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Reviews by Barbara R. (Lander, WY)

The Flower Sisters
by Michelle Collins Anderson

The Flower Sisters (3/16/2024)

I received The Flower Sisters as an ARC to review. The story is set in the small town of Possum Flats, Missouri in dual timelines of 1928 and 1978. The central event affecting both timelines was the disastrous explosion at the local Lambe's Dance Hall in August of 1928 that …more killed dozens of young people. Among the dead was one of the Flower sisters, identical twins Violet and Rose, who were very different in personality.

In the summer of 1978, fifteen-year-old Daisy Flowers is left in Possum Flats by her hippie mother. She's to stay with her Grandmother Rose, the local funeral director. A miserable, bored Daisy talks herself into a job as an intern at the local newspaper, and then into a "Today in History" column. In the paper's back issues, she discovers stories about the explosion and is shocked to learn that one of the victims was Violet, the twin sister her grandmother has never mentioned.

Daisy is determined to tell the story of the explosion by talking to survivors and victims' families, who don't want to talk to her. Her questions cause problems for those who have have spent fifty years hiding the trauma, guilt, and the secrets of that night. Additionally, in the Bible Belt town, many people felt at the time that those who were killed while dancing to Jazz had it coming for their evil ways.

The prologue, set in 1928, describes the events of the night at Lambe's in the voices of Violet and her boyfriend, Dash. The chapters alternate between Daisy, Rose, Dash, now a fundamentalist minister, and the other survivors, whose memories provide the 1928 timeline. Daisy's newspaper column for each story was included afterward.

I really disliked Daisy in her first several segments. She seemed self-absorbed, over-confident, and insensitive to the concerns of those she was determined to interview for her big "scoop." The author started out by overdoing her 70's teen persona. I fleetingly thought of skipping her segments, but kept on in hopes that the character would show some growth.
Rose was a hoot; strong, outspoken and finding humor in sometimes awkward situations. Rev. "Dash" Edmonds was zealous and humorless. I guess as he was supposed to be. The other characters, the survivors and Daisy's coworkers, were well-developed.

The stories of the survivors were told in a effective way, slowly revealing the story of the night of the explosion. I didn't care for the ending, which seemed out of sync with the rest of the book.

The Flower Sisters is a story of secrets, regrets, and remembrances, of finding truths, family, and home. I would recommend it. (less)

Becoming Madam Secretary
by Stephanie Dray

A Woman Who Changed America (11/24/2023)

By a weird coincidence, the day I started reading Becoming Madam Secretary a post about Frances Perkins popped up on my Facebook memories! I had read and shared a short biographical post about her a few years ago. I had been aware that she was the first woman to serve in …more

The Lost English Girl
by Julia Kelly

The Lost English Child (2/8/2023)

The Lost English Child revolves around the evacuation of children from English cities during WWII. Having grown up in a repressive Catholic environment, Viv meets Joshua, a Jewish musician, and ends up pregnant. They marry out of necessity. Bribed by Viv's mother, a …more

Sisters of the Great War: A Novel
by Suzanne Feldman

Sisters of the Great War (9/19/2021)

When I began Sisters of the Great War, I had just finished a 5-star book that I had added to my exclusive "Favorites" list, and I was concerned that this book would suffer in comparison. In the first few chapters, I wasn't impressed with the story, the characters, or the …more

The Lost Apothecary: A Novel
by Sarah Penner

The Lost Apothecary (9/6/2020)

I must admit that I did stay up all night to finish The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner. The twists and turns in the final chapters required it.

The Lost Apothecary follows three characters in two timelines. Nella, the apothecary and provider of poisons, and Eliza, the …more

Clock Dance: A Novel
by Anne Tyler

Character Development (7/20/2018)

Character development in Clock Dance is not only one of the reasons I like Anne Tyler's books; it's also the theme of this particular book.

The first part of the book is about pivotal times in Willa's life that made her the woman that she is in 2017; eager to please, to be …more

A Piece of the World: A Novel
by Christina Baker Kline

Christina's World (12/11/2016)

A print of Christina's World has hung in my living room for almost 50 years. Over time I learned that the woman in the painting was real and was crippled. It changed my perception of Wyeth's work. While reading the book, I spent some time online learning more about the …more

The Wild Girl
by Kate Forsyth

Wished for more (4/17/2015)

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I was not impressed by Wilhelm. Despite the reality of his poverty, he seemed to be an "ivory-tower" academic, preoccupied with his work and insensitive to anything real. Because of this, I could never believe that Dortchen's love …more

My Jane Austen Summer: A Season in Mansfield Park
by Cindy Jones

A Good Idea (3/8/2011)

I really like the idea behind My Jane Austen Summer. I tried to overcome my initial negative reaction to a main character who stalks her ex-boyfriend. I could never connect with Lily, who has the emotional maturity and judgment of a thirteen year old. The other characters …more

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Reviews by Barbara R. (Lander, WY)

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