BookBrowse: Your Guide to Exceptional Books

Reviews by Catherine H. (Nashua, NH)

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The Age of Miracles: A Novel
by Karen Thompson Walker

Slowing down, still going on.... (5/11/2012)

I finished this book only few hours ago but I am still under its spell. I can only but strongly recommend it. This is the story of 11 year old Julia and her family discovering that one day, earth rotation has started slowing down with unimaginable consequences. The story is told by a grown up Julia. This is not a flashy, Hollywood type of book, but a story of how profondly such an event could affect people and their everyday lives and futures. Yet, life goes on....
I will certainly be looking forward to Mrs. Karen Th ompson Walker's next book.

A Land More Kind Than Home: A Novel
by Wiley Cash

Up in the mountains... (3/28/2012)

I honestly was not sure if I was going to like that book, each chapter being told by the main characters was kind of confusing for me but in the end, I truly enjoyed the book. The story was excellent, the tension building chapter after chapter, the characters. Very much recommended.

Arcadia: A Novel
by Lauren Groff

Like a poetry book.. (12/7/2011)

I read Miss Groff “The monsters of Templeton”, book full of promises but missing “something”. “Arcadia” did not disappoint me. The style is poetic but yet easy to read. I wanted Bit’s story to go on. It is a very moving and very sad story, it does not really end with the traditional “and they lived happily ever after” but still with a feeling of hope.

Falling Together: A Novel
by Marisa De Los Santos

Painful book (8/26/2011)

I had a very hard time reading this book: poor style, artificial characters, boring story. I felt like I wasted my time. Would absolutely not recommend.

The Daughter of Siena: A Novel
by Marina Fiorato

Good book to take to the beach (4/29/2011)

This is a good book to read while vacations: wonderful descriptions of Siena and the Palio race, forbidden romance, the Medici Family, treason but despite all that, very slow action and very predictable ending.

The Trinity Six
by Charles Cumming

A Page Turner (2/2/2011)

This was my first "espionage" book and I have to admit I was very skeptical but I was pleasantly surprised. The Cambridge Five, the Cold War, Russians spies vs British M15 and M16, a pursuit in Vienna, an academic on a quest: the perfect recipe for an excellent read. Cinema has "The third man" but this is more like the sixth man: read the book and find out why.

The Lost and Forgotten Languages of Shanghai: A Novel
by Ruiyan Xu

Communication and understanding (10/10/2010)

I was very much captivated by this story about communication and understanding or rather the loss of both. I really loved the characters and their struggles, their emotions and feelings were very well developed. However, the end of the book was rushed and left me somewhat dissatisfied.

The Blind Contessa's New Machine: A Novel
by Carey Wallace

I really wanted to like this book but.... (5/29/2010)

As I read the last line, it left me with a feeling of frustration. The story was interesting enough: a blind Comtessa in the 1800s Italy, the husband, the friend and lover, who invents a "new machine" for her especially: both characters and story are not developed enough; I ended up the book wanting more. Nice book for a summer afternoon.

Pearl of China: A Novel
by Anchee Min

China is the Pearl (1/27/2010)

I thought I was going to read - in a fictional way - about Pearl Buck's life by reading "Pearl of China", but the main character in this book is rather China. Nevertheless, I learned a lot about Pearl Buck, the incredible woman, the writer. Pearl's lifelong friend Willow is the other incredible woman in this book, her strength, her courage.
However, I thought some parts of the book was like reading "Woman from Shangai".
A good read.

The Book of Illumination: A Novel from the Ghost Files
by Mary Ann Winkowski

It was the night before Halloween... (10/13/2009)

Don't expect to be scarred but rather spent a good time with some friendly and sometimes quite humorous ghosts, along with learning some interesting insights about book binding.

I did like Anza - the main character - a down to earth everyday mom. My only regret: not enough ghosts actions.

Gifts of War: A Novel
by Mackenzie Ford

An "okay" gift. (4/7/2009)

Despite being well written with excellent WWI research, I just found this "love story/spy/pacifist" story hard to believe.
This book is definitively not "All Quiet on the Western Front" and if turned into a movie, it would not be "Paths of glory".

Findings: Faye Longchamp Mysteries, No. 4
by Mary Anna Evans

Good Beach book (5/7/2008)

Here you have all the ingredients for a good book to read on vacations: an island full of artifacts, the pot hunters, the Confederacy's gold, the determined archaeologist. Not a Pulitzer prize just a nice read.

Mozart's Sister
by Rita Charbonnier

Mozart, Dad, Mom and I or the dysfunctional family (10/15/2007)

I discovered Mozart the brother, the child, the man completely different from Mozart the musical genius and the picture is far from a nice one.
Despite a very unorganized story, I did enjoy the book.
As for Mrs. Charbonnier, I would say "talented writer but can do better".

The View from Mount Joy: A Novel
by Lorna Landvik

The passing of time (9/20/2007)

I did enjoy this book on what I call the the passing of time from teenager years up to adulthood. This book is definitively not a "thriller" book, no big surprises just life as it goes. My only criticism is the Kristi character is not a believable one as she turns into a preacher and other "presidential" adventures, does not ring "true" to me.
Otherwise, as always, another good book by Mrs. Lorna Landvik.

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