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Reviews by Dorothy L. (Manalapan, NJ)

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The Girl Before
by JP Delaney

A Very Good Read (12/21/2016)

I was intrigued by this book from the opening page. I kept wanting to find out what was going to happen next. I think there were similarities with Fifty Shades of Grey with the controlling characters of Christian and Edward and their manipulation of women. But I think it was a better book in terms of writing and development. I think it is important to read it consistently and over a short period of time because if you don't, it is confusing when you resume reading after a gap. I liked the ending and I would definitely recommend this book.

Falling
by Jane Green

Light read for a plane ride or beach day but little substance (6/21/2016)

I read this book in a few days. It kept me interested briefly, but was somewhat predictable except for the ending which was rushed. I read it while I wasn't feeling well and this book was perfect for that situation. However, I wouldn't recommend it to my book club. There isn't much depth and not much to discuss. I can't imagine discussing it for more than about 15 minutes. Take it to the beach or on a plane for a quick read but it isn't all that memorable. For me, the question is always: Will I remember this book in six months?

If I Forget You
by Thomas Christopher Greene

Light read for a plane ride or beach day but little substance (4/26/2016)

I read The Headmaster's Wife and think it is a much better book than this one. It is more complex and memorable. This is a light read, a predictable love story that has been told many times before. The author writes fairly well and I liked the alternating chapters, but the story leaves much to be desired. It was disappointing and simplistic. We're all seen this tale in the movies and TV, as well as in books. Henry's character was developed much better than Margot's. She wasn't someone I admired. She lived a lie for 20 years. Her suddenly becoming a good artist at the end was almost an afterthought. It's an OK book for a quick read but doesn't have enough substance for my book club. I wouldn't recommend it.

The Paris Winter
by Imogen Robertson

An Enjoyable Read (2/21/2016)

I really liked this book! After a bit of a slow start, it kept me very engaged. I liked the plot line, setting of Paris, and thought the characters were well drawn and had depth. I enjoyed reading about this period in history and liked the depictions of women artists and the struggles they had. I would definitely recommend this book but probably only to people who enjoy reading about art and this period.

Maybe in Another Life
by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Light Read (6/5/2015)

I was looking forward to reading this book because the premise sounded interesting. It was a pleasant enough light read that I could see as a book for the beach or plane trip. But it all seemed very predictable when I was two thirds of the way through. I think the author could have done more with the premise. The book lacked depth for me and I wouldn't choose it for my book club because there is very little to discuss with a group.

The Fortune Hunter
by Daisy Goodwin

A Good Read (5/17/2015)

I liked this book. After some prior heavy reading, it was nice to have a change of pace. I enjoy historical fiction and this book was accurate I believe with just the right blend of history and fiction. I liked Charlotte and the other characters, thought the introduction of early photography enhanced the novel, and liked the depiction of the milieu.
I found it especially interesting because my grandmother immigrated from the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1913 and when she was four years old, Franz Joseph passed through her village and she always remembered it as a parade she viewed on her father's shoulders. He was well liked by the people of that time. I would definitely recommend this book!

Her Name Is Rose
by Christine Breen

OK Read but Lacks Depth (2/13/2015)

I found the opening pages of this book slow. The pace picked up but I felt the plot was predictable and the characters were sometimes wooden even though the author tried to make them likable. It is an easy read but there wasn't enough depth to the characters to always hold my interest. I liked the variety of settings and the gardening aspect was symbolic to me--Rose was a nurturing person. I did find far too many coincidences near the end for the outcome to be realistic. If you want a light book, this is fine but I wouldn't recommend it to my book club because I don't think there is enough substance to stimulate good discussion.

The Last Flight of Poxl West
by Daniel Torday

Disappointing Read (1/17/2015)

I didn't enjoy reading this book. I kept hoping it would get better. I found it slow in parts and disjointed. I really couldn't relate to any of the characters did not find it exceptional at all. I wouldn't recommend it.

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: The Untold Story
by Barbara Leaming

The Myth of Camelot (11/6/2014)

I became a young adult during the Kennedy era and shortly before JFK's election saw him in person. It seemed like a golden era--during his years in office and later in retrospect. Then, after the nightmare of his assassination and the subsequent murders of politicians in the 60's, there came the cracks in the Camelot myth. Their marriage was far from perfect, JFK had many health problems, and political mistakes were made. But somehow the myth endured. I found some new things in this book and some were disturbing. It was a political marriage of convenience on JFK's part from the beginning. I really was disturbed by the great friendship between Jackie and McNamara and her lack of interest in the Warren Commission's findings and the author's avoidance of how the PTSD affected Jackie's relationship with her children. I am wary when there is a thesis at the outset, in this case, PTSD, which seems viable but then everything in the person's life is seen only through that lens. No one in the book came off well. I think I had limited sympathy for Jackie because the author reiterated her PTSD thesis at every juncture. There are other factors which influenced her and were ignored.

Accidents of Marriage
by Randy Susan Meyers

Could Have Been Better (6/19/2014)

I found the book slow for the most part. I couldn't really identify with any of the characters that much. The premise was good but the execution could have been better. I was satisfied with the ending and got a sense of Maddy's emotional journey.as well as physical healing. I also liked the way Emma and Maddy's relationship evolved throughout the book. But there was something lacking in the way the story was told and for me, it was not an exceptional read. I thought her earlier book, The Comfort of Lies, was a better book and kept my interest more.

Her
by Harriet Lane

Page Turner with Flaws (5/8/2014)

Her is a gripping read from the first page. I thought the characters were all fleshed out and there was a realistic sense of aspects of current London life. I liked the alternating chapters with different perspectives. Throughout the book I was wondering WHY and this was even when I wasn't reading the book. It kept me eager to return to the novel. There are two major flaws. One is the "leave it in the air" conclusion which made me feel cheated at the end. There was foreshadowing so I was not totally surprised but think a definitive statement might have been better. The author should have done the work. And the second flaw is the disappointment I felt at the end with the rationale for Nina's actions throughout. Her revenge I think was unrealistic and there could have been better motivation for her behavior. There is a sense of evil which permeates the book and a creepiness which is disturbing. It is one book I will remember.

The Circle
by Dave Eggers

A Good Read (2/25/2014)

This is a book that has something to say. Its message about the dangerous consequences of non-stop electronic communication, internet tracking, and loss of privacy are relevant today and have even greater implications for the future. The book kept my interest throughout, but its often lecture like tone and simplistic pronouncements kept me from giving it a 5. I also think the writing could have been better. But I would recommend it and I think it could generate a great deal of discussion for a book club.

The Headmaster's Wife
by Thomas Christopher Greene

An Enjoyable Read (12/19/2013)

I liked this book. It was a good read from beginning to end and kept me interested throughout. It is clear from the first page that things are not what they seem. The world of private school is depicted well. The characters, especially the headmaster, kept me engaged and wondering what was going to happen next. I think it was also well written. I liked the symbolism of the river throughout and its influence on the characters. It was more than part of the environment. It was a thread which permeated the book. I would recommend it to my book club.

The Gravity of Birds: A Novel
by Tracy Guzeman

This book sometimes got lost (9/15/2013)

I found this novel had a slow start that made me impatient. I wasn't very engaged with the characters. Midway through the book, the pace quickened and I got more interested in the story. Then the reverse happened. Events came together very quickly at the end of the book and for me, there were too many coincidences and events happening simultaneously. I found it unrealistic. The author writes well but I think lost her way at times and I lost interest.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane
by Neil Gaiman

Disappointing Read (8/9/2013)

I'll be brief. I did not like this book. Why? It seemed obscure just to be obscure. It just seemed like the classic conflict of good and evil with new symbols that didn't work. I could not get into it at all. The only thing I thought interesting was the relationship between the protagonist and his family. It might have worked better as a short story. It didn't work as a novel. Was it science fiction? Was it horror? It was confusing, boring, and often tedious to read even though a short book. I couldn't help thinking of The Turn of the Screw which deals with supernatural and children as well and is a classic in the genre. I would not recommend this book.

The Casual Vacancy
by J.K. (Joanne) Rowling

A Huge Disappointment (7/24/2013)

I really disliked this book. Neither the story line nor the characters were engaging. It was very boring and at times unreadable. I would never recommend it!

Me Before You: A Novel
by Jojo Moyes

A Wonderful Book (7/24/2013)

I love this book. I was reluctant to read it at first because of the subject matter. It was one of my book club's selections and I think it is a wonderful book--gripping story and well written. It starts slowly and builds dramatically. When you get to the last fifty pages or so, you can't put it down. The characters are all very well drawn--the minor ones as well as the protagonists. The issues raised are very important. I cried at the end. This is truly a memorable book!

Beautiful Ruins: A Novel
by Jess Walter

A Tedious and Disappointing Read (7/10/2013)

This book was my book club's selection. I did not like it. After the first 50 pages I was ready to stop reading. I did plod on though. The book got slightly better near the end and I managed to finish it. I didn't like the story line. It was confusing and very disjointed. The randomness of the various story lines came together at the end but I felt like it was contrived. The only thing I liked was the description of southern Italy but it wasn't enough to sustain my interest. When my book club did discuss the book, there were divergent opinions. Some people loved it, some hated it, and others shrugged and said it was ok. I would not recommend it and even though it was meant to be satirical, I didn't think it was well written. I read that the author took 15 years to write this book and he kept changing the storyline every few years. I think he should've just stopped writing.

Amy Falls Down
by Jincy Willett

A Change of Pace (6/30/2013)

I took this book with me to read on vacation. I am a writer myself so I was looking forward to having the protagonist a writer. Amy is fun, very intelligent and definitely quirky. The book made me smile often and I enjoyed the ironies throughout. It was a view into the pseudo intellectual literary circuit and the honesty of the main character as well as the instant celebrity acquired on the internet for anything the slightest bit unique. We have at the beginning an author who is being interviewed in one of these "where are they now?" segments and ironically because she is not herself and interviewing with a concussion she suddenly becomes an instant celebrity. I enjoyed the book but found Amy somewhat limited as a character because she is either writing or caring for her dog most of the time. We should know more about her. While I enjoyed most of the book (I did find it repetitive and tiresome in places), I'm not sure it's for mass market readership even though most readers on here enjoyed it. I liked it but wouldn't be interested in recommending it to my book club because I think it is more limited in scope that her earlier book on the writing life.

The Daughters of Mars
by Thomas Keneally

A Difficult Read (5/19/2013)

There are some good things about this book--its scope, range, and detailed description of World War I from a perspective I sometimes found interesting. But on the whole I would not recommend it to friends or my book club. I found it very difficult to read because of all the exposition and lack of quotation marks for dialogue. In a five hundred page book, I found this structure a serious problem. Why create barriers for the reader? Often the book was tedious and I sometime felt the minor characters were more engaging than the sisters. I felt that the large scope had positive aspects, but for me, it was too much and should have been edited better. It took me two thirds of the novel to really get into it and then I wondered at the end whether the effort was worth it. Yes, I learned a great deal about WWI from an interesting perspective but I waded through it because I was reviewing it and not because I was enjoying the experience. And while the ending was different, I have to wonder if the lack of a clear resolution in itself was a reflection of other ambiguities in the novel.

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Reviews by Dorothy L. (Manalapan, NJ)

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Reviews by Dorothy L. (Manalapan, NJ)

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