BookBrowse: Your Guide to Exceptional Books

Reviews by Mary Lou F. (Naples, FL)

Power Reviewer

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Mrs. Plansky's Revenge
by Spencer Quinn

Senior Citizen Review (4/5/2023)

Every senior citizen with grandchildren should read this book. It is fast paced but with a lesson to be learned.

In the Time of Our History
by Susanne Pari

Cultural Clashes (10/3/2022)

Wonderful and thoughtful book about cultural clashes and relationships of parents and children. Highly recommend.

Good Husbands: A Novel
by Cate Ray

Things never are as they seem (3/17/2022)

Very well written. I liked the fact that each character had a chapter. The story was very suspenseful and until the end nothing was as it seemed.

The Last Grand Duchess: A Novel of Olga Romanov, Imperial Russia, and Revolution
by Bryn Turnbull

Russian History (1/6/2022)

Great historical novel. Anyone wanting to learn about the Romanov Dynasty, this is the book to read.

Honor
by Thrity Umrigar

Culture Clash (10/4/2021)

I highly recommend this book. I sympathized with the main characters and was appalled at the fanatical religious thinking.

Morningside Heights: A Novel
by Joshua Henkin

Lack of interest (5/3/2021)

I'm sorry to say, after many attempts to get into this book, I could not finish it.

With or Without You: A Novel
by Caroline Leavitt

Choices (5/29/2020)

Excellent read. A person changes through many extenuating circumstances. Due to brain damage main character becomes an artist who can see people as they really are. She also sees how she is and all the people around her are. Good read right to the end.

Daughter of the Reich: A Novel
by Louise Fein

Who to believe (3/25/2020)

This book shows how people can rationalize what they are told even though in their own mind, they know some of the "facts" are distorted. Author does really well mixing the facts with the fiction of the story. One of those books you don't want to put down until you finish.

Motherhood So White: A Memoir of Race, Gender, and Parenting in America
by Nefertiti Austin

Adoption Hurdles (9/9/2019)

The author goes into great detail of how difficult to adopt a black child and the stigma that comes with it. Very informative for anyone contemplating adoption.

The Last Collection: A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel
by Jeanne Mackin

Fashion At All Cost (3/19/2019)

This book tells the rivalry between two top designers - Schiaparelli and Chanel during World War II and how each survived in her own way. Blended into the story is the horror of war. Very good book.

The Last Romantics
by Tara Conklin

What is love? (12/26/2018)

This dysfunctional family try to figure, in their own ways, what love is all about. Interesting conclusions made by all of them.

Golden Child
by Claire Adam

Choices (10/30/2018)

Sometimes parents have to make difficult decisions regarding their children. That is exactly what Clyde and Joy had to do regarding their twin sons, Peter and Paul. The turmoil over their decision was very difficult and parents everywhere could have empathy for them. Well written and I highly recommend reading this novel.

A Place for Us
by Fatima Farheen Mirza

Family Differences (4/4/2018)

Families are very different, cultures are very different. When it comes right down to it, we are all the same but different. We all love our families in different ways which is what this book shows.

Other People's Houses
by Abbi Waxman

Judging (11/30/2017)

This book is written very well. One doesn't know what goes on in another's life even though you may see them every day, whether on a neighborly basis or as a friend. I like the way the author ties all the families in the neighborhood together.

As Bright as Heaven
by Susan Meissner

Decisions (10/12/2017)

This story is all about choices and decisions. Very sweet story about family, tragedies and how people deal with life.

Wonder Valley
by Ivy Pochoda

Poor Reading (7/10/2017)

I could not read this book, tried but subject matter was not interesting at all.

The Almost Sisters
by Joshilyn Jackson

Loyalty/Bias (4/30/2017)

This book shows how loyalty and family cuts through bias and prejudice. Growing up in the south is certainly a different way of life - class distinction, race distinction. I think the author brings a very strong message that if you believe strongly in someone and hold true to your values, right will out.

Les Parisiennes: How the Women of Paris Lived, Loved, and Died Under Nazi Occupation
by Anne Sebba

Brave women (7/30/2016)

No matter what type of woman lived in Paris during World War 11, they all managed to survive to help others out if possible. Some turned themselves into different personalities but all were brave in their own way.

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things: A Novel
by Bryn Greenwood

Choices (5/17/2016)

Each chapter is written by one of the characters which gives the reader how each make a choice in the years involved in the story. Very good read.

A Certain Age: A Novel
by Beatriz Williams

Twists and turns (3/23/2016)

This book has many twists and turns and keeps you reading forward to see what will happen. I now want to read more by this author.

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