Evelyn in Transit: A Novel
by David Guterson
Take the journey with Evelyn. You'll be glad you did. (12/15/2025)
I just completed my second reading of Evelyn in Transit. It was essential for me, even though, I felt that I had read it carefully the first time. When I got to the astonishing and unanticipated ending, I knew I had overlooked clues that the author shared all along the way. The second reading was revelatory.
The two main characters were inspired, in part, by actual events. One would not think that two so very different people could be connected in any way. That's the beauty of the story and Guterson's matter of fact storytelling. He takes you on a journey to a surprising ending.
Evelyn in Transit is a quick read, but difficult to categorize. I seldom read books twice, but I am very glad I did with this one.
The Vanishing Place
by Zoë Rankin
Confusing timelines (7/12/2025)
I read The Vanishing Place on my kindle. I always prefer print editions, so this format was a bit challenging from the beginning. If I had the book, I could flip back and forth more easily to clarify characters and events. This story changed timelines from chapter to chapter. I found it confusing and I wish the author had dealt more on the main character, Effie. If you enjoy a very twisty thriller set in amazing locations, this might be a good read for you. Revelations were made throughout the book, especially toward the end, but the revelations, in my opinion, were revealed too slowly. Effie loved her father and tried her whole life to understand his actions towards his family. She yearned for closure and understanding, a universal desire to which we all can relate.
Pony Confidential
by Christina Lynch
For lovers of ponies (6/27/2024)
If you like animals, and especially ponies, you will enjoy this book. The dialogue is very funny and brings out the humanity of each animal. The reader will need to suspend disbelief and enjoy the anthropomorphism. The mystery of the long ago murder is rather a stretch, but the love of the pony for his former owner is heart warming and enjoyable.
North Woods: A Novel
by Daniel Mason
Unlikeable Characters (10/23/2023)
I agree with a previous reviewer. This book was not for me. I had high hopes of a great reading experience, judging from other reviews. I just did not care or relate to the changing characters who inhabited the little yellow house. The storyline was very unique and unpredictable. I think it could have been more relatable if the characters not been so extreme, sometimes violent, and/or mad.
I was not expecting ghosts, but they were plausible in some ways due to the age of the little house. It was a very creative endeavor, but just not for me.
Panther Gap: A Novel
by James A. McLaughlin
Suspenseful page-turner (3/20/2023)
Panther Gap is a riveting, dramatic story, set in the breath-taking mountains of Colorado. The author reveals a deep knowledge of the flora, fauna, and geological features of the area. It's an intelligent, challenging read that will surprise you at every twist of the plot. I could not put it down. Chronological flash backs add to the understanding of the characters, their motivations, their family history, loyalties, and conflicting emotions. Prepare for imperfect characters, an ecological bent, violence, and more than a touch of mysticism. The back cover notes that this is a follow-up to McLaughlin's Bearskin. Rice and Apryle, from Bearskin, appear in the second half of the book, but one does not have to have read Bearskin to enjoy Panther Gap. I highly recommend this book. Fans of Richard Powers and Peter Heller would enjoy this gritty, suspense novel.
Salt Houses
by Hala Alyan
Challenging and timely story of the Middle East (5/21/2018)
Salt Houses is a difficult story and the author did not shy away from difficult situations and family conflicts. It is the story of displacement and yearning for something called “home.” The book covers almost fifty years in the life of a Palestinian family, spanning the years 1963 to 2014. The family tree included in the front of the book was very helpful. Each section is told from the perspective of a different family member. I thought the voice of the girls and women were particularly strong and very candid. The story did move slowly and I was expecting a greater building to a climax. But, the characters rang true and the author gave hope in the end. The story of this family, unfortunately, has been lived by many, many refugees. This diaspora continues to impact the stability of the world today. Salt Houses gives a very personal insight into the real lives of displaced persons and encourages empathy and understanding. I would recommend this book for those who have a real interest in the Middle East and the challenges of it’s displaced people.
Strangers in Budapest
by Jessica Keener
Dark and mysterious (11/3/2017)
Strangers in Budapest was an interesting read with intriguing characters. The unpredictable plot line gave this reader a constantly uneasy feeling and a strong sense of foreboding. Dark and unwelcoming, the city of Budapest played an overarching role in the denouement of this mysterious story. I thought I would enjoy reading about Budapest and learning some of its history. But somehow I would not be anxious to visit Hungary after reading this story.
Stay with Me
by Ayobami Adebayo
Story of love and loss set in Nigeria (8/23/2017)
Set in Africa, this is the story of a marriage struggling to survive against the most heart breaking losses. The social mores of Nigerian culture toward infertility, polygamy and childbirth create a very troubled marriage for Yejide and Akin. Yejide shows such strength against the most unbelievable losses. Husband and wife share their viewpoints in alternating chapters. Nigerian phrases and terms are sprinkled generously throughout the book along with tales from African folklore. I applaud this very ambitious first novel by Adebayo. If you enjoy learning about other cultures, you will like Stay with Me. I wish I could have given Stay with Me five stars, but I struggled to fully empathize with some of the characters.
The Scribe of Siena
by Melodie Winawer
Historically interesting (5/8/2017)
I requested The Scribe of Siena as I am traveling there soon and enjoy historical fiction. The plot was interesting historically about the conflict between Florence & Siena and the impact of the major plague in the 1300's. However, the time travel aspect, a challenge for most authors, felt artificial and contrived. It just did not come together for me and I found it difficult to forge ahead. It is a long read but the reader will learn some interesting facts of this period in Italy.
The Second Mrs. Hockaday
by Susan Rivers
Historical fiction at it's best! (12/30/2016)
Bravo! A wide spectrum of unforgettable characters populate this story of the Civil War. Skillfully written, this is not light reading. Using only letters and diary entries, The Second Mrs. Hockaday haunted my thoughts for many days. Even though the story moves back and forth chronologically, the careful reader is able to follow the unraveling mystery. The diary entries and letters are heart wrenching and provide an unexpectedly intimate look at this period of American history. Thoroughly researched and wonderfully written, I would recommend this to book clubs, history buffs, and any serious readers looking for a challenging story. One of the best books I have read in a long time!
Underground Airlines
by Ben H. Winters
Did not enjoy Underground Airlines (9/15/2016)
Alternate worlds and dystopian novels are not my favorite genres, but I hoped this one would be good. The story was very dark, admittedly about a disturbing subject. I felt that the character development throughout the book was not strong enough for the reader to understand the motivations of the characters. Some of the main character's (Victor's) feats strained credulity. I wanted to like and learn from this book, but I did not. I would not recommend this title.
Lady Cop Makes Trouble: Girl Waits with Gun #2
by Amy Stewart
Lady Cop Makes Trouble by Amy Stewart (5/31/2016)
Amy Stewart continues the rollicking adventures of Constance Kopp and Sheriff Heath in this sequel that could be enjoyed without reading 'Girl Waits with Gun.' The characters are well developed and the story, based on the real life conquests of the first female deputy sheriff, is once again, witty as well as dramatic. I loved this book, although it did circle around at the end a bit, which I think was due to the author's attempt to adhere to the actual series of events on which the book is based. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a fresh, larger than life female protagonist and a vividly drawn historical setting.
