Reviews by Julia A. (New York, NY)

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Darling Days
Darling Days: A Memoir
by iO Tillett Wright
Darling and not-so darling Days (4/28/2016)
This book exceeded my expectations. Full disclosure: I lived in the East Village/Alphabet City, then the West Village, then back to the East Village in the years that iO is writing about, so I recognize the settings and, if not the specific characters, the types of people …more
The Devil in Jerusalem
The Devil in Jerusalem
by Naomi Ragen
Terrifying yet Fascinating (7/3/2015)
The story is both terrifying and fascinating. In Naomi Ragen's own words, she "wishes to explore through fiction the wider implications of how people seeking spiritual guidance can naively wind up in horrific cults led by psychopaths, particularly cults that abuse children." …more
He Wanted the Moon
He Wanted the Moon: The Madness and Medical Genius of Dr. Perry Baird, and His Daughter's Quest to Know Him
by Mimi Baird with Eve Claxton
A Must Read for so Many Reasons (2/15/2015)
This book left me with so many conflicting and complementary emotions that I hardly know where to begin. Mimi Baird's quest to uncover the mystery of her father's life and illness was a multi-year project the completion of which should bring her much satisfaction. At times …more
The House We Grew Up In
The House We Grew Up In
by Lisa Jewell
Can it possibly all hang together? (3/31/2014)
This novel has so many different themes--family tragedy, hoarding, "late-blooming lesbianism," incest, quasi-incest, drug-dealing, extra-marital affairs-- to say nothing of the three different time frames and multiple physical settings interwoven,that if I were just reading …more
House of Bathory
House of Bathory
by Linda Lafferty
A good premise gone slightly awry (1/31/2014)
I was excited at the thought of "House of Bathory." The idea of weaving two story lines that happened 400 years apart, and adding in Jungian analysis and historical research appealed to my reading tastes. For the most part, Lafferty succeeds, but at times the shifting back …more
Through the Evil Days
Through the Evil Days: A Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery
by Julia Spencer-Fleming
Through the Evil Days (9/11/2013)
I have to admit that I have very ambivalent feelings about this book. While I did keep reading and felt some involvement with the characters, I found the plot overly convoluted, with almost too many characters and sub plots. I found Kevin and Hadley to be a much more …more
Her Last Breath
Her Last Breath: A Kate Burkholder Novel
by Linda Castillo
Unforgettable (5/16/2013)
I had not read any of Linda Castillo's previous books, and I was frankly skeptical of the seemingly hyperbolic accolades on the cover. I was happy to be proven wrong. I started the book one morning and begrudged the time I had to be away from it. I did finish it that same …more
The Edge of the Earth
The Edge of the Earth
by Christina Schwarz
Engrossing and informative (11/10/2012)
I was a little hesitant to request yet another "lighthouse" book, having reviewed "The Woman at the Light" fairly recently; however, I'm glad I did. "The Edge of the Earth" is an engrossing tale, so that one almost doesn't notice the education that is provided about marine …more
The Woman at the Light
The Woman at the Light: A Novel
by Joanna Brady
Interesting but uneven (7/28/2012)
"The Woman at the Light" is an interesting read from the standpoint of dealing with a topic not often seen in novels, that of women lighthouse tenders in the pre-civil war era. I learned a lot from this book. The book's narrator, Emily, was one such lighthouse keeper, …more
The Borgia Betrayal
The Borgia Betrayal: A Poisoner Mystery Novel
by Sara Poole
Poisoner extraordinaire (7/4/2011)
Much as I wanted to dislike the heroine of "The Borgia Betrayal," since she is essentially a murderer, I could not do so. Francesca is an engaging narrator, even when she is recounting how she has poisoned or stabbed someone. As the Pope's poisoner, she is also charged with …more
The Art of Saying Goodbye
The Art of Saying Goodbye: A Novel
by Ellyn Bache
Part soap opera, part chick-flick (4/21/2011)
The "Art of Saying Good-bye" runs a serious risk of descending into over-sentimentality or "Love Story"-like saccharine prose. However, it stops just short of that. By using one woman's death to tell the story of four other women's adult lives, Ellyn Bache manages to weave …more
The Ghost of Milagro Creek
The Ghost of Milagro Creek
by Melanie Sumner
Magical Realism (7/18/2010)
This book is reminiscent of the best Spanish American magical realism novels. the experiences of the Jicarilla Apache, Hispanic and Caucasian residents of the barrio of Taos New Mexico are recounted skillfully by Sumner, who succeeds in capturing all three voices. The novel …more
An Eagle Named Freedom
An Eagle Named Freedom: My True Story of a Remarkable Friendship
by Jeff Guidry
An Eagle named Freedom (5/23/2010)
"An Eagle named Freedom" is a book that will make the reader laugh, cry, get angry, feel inspired, and be filled with amazement. This book came about almost by accident; it began as an 800-word e-mail to a friend of the author—an e-mail that was forwarded around the world …more
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    The Devil Finds Work
    by James Baldwin
    A book-length essay on racism in American films, by "the best essayist in this country" (The New York Times Book Review).
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