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Reviews by Jean O. (DePere, WI)

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A Good American
A Good American: A Novel
by Alex George
A Good American (1/5/2012)
This is a wonderful book. The prose is beautiful and flowing, the characters are real and interesting. I tabbed several passages because they are memorable. Usually I do not read a book twice, but I am in the process of doing that now. It seemed too abrupt to leave the story. I need more time to savor.
The Homecoming of Samuel Lake
The Homecoming of Samuel Lake: A Novel
by Jenny Wingfield
The Homecoming of Samuel Lake (7/2/2011)
I read this book in record time - could not put it down! The characters left the pages and took residence in my head. The story is compelling. There is humor and fun, tragedy and sadness and all the things in between the make life interesting- - and all the interesting bits of life that make excellent novels. I hope that Jenny Wingfield keeps writing and we can look forward to more novels written by her.
Friendship Bread
Friendship Bread: A Novel
by Darien Gee
Friendship Bread (3/8/2011)
This book is an easy read. It is filled with believable characters, good plot and a lovely concept. Friendship Bread is a book about sharing and the array of options that one is given in life to practice living and sharing. As I read about the small town created for the story I found that I wanted to go visit, get to know some of the people there and enjoy a cup of tea. I enjoyed reading this book very much!
The Discovery of Jeanne Baret
The Discovery of Jeanne Baret: A Story of Science, the High Seas, and the First Woman to Circumnavigate the Globe
by Glynis Ridley
The Discovery of Jeanne Baret (1/13/2011)
The Discovery of Jeanne Baret is a story of an obscure woman the 1700's. The book is based on history that is patchy and contradictory. The author's research appears to be extensive and thorough. The contradictions and missing pieces in the journals, ship's logs and other records that were researched lead the author to suppositions and logical outcomes. It is a scholarly piece of work. In my opinion this is not a book for everyone.
I did enjoy reading it.
The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul
The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul: A Novel
by Deborah Rodriguez
A Cup of Friendship (11/16/2010)
It was hard to keep reading for the first two-thirds of the book. The characters seemed flat and I felt no connection with any of them. The story seemed removed and I felt distant from any actions/descriptions. It was almost as if the author assumed that readers would get the gist of things with few words and little description. The last part of the book had more life to it.
City of Tranquil Light
City of Tranquil Light: A Novel
by Bo Caldwell
City of Tranquil Light (8/27/2010)
The beginning of the book went slowly for me. My interest increased as I read. The use of two voices was a nice way to get the perspectives of the main characters. The story is lovely and an excellent voice for examples of dedication and devotion.
The Girl Who Fell from the Sky
The Girl Who Fell from the Sky
by Heidi W. Durrow
The Girl Who Fell from the Sky (3/9/2010)
This book is a treasure; well written and a joy to read. Reading it made me think of loom weaving; different threads combined to make a beautiful piece of fabric. The gradual introduction of each character and of each portion of the plot is done so well. The story pulled me in and kept me feeling involved. The award the author received for a book concerning social justice is well deserved.
The Book of Unholy Mischief
The Book of Unholy Mischief: A Novel
by Elle Newmark
The Book of Unholy Mischief (10/14/2008)
I enjoyed this book very much. It was a little slow starting, but became an "I don't want to put it down" book. The history in the story was very interesting. The 1500's was a time of intrigue and danger. Things that we take for granted (reading, buying books, etc) were rare in the time frame of the story. It made me more appreciative of being able to read and having books to read.

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