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Reviews by Julie M. (Golden Valley, MN)

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The Devoted
The Devoted
by Blair Hurley
A Struggle (5/25/2018)
I struggled to finish this book and wanted to bail several times. I usually like a character trying to find their way and lots of family drama, but this one just didn't resonate with me.
The Girl Who Smiled Beads
The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After
by Elizabeth Weil, Clemantine Wamariya
Stories Can Heal Us (2/27/2018)
This is the stunning story of Clementine and her survival of the Rwandan genocide, her emigration to the United States at age 12 and her coming of age in a new country. She is heartbreaking and inspiring all at the same time. As a lover of literature myself I loved how she used books and stories to come to terms with and understand her life and who she is meant to be..ever changing and a work in progress. Five Stars!
Other People's Houses
Other People's Houses
by Abbi Waxman
Good Beach Read (1/4/2018)
The novel reminded me of Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, only lighter and funnier. A neighborhood full of secrets that are all about to be exposed. Quick moving and fun this will be out just in time to make your summer vacation "To Be Read" list.
Never Coming Back
Never Coming Back
by Alison McGhee
Call Your Mother....Now! (9/5/2017)
Alison McGhee does a brilliant job of portraying what mothers will sacrifice for their children and the pain of watching a loved one disappear into the awful disease of early onset Alzheimers. Clara is living with regrets, secrets and loss. She blames her mother and has punished her by staying away for the most part of ten years. The further her mother Tamar aka "The Fearless" fades into the illness the more Clara longs to understand and get to know Tamar as both her mother and a person and to do that she needs to understand what really happened years ago. This novel is Clara's journey through fear and truth to forgiveness and love. The writing is spectacular, both tender and raw with well drawn characters. McGhee pulls you in swiftly and holds you until the end. Her characters and their feelings will stay with you long after you turn the last page and make you want to call your mother.
My Name Is Lucy Barton
My Name Is Lucy Barton: Amgash Series #1
by Elizabeth Strout
Excellent Read (5/25/2017)
I recently re-read this book for one of my book groups and enjoyed it even more the second time. This is a journey through Lucy’s relationship with her mother and to some degree her father. Her mother comes to be with Lucy in the hospital while they navigate their emotions and feelings for each other by gossiping about people in their hometown and movie magazines. This is not a plot driven book, but rather a study in judgement, how we as humans struggle with expressing our feelings and how much we need our mothers no matter how old we get.
Anything Is Possible
Anything Is Possible: Amgash Series #2
by Elizabeth Strout
Elizabeth Strout Does It Again (5/25/2017)
Anything is Possible is the sequel to My Name is Lucy Barton which I absolutely loved, and I was worried that it could only be disappointing in comparison. I couldn’t have been more wrong! This book is even better than the first. I took some minor characters from My Name is Lucy Barton who Lucy and her mother gossip about in the first book and flesh out their “real” stories. It’s almost like a book of connected short stories done as though each is a novel in itself. I will be recommending this book to everyone!
Seven Days of Us
Seven Days of Us: A Novel
by Francesca Hornak
Family Drama Galore (5/10/2017)
The Birch family is quarantined for the week between Christmas and New Year's when their oldest daughter comes home from treating victims of the Haag epidemic abroad. Every member has a secret or is misunderstood and being together for a whole week forces them to confront deep seeded feelings and redefine how they view each other. I was able to relate to each member of this family or saw someone I know in them. I found myself rooting for them all even Phoebe who is a bit harder to like in the beginning. If you like books with lots of family drama, Seven Days of Us should certainly be on your TBR list for fall!
My Last Lament
My Last Lament
by James William Brown
Coming of Age Greek Tragedy (3/31/2017)
This is a beautifully written novel focusing on the lives of three young people struggling to create lives in Greece in the aftermath of WWII and their relationships with each other. Aliki, a lamenter is our narrator and we see everything through her eyes as she recalls her life for an American researcher. Aliki's life becomes entwined with Takis a young boy in her village and Stelios, a Jew hiding in Takis' house with his mother Sophia when Takis' mother Chrysoula takes Aliki in after the execution of her father. They will find themselves bound together forever whether they want to be or not as circumstances take them through Athens, Crete and an island (with a detention center). It's an emotional story with sadness, mental illness,secrets, love and jealousy. I highly recommend this book to those who like well done literary fiction.
I See You
I See You
by Clare Mackintosh
Mackintosh Proves Her Skill With Sophomore Offering (11/22/2016)
The success of her first novel, I Let You Go, made Clare Mackintosh wonder whether her second effort would measure up at all. She need not have worried! This novel grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let you go with twists and turns right up until the last page. I literally read this book in an afternoon and evening; it's that good. Hint: If you catch one little clue that she drops, the last page won't shock you completely, but still the ending is a WOW! Please do not read the end of this book first, but rather enjoy the ride. You'll be anxiously anticipating her next book as soon as you finish this one.
Underground Airlines
Underground Airlines
by Ben H. Winters
Alternate History Story (9/22/2016)
I thought the concept was good and the alternate history idea was intriguing to me which is why I wanted to read it in the first place. I felt the flashbacks to Castle's past were hard to follow and I didn't feel sold on the concept of the Civil War never happening nor did I feel much emotion for the main character. The ending suggests or leaves the avenue open for a sequel, but I doubt it will make my TBR pile.
All the Ugly and Wonderful Things
All the Ugly and Wonderful Things: A Novel
by Bryn Greenwood
Five Stars!! (4/29/2016)
This is one of the best books I've read so far this year! The characters are fully drawn and even though the dialog is sparse they all have a lot to say and Greenwood made every word count. This is about family and who that is for us may not be determined by blood, but who makes us feel safe, loved and accepted. Both Wavy and Kellan are living proof that if a person has one other person to love and care about them it can literally save their life no matter what else happens to them. I will not forget this story or these characters for a long time. I had not read this author in the past and can't wait to read her other two novels. I will be recommending All The Ugly and Wonderful Things to everyone!
A Certain Age
A Certain Age: A Novel
by Beatriz Williams
Great Summer Read (3/28/2016)
Williams' novel starts in a slow simmer as she reveals her characters to the reader before really grabbing them with the plot making it a great lazy summer day read. The author sets the scene exceptionally well and I could almost hear the jazz, taste the gin and feel the excitement of Manhattan in the roaring 20s. I would recommend this book to anyone who has read and liked her previous novels and to those who like a love story with more substance and a bit of a bite.
The Two-Family House
The Two-Family House
by Lynda Cohen Loigman
Two Families-One Fateful Decision (12/2/2015)
This was a wonderful read about two families living almost as one. Characters were well developed and the story had it all. Family dynamics, secrets, love, jealousy and heartbreak. A split second decision made by two mothers on a snowy night has lasting repercussions and change both families forever. Great book to curl up with on a rainy or snowy day and get lost in these two families lives.
The Devil in Jerusalem
The Devil in Jerusalem
by Naomi Ragen
Skillfully Written Cult Story (7/12/2015)
We would like to believe that since we are intelligent, well read people that we would never be sucked into this type of lifestyle. Naomi Ragen's new novel shows us that it does happen to people just like us and throughout history happens time and time again.

I will be recommending that my book group read this book. Very discussion-worthy.
The Same Sky
The Same Sky
by Amanda Eyre Ward
Heartbreaking and Haunting (11/14/2014)
Carla is an unforgettable character. I struggled to remember she is only eleven years old. She is wise beyond her years due to her life experiences,but at times her innocence shines through. Alice's story was less interesting to me and I wish the book had told Carla's mothers story instead of Alice's. Makes me appreciate how fortunate I am to have been born and raised in the United States.
Brutal Youth
Brutal Youth
by Anthony Breznican
Brutally Sad (6/1/2014)
This book did hold my interest until the end, but I was amazed once again the awful things people will do to one another in order to feel better themselves. Why do we join in even when we know it is absolutely the wrong thing to do? This book explores the need to be accepted at all costs and while adults would like to think that we evolve out of that as we age, this book shows us we carry that baggage right along with us into adulthood. It takes someone very courageous to go against the majority for good. It's much easier to go along to get along.
Mating for Life
Mating for Life
by Marissa Stapley
Learning to Love Yourself First (4/2/2014)
This book has wonderful women characters who are all looking for love and meaning in their lives. I could see parts of myself in each of these women. Good exploration of mother/daughter relationships,sister relationships and how the absence of their fathers impacted their choices in both life and love. I also enjoyed the mating rituals of animals explained at the beginning of each chapter.
Doing Harm
Doing Harm
by Kelly Parsons
Junk Food Suspense (11/12/2013)
This novel is not great literature, but sometimes you just want a quick, fun, wild ride through a novel. Doing Harm does a pretty good job of providing it. It will grab you and not let you go until the end. I thought the part where his wife shows up at the end was a little far fetched, but overall an interesting read. Great book to take to the beach.
Once We Were Brothers
Once We Were Brothers
by Ronald H. Balson
Predictable Good Holocaust Story (8/8/2013)
This was a good story of one family's journey through the Holocaust. Story had a good pace and kept me captivated enough to keep reading even though I suspected how it would probably end. Ben Solomon was the type of character you couldn't help but feel his pain and want to see the person who betrayed his family exposed and brought to justice.
The Sisterhood
The Sisterhood
by Helen Bryan
Past and Present (5/21/2013)
If you liked "The Eight" by Katherine Neville or "People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks this book will appeal to you with common themes of secrets, the need to know your ancestry and history. This story is not as strong as the above mentioned books, but it did hold my interest to the end.
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