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Reviews by Sue J. (Wauwatosa, WI)

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American Princess: A Novel of First Daughter Alice Roosevelt
by Stephanie Marie Thornton

Interesting read (11/2/2018)

I enjoyed American Princess very much. I didn't know Alice Roosevelt Longworth was the only child of Roosevelt and his first wife who died a few days after her birth. She led an unconventional and controversial life. I enjoyed reading about that time in history and gaining some insight into the political climate back then. My only criticism is it was a bit too long.

Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History
by Keith O'Brien

Fly girls (5/30/2018)

Female pilots in the 1920s and 1930s were referred to as "fly girls". The only female name I recognized was Amelia Earhart, who was famous for being the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean coupled with her disappearance in 1937. I learned about a number of females who flew in the Powder Puff Derby in 1929 and the determination it took to learn how to fly and compete in a man's world. These women came from all different backgrounds, I enjoyed learning about their lives. Since women were only given the right to vote in 1920, these "fly girls" were courageous and defied what society thought their roles should be.

French Exit
by Patrick deWitt

Fun Read (1/29/2018)

French Exit is a story about a widow, her adult son and an aging cat. Facing financial ruin, they embark on an ocean voyage to Paris for a new beginning. The characters are quirky, but very likable. The mother and son are dependent and devoted to each other in a way that is humorous and unpredictable. French Exit was an enjoyable fun read, I highly recommend it!

Other People's Houses
by Abbi Waxman

Other People's Houses (11/27/2017)

I enjoyed Abbi Waxman's first book The Garden of Small Beginnings, so I was looking forward to reading the advanced copy of Other People's Houses. It was a bit of a disappointment. Some of the events in the book I felt were too unrealistic which effected the believably of the story for me.

Happiness: The Crooked Little Road to Semi-Ever After
by Heather Harpham

Excellent Read (6/7/2017)

Happiness was a book that was hard to put down. Heather Harpham's memoir grabbed you from the first couple pages till the very end. Her writing style was so honest and insightful into relationships and the highs and lows of everyday life. Her daughter's bone marrow transplant, and how hard it is on the entire family, was so lovingly told. I highly recommend this book!

The People We Hate at the Wedding
by Grant Ginder

Disappointing (4/5/2017)

I wanted to like this book, it had a cute cover and a humorous synopsis. I forgot the old adage about judging a book by it's cover because this book was a disappointment. The characters were shallow and unlikable. The funniest part in the entire book for me was Donna trying on dresses for the wedding and describing herself in the violet shift as a sausage, dipped in cheap nail polish bursting at the seams!

Extraordinary Adventures
by Daniel Wallace

Extra-Ordinary Adventures (2/6/2017)

Edsel Bronfman is a thirty-four year old man who leads a very uneventful life. Work and visiting his Mother are his only social interactions. He would like more out of life, but doesn't know how to go about it. A phone call offering a free weekend in Florida, the offer is valid only if you bring a companion with you. Edsel sees this as an opportunity to start taking chances and embracing life. Some interesting adventures come his way, with a bit of a roller coaster ride. Fun read!

Castle of Water: A Novel
by Dane Huckelbridge

Survival (11/25/2016)

This is a wonderful story about the human will to survive. A small plane crashes in the middle of the South Pacific with only two people surviving. Sophie on her honeymoon and Barry seeking a new beginning. At odds with each other at first, the challenges they face develop into a loving relationship. The question that was going through my mind while reading Castle of Water was "What would I do if I were in their place?"

Victoria
by Daisy Goodwin

Victoria (10/5/2016)

Victoria was an enjoyable historical read. I found the dialogue interesting as well as the descriptions of the mansions and clothing. Though the story did drag a bit for me at times (Victoria's obsession with Lord M), I appreciated the struggles of an eighteen year old girl becoming the Queen of England. I was disappointed that the novel didn't include Victoria's first few years of marriage to Albert and how that impacted her reign.

Falling
by Jane Green

Good vacation read (6/1/2016)

Falling by Jane Green was a light easy summer read. Emma accepts a job transfer to Manhattan, leaving England and her parents behind to start a new life. After a couple of years the fast pace of the world of finance loses it's appeal and she quits her job and moves to Westport, Connecticut. She rents a cottage form Dominic and his six year old son who happen to live next door. Their friendship develops into much more and Emma discovers she is truly happy in a way she hasn't experienced before. Fate takes an unexpected twist and her life is turned upside down.

Miss Jane
by Brad Watson

Miss Jane (3/21/2016)

Watson inspired by his great-aunt, weaves a moving tale about the life she is born into. Jane is born in rural Mississippi in 1915 with a genital birth defect, unable to control her bladder and bowels. Despite having to wear a diaper growing up and an unhappy family life, Jane grows into a happy and resourceful child. The Doctor who delivers Jane, develops a close relationship and helps her adjust to her condition. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!

I'll See You in Paris
by Michelle Gable

I'll See You in Paris (12/28/2015)

I enjoy historical fiction and was looking forward to learning more about Gladys Spencer-Churchill, unfortunately the book didn't live up to my expectations. The relationships between the characters seemed rushed, they only knew each other from October 1972 to February 1973. Some elements didn't seem plausible and at times, the interviews between Gladys and Win dragged on and I lost interest. I'll See You in Paris was not a page turner for me.

The Opposite of Everyone
by Joshilyn Jackson

Great read! (11/16/2015)

Joshilyn Jackson hit a home run with "The Opposite of Everyone". I read it over the weekend and couldn't put it down. The main character Paula worms her way into your heart a little bit at a time. Living an unconventional childhood, she makes a "911" call that puts her mother in jail and she is sent to a group home. That wasn't the outcome Paula was expecting and she incurs a debt to her mother that follows her throughout adulthood. I highly recommend this book, it was a great read!

Maybe in Another Life
by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Maybe in Another Life (5/29/2015)

I enjoyed the two different story lines resulting from a decision made at the end of an evening out with friends. The decision to go home with either her girlfriend or her former high school sweetheart determines two very different outcomes. The author does a good job at keeping the reader engaged in both stories, I'm still undecided on which ending I wanted for Hannah. The only complaint I have is Hannah's obsession for cinnamon rolls has carried over to me!

Between the Tides
by Susannah Marren

Disappointing (4/3/2015)

I was really looking forward to a "page-turning" novel, as described on the back cover - I was disappointed. The main characters were self centered and annoying. The ending had an interesting twist though, which I didn't see coming. I would not recommend this book to a friend.

Vanessa and Her Sister
by Priya Parmar

Vanessa And Her Sister (10/10/2014)

It took a bit to get into the rhythm of the book, but once I got comfortable with the format I loved it. Although I was familiar with Virginia Wolf, I wasn't familiar with the Bloomsbury Group and their influence on literature, as well as their modern attitudes on feminism, pacifism and sexuality. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.

Juliet's Nurse
by Lois Leveen

Juliet's Nurse (7/2/2014)

This is a novel with a new twist on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet that is told from the perspective of Juliet's wet-nurse. It had a good beginning, but then the story became bogged down and I started skimming pages. The ending turned into a page turner with a lot of action in the last couple of chapters. If they had a half star rating, I would of rated this a 3 1/2.

The House We Grew Up In
by Lisa Jewell

Great Read (3/10/2014)

The House We Grew Up In was a book that was hard to put down. I loved the characters and the author did a wonderful job at developing all of them. The story is about a family that experiences a tragedy on Easter Sunday and how that changes the family dynamics. It was fascinating to see Lorelei (the mother) evolve from a collector of items to a hoarder and how it impacted the family home. A thoroughly enjoyable read, I highly recommend it!

Glitter and Glue: A Memoir
by Kelly Corrigan

mothers and daughters (12/2/2013)

This memoir explores the relationship between a mother and daughter and how it evolves over time. Kelly Corrigan's mother described the family dynamic as "Your father's the glitter but I'm the glue." After college, Kelly takes off with a friend to see the world and become interesting. While visiting Australia, her savings runs low and she takes a job as a live-in nanny for a recently widowed father of two. While trying to fit into the family, she hears her mother's voice everywhere giving advice. Corrigan has a great sense of humor, she's able to describe her situation in a very frank way. I enjoyed this memoir not only because it helped me reflect on the relationship I had with my mother, but also the relationship I have with my adult daughter.

The Disenchanted Widow
by Christina McKenna

Enjoyable read (8/20/2013)

Bessie Lawless, recently widowed and her son, Herkie leave Belfast quickly to escape an IRA goon known as The Dentist. Bessie's late husband, an abusive alcoholic was mixed up with the IRA and stole money from The Dentist. On her way to her sister's house, unexpected car troubles land her in the village of Tailorstown. The local mechanic rents her his aunt's house and she gets a job cooking for the local priest. She becomes involved with some of the locals, including Lorcan Strong who also is trying to avoid The Dentist. The ending was clever and unexpected. My only criticism is the author in my opinion overused the local dialect a wee bit.

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Reviews by Sue J. (Wauwatosa, WI)

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