BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Remarkable Creatures
by Tracy Chevalier

Based on history— (8/15/2012)

This is a wonderful story taking place on the shores of Lyme England. Elizabeth Philpot and Mary Anning have a love of fossils in early 1800s. A strong bond of friendship develops between the women, although their social circumstances and backgrounds are so dissimilar. This story is based on true happenings. It is very much a recognizable Chevalier-written book— great fiction formed on facts.

The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl
by Timothy Egan

So much history (8/15/2012)

This was an excellent book: a true story about the the dust storms of the plains during the Depression. Timothy Egan carries a person around the Dust Bowl, showing the reader the courage of those who stayed to endure the terrific tragedy affecting their fields and homes. I learned much from the book, much more than I gleaned from The Grapes of Wrath and other stories.

The Sometimes Daughter
by Sherri Wood Emmons

Good story line.... (8/15/2012)

Judy was born at Woodstock Festival in 1969. Cassie and Kirk are her hippie mother and father. Cassie is in and out of Judy’s life, constantly leaving to try to find herself. This is the story of Judy’s life with Kirk, who goes back to school and becomes an attorney, and her relationship with her vanishing mother.
There a lot of instances when the reader is left up in the air. Why did Judy do this? Or why did Cassie have to do what she did. I honestly didn’t think this was written as well as it could have been. Yet, it was a good story line.

This Burns My Heart: A Novel
by Samuel Park

A tale of Korea (8/15/2012)

It is postwar 1960s and 1970s in South Korea. Soo-Ja doesn’t marry the man she loves but marries the man she feels will fulfill her chance at a successful career. The drama of the love story that evolves is a chance for the reader to learn of the development in South Korea as well as the customs. This was an interesting story and a well-flowing plot.

Turn of Mind
by Alice LaPlante

Engaging book (8/15/2012)

An engaging book! An orthopedic surgeon suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. Her best friend is dead. Did Jennifer commit a crime and murder her? The book searches thoughts and actions of those troubled by dementia and the problems of family members dealing with the disease. Much of the “research” was first hand experience of author LaPlante. A great book. And a wonderful cover!

Winter Garden
by Kristin Hannah

What a shame--a usually good writer (7/14/2012)

This book was far-fetched and full of unbelievable occurrences. I don’t recommend Winter Garden--unless a reader is ready for a stupid fantasy.

Baker Towers
by Jennifer Haigh

A family... (6/28/2012)

The book takes place after WWII in Bakerton, Pennsylvania, a mining town. The Italian and Polish immigrant miners live within the company confines without much of a future. The Towers are two huge piles of mine waste that play a part in the background of the town’s story. We follow the five children of deceased Stanley Novak and his widow, Rose. The family comes and goes during the three decades of the story, each returning to the home periodically, some staying and a few living away.

I liked the book. Much is going on, yet the series of events are separate, holding interest until the very end.

The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins

and--I'm not a young adult (age range) (4/20/2012)

I bought this for my granddaughters (10 and 16) and figured I "need to read a few pages in case it might not be suitable." Ho, ho I couldn't put it down and finished it about 6 hours. This is one excellent book. The hype is valid. This story will be a favorite of mine. 'Course, now I have two more books to buy as soon as possible, not only for me, but for granddaughters as well!

A Partial History of Lost Causes: A Novel
by Jennifer duBois

Fate (12/20/2011)

This is a great book. The time frame of the story is 1979 through 2007. Two main characters meet in Russia in 2006; Irina finds Aleksandr, a former chess champion who she hopes has answers for her questions regarding the outcome of fate. Irina was in first person while Aleksandr’s story was told by the author—definitely a change of style that I enjoyed. I’m anxiously looking forward to reading the next novel of Jennifer duBois.

Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel
by Jeannette Walls

And the winner is....... (11/17/2011)

Jeannette Walls writes that she honestly has to call her story a novel. She writes about her grandmother's life in the first person, recalling her distinctive voice. After her family interviews she had to use her imagination to write the details of Lily Casey Smith's life. I loved this book. It was natural, interesting and full of adventure and so very believable.

Falling Together: A Novel
by Marisa De Los Santos

Falling, falling, falling (8/29/2011)

This is one of the most unorganized, or maybe I should say over-organized, books I believe I've ever read. There is too much information and over-explaining about insignificant events that have nothing to do with the flow of the story. Not only was I irritated by the nicknames of the characters, their personalities were irritating as well. There were way, way too many parentheses and brackets, causing the continuity to be disrupted and too choppy. All in all I didn't like Falling Together and call it a "falling failure."

Lime Creek: Fiction
by Joe Henry

LOVED IT...... (6/30/2011)

"Lime Creek" is one of my current do-love books. It is written in an unfamiliar manner to me, but after the first page, I was hooked; I couldn't put it down. Even without quote marks (which often nag at me) I felt the story was easy to follow. I just plain was delighted with this book and the characters. It is a beautiful book. I look forward to further books from Joe Henry.

The Language of Flowers: A Novel
by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

A rather interesting story (6/2/2011)

You need to know...I love gardening and flowers. But when a relationship depends on what a given flower portrays, and after a while reading that over and over, I eventually became annoyed. Are there really people who live their lives around such? I liked the character Victoria. She was self-sufficient and lived accordingly--making a garden in a public park? That I question. And then having so many clients when beginning her business--OKaaay--another question. The birth and care of her baby--well, I won't even go there! I liked the way the author informed us of foster care. I learned something. All-in-all, this was a fairly interesting book, and I can understand that sometimes a fiction book actually may not be life-like.

The Year We Left Home: A Novel
by Jean Thompson

LOVED IT...... (5/21/2011)

This was another can't-put-down book. I lived with every family member during the years but actually they lived with me for the two days it took me to read the book, then for a few days thereafter. Jean Thompson's writing seems so smooth and flows so easily. Her descriptions of circumstances were lovely.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake: A Novel
by Aimee Bender

A very different story (4/11/2011)

This book is fiction and that fact needs to be remembered by the reader! Aimee Bender has created a character who has a terrific burden to bear. I liked her. I thought she stood up so solidly whenever she began to realize what she was eating had an emotional effect for her. The story had a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor, and Rose's brother, Joseph, seemed to be full of it. Their grandmother was outstandingly humorous while bestowing gifts, without even knowing it. This is an unusual story, and I really enjoyed it.

Outlander
by Diana Gabaldon

Hard to believe I felt this was a good book!! (3/30/2011)

Outlander is a good story with a lot of action, love, and sex that I usually skipped over. The book was written with great talent: the sentences read smoothly and full of information and great flow. I'm not sure I will search out sequels as I had to question the cool and dignified Claire's out-of-character hissy fits, along side the unbelievable goodness of Jamie. If she continues in the next book, I'm outta there! Hopefully Diana Gabaldon will produce a book that eliminates the grating personalities of some of the characters—eg., the sweet, sweet inhabitants of the abbey. I feel that there was much to question regarding reality of the times.

Ever By My Side: A Memoir in Eight ~~Acts~~ Pets
by Dr. Nick Trout

A good story...... (12/28/2010)

I loved this book. The story contained the full gamut of feelings, from sadness, to laughter, to love, to caring. I particularly enjoyed the parts referring to clinical judgments; the why-fors so to speak. It will be enjoyable for all animal lovers as well as those who may be interested in acquiring a pet. This book is, and will be, a most favorite of mine.

Raising Wrecker: A Novel
by Summer Wood

A good story...... (11/10/2010)

I enjoyed the book very much. I felt some characters could have been expanded to get a better picture of their involvement. For instance: What was Ruth's story? Or Johnny Appleseed's story? "Wrecker" had a predictable ending but the journey there kept my interest peaked. I even approved of Willow's and Len's love. And, of course, love of each family member as the book unfolded.

The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise: A Novel
by Julia Stuart

Love, Love, Love (8/7/2010)

This is a great book. Not knowing about the Tower of London, I learned so much. The characters are wonderful. I had two or three laughs per page. This was such a pleasing read. I have to disagree with one review: I found no repetitiveness of phrases within the book. But then, I was enjoying myself so much my criticism took a back seat!

A Thread of Sky: A Novel
by Deanna Fei

Just OK (4/12/2010)

This book didn't keep my interest. I feel it to be superficial and hard to understand the whys and why-fors. It took rereading sections, yet I still had trouble getting everything straight. Such a shame for me; I'd looked so foreword to reading it. An Amy Tan? Not!