the eyes of both characters as the …more

The Poet's House
by Jean Thompson

An intriguing look into a poet's world (6/16/2022)

The Poet's House is a good title to read if you enjoyed Lovers and Writers or Groundskeeping. It brings the reader into the world of writers, in this case poets. I had some difficulty relating to the main character, but then realized that her nonreading habit was basically …more

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

Fencing within Families? (12/11/2021)

I have read several earlier works of Abu-Jaber's books and always enjoyed them. I did eagerly read this one and her plot keeps the reader engaged to the end, involving a lot of family history and interrelationships which all families can relate to. Abu-Jaber also throws in …more

Ariadne
by Jennifer Saint

A fun way to learn Greek mythology (3/17/2021)

It took me quite awhile to decide to read Circe by Madeline Miller as I wasn't sure Greek mythology was my thing, but once I had read it I wanted more. So I was delighted to read Ariadne. Again I found myself looking up the characters to find out more about them and how …more

Hieroglyphics
by Jill McCorkle

Hieroglyphics, by Jill McCorkle (6/12/2020)

This story is told through the voices for 4 characters from three different generations who are connected together through the place which they live. The chapters go back and forth throughout time from the 1940s through the early 2000s as the author slowly develops their …more

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Book Jacket — Lessons in Chemistry
by Bonnie Garmus

Praised by *Parade* and *The New York Times Book Review*, this debut features a 1960s scientist turned TV cooking star.

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