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Reviews by Vivian Q. (Greer, SC)

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The Devotion of Suspect X
by Keigo Higashino

Barely readable (12/18/2010)

I'd read a blurb about this book months ago, added it to my wish list, and was very happy when I won an Advanced Reader's Copy for review. I expected to be wowed by this winner of the Japanese Naoki prize which is similar to the National Book Award.

What I got instead, was a …more

The Girl in the Green Raincoat: A Novel
by Laura Lippman

Engaging Read (10/28/2010)

It's been a long while since I visited with Tess Monaghan and her beloved city of Baltimore. A short novella, reminiscent of Rear Window, that was a quick and easy read. Bedridden in her final months of pregnancy, Tess watches a woman in a green raincoat walk her dog in the …more

Bad Boy: An Inspector Banks Novel
by Peter Robinson

Terrific Surprise! (7/7/2010)

I hadn't realized that this book was part of a continuing series when I requested it. I prefer to read a series in order, and while this is the 19th entry in the Alan Banks series, I'm happy to say that it works very well as a stand alone book. I did not feel cheated that I …more

The Hand that First Held Mine: A Novel
by Maggie O'Farrell

The Hand That First Held Mine (3/5/2010)

Irish author Maggie O'Farrell writes stories about love in all its permutations, and I am a big fan.

As in her previous novels, this one takes a little time to get into the story and then, suddenly, it becomes a page turner. Told in alternating voices, decades apart, it is …more

Serena: A Novel
by Ron Rash

Compelling Page Turner (8/25/2009)

Ron Rash is a master storyteller. This book is even better than the last book of his that I read - Saints at the River. Serena grabs you from the first page and never lets go. The characters are vivid and very well written. Serena just leaps off the page. The story, set in 1 …more

Water, Stone, Heart: A Novel
by Will North

Emotionally moving and bittersweet (5/3/2009)

I read the advanced reading copy of Mr. North's new book on the heels of his debut novel "The Long Walk Home". The way Mr. North handles a story remains the same - beautiful descriptions of the landscape (this time, Cornwall), engaging characters who have suffered loss and …more

While My Sister Sleeps
by Barbara Delinsky

Another Winner From Delinsky (12/15/2008)

I am a long time fan of this author and was very happy that she did not disappoint with this story. As always, Ms. Delinsky's strength lies in her ability to write realistically about relationships, mother/daughter, siblings and the love/hate relationship that we sometimes …more

BookBrowse Book Club

Lies and Weddings
by Kevin Kwan

A forbidden affair erupts at a lavish Hawaiian wedding in this wild comedy from the author of Crazy Rich Asians.

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The Lilac People
by Milo Todd

For fans of All the Light We Cannot See, a poignant tale of a trans man’s survival in Nazi Germany and postwar Berlin.

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Daughters of Shandong
by Eve J. Chung

Based on the author’s family story, comes an extraordinary novel about a mother and her daughters’ escape from Taiwan.

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The Girls of Good Fortune
by Kristina McMorris

Brave the Shanghai tunnels in this tale of love, identity, and resilience passed through generations.

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