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Reviews by Erica Minchella

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The Constant Princess
by Philippa Gregory
The Constant Princess (9/6/2006)
I love Philippa Gregory. She gives me a story I can completely lose myself in, set in a historical context that not only tells me of that time period, but the implications of historical actions on the world we live in. Her books are clearly well-researched (because I've done some of my own research after becoming fascinated with her tale). I can't wait for her next offering. I hope it's about Isabel and Ferdinand - The Constant Princess's parents.
Waking Raphael
by Leslie Forbes
Waking Raphael (8/4/2006)
This book was a terrible disappointment. All that I had read about the book indicated that it would be a fascinating, complex, if not thrilling, story. Instead it was a great deal of allusion, innuendo and foreshadowing, leading to a climax that was insulting in its failure to deliver. Although the main characters were well-drawn, the characters thrown in to allude to the "secret" were confusing and contrived. The book was reminiscent of "A Thread of Grace" which was thoroughly worth reading.
Cover The Butter
by Carrie Kabak
Cover the Butter (7/19/2006)
This was a enjoyable, easy read. The book was somewhat reminiscent of "Bridget Jone's Diary" without the narrator's ability to poke fun at herself - although, not being as humerous did not make it any less enjoyable. The characters were well-drawn and the frustrations were real, both easy to relate to. This would be a great book club read as there is some real depth to the dilemna of Kate's decisions and her interactions with the other characters which would lead to a great discussion.
A Thread of Grace: A Novel
by Mary Doria Russell
A Thread of Grace (4/26/2006)
I read about a book or more a week and have a 50 page rule - 100 pages, if I think there might be a chance for redemption. I therefore don't read much of what I don't like. But it is rare for me to find a book that I love. For me, a book I love, is one I go back to the beginning once I've finished the book and re-read parts to get a better understanding, stay with the book longer, not let go. A Thread of Grace is such a book. Being Jewish and having had the Holocaust thrust at me throughout my childhood, I have come reluctantly to that theme as an adult. This book is different. It is not so much about the suffering of the Jews and the hideousness of the Nazi - although it is about that - but about people, trying to survive in times of war - a war fought in a way in which they don't agree. There are many stories told, many interwoven - it can get difficult to follow at times - but the courage, the tenacity and the resiliancy of the characters, makes it worth working through the more difficult parts of the novel. I can't help but believe that there is truth behind the fiction; I can't help but believe that the characters that I came to care about were based on real people. This was an amazing book. A rare find.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel
by Lisa See
A good read (3/10/2006)
I was intrigued by the topic of this book - women in China during the time of footbinding and total submission to one's family, husband and husband's family - and THAT story is well-told. Although I believe the author tries hard to develop the relationship between Snowflower and the narrator, and the narrator and other characters, I never found myself caring about or fully engaged with ANY character. I truly enjoyed the story that was told, and the manner in which it was told.
The Ninth Life of Louis Drax: A Novel
by Liz Jensen
Louis Drax is a good read (1/18/2006)
I started this book and put it down, finding the manner in which Louis was talking at first, very offensive. I decided to give it another try, and I was glad I did. Although I was able to guess at the climax, because of the foreshadowing, there were some interesting twists to the story that made it compelling. I thought the writing quite good and the change in narrator rather inventive. Overall, it was unlike anything I had read recently and I found it refreshing.
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