BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Angelica: For Love and Country in a Time of Revolution
by Molly Beer

An influential woman (6/25/2025)

Angelica Schuyler was the oldest daughter of an influential Dutch family from Albany, NY, before, during and after the American Revolution. She was ambitious, loved politics, and loved being the center of attention, while also limited by the gender roles of her day. She befriended many of the heroes of the Revolution, the Founding Fathers, and many involved in the French Revolution. There were many years of wars in her lifetime, but I learned more from what the author calls 'social architecture.' Angelica influenced early American society through her friendships, her sense of patriotism and community.

The author reminds us that American democracy has always been messy, and complicated by the problem of slavery. Angelica Schuyler Church lived an amazing life. This is a good read for anyone interested in our early history from a unique perspective.

The Original Daughter: A Novel
by Jemimah Wei

Family Ties (4/11/2025)

This story draws the reader in right from the start. Close family relationships are strained by the arrival of an accidental sister, as well as by societal expectations and close living conditions in Singapore. But it is the competition and sibling rivalry of the sisters that drive this coming of age story.

As one sister's career soars, and one sister struggles, can they hold on to their childhood loyalty and sibling love? These characters, and their parents are complicated and flawed, but also sympathetic. The descriptions of Singapore life in the 21st century are interesting and sometimes humorous. This is a beautifully written book. Highly recommended for book clubs as there are lots of discussion points.

The Dream Hotel: A Novel
by Laila Lalami

They know what you're dreaming about (1/19/2025)

The Dream Hotel is set in an unspecified future in California, but it seems believable that it isn't so far from the present day. The possibilities portrayed in this story about the consequence caused by the growth of AI, and the mining of personal data are both terrifying and cautionary.

We give up our privacy to the convenience of technology at our peril. The story follows the main character's struggle to get her life, and her privacy, back. There's lots to discuss, so I'd recommend this book to book clubs and readers of character driven science fiction.

Follow the Stars Home
by Diane C. McPhail

Historic 1811 River Trip (6/1/2024)

This is a well researched story of a little known, but important, event in American history. In 1811, a very pregnant Lydia Latrobe Roosevelt, joins her husband, Nicholas Roosevelt on the first steamboat trip down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. Many details are very interesting, such as childbirth conditions, the descriptions of the boat and the navigation challenges. The impact of the massive earthquake they experienced was told in an exciting way. However, the parts concerning Lydia's family life tend to be repetitive and did not bring these characters to life enough for me. Overall, a good story.

This Strange Eventful History: A Novel
by Claire Messud

This Strange Eventful History (4/30/2024)

I loved this book! This novel tells the story of 3 generations of a French-Algerian family displaced in the 1940's and 1950's by events of history and the effects this has on the family as they make temporary homes in different parts of the world. The author writes beautifully and with great compassion for these characters as they experience love, success, disappointments, and losses in their lives. The book explores the idea of 'home', and 'family' and loyalty, as central to how we know who we are. Highly recommend and lots for book clubs to discuss!

The Mystery Writer: A Novel
by Sulari Gentill

A fun mystery (1/11/2024)

This is a very fun mystery. It is fast paced, with lots of plot twists, some of which are quite improbable, but it all adds up to a good story. The main characters' personalities are well written and likeable, even though they are not described in much physical detail.
There is a subplot involving conspiracy theorists, which is confusing at times. In the end, the author is exploring the lives of writers, lawyers, publishers, and asking, 'who can we trust?' Good for readers of mysteries.

Wild and Distant Seas: A Novel
by Tara Karr Roberts

Beautiful book cover! (10/16/2023)

In Wild and Distant Seas the ocean is the backdrop for this story inspired by Moby-Dick. Just as Ahab spent years searching for the great white whale, the 4 generations of mothers and daughters spend years in search of the elusive, apparently because this will give meaning to their lives. I liked the various settings in this novel. However, I didn't find all the characters as sympathetic as Evangeline whose life in 1849 Nantucket is where the story begins.

Hotel Cuba: A Novel
by Aaron Hamburger

European immigrants in Cuba (4/22/2023)

This is not the familiar story of immigrants arriving through Ellis Island to start their new lives. This is the unfamiliar story of displaced persons being redirected to Cuba and struggling to get into the U.S. from there, in the 1920s. Jewish sisters Pearl and Frieda flee their home in occupied Poland, hoping to reunite in NY with another sister. We see right away that Pearl and Frieda are very different. The characters are well developed, including their strengths and fears and hopes. Pearl tries to hold on to her home values while navigating life in Cuba. She meets many colorful characters along the way who help her open up to her changing world. This would be a great book club choice!

Last House Before the Mountain
by Monika Helfer

Family ties (2/24/2023)

This novel is written as a memoir, and is based on the author's own family. A granddaughter is recalling her grandmother's life in a remote Austrian village. When her husband is called to serve in WWI, the family struggles to survive through many hardships and the scorn of the villagers. I loved how this book explores both what stories are remembered and passed down through generations and the bonds that hold families together, especially during tragic world events. The stories we are told about our ancestors help us find our own identities. I think it would be a great choice for book clubs.

Ghost Season: A Novel
by Fatin Abbas

Heroes amid conflict in Sudan (11/28/2022)

Ghost Season gives us five distinct and sympathetic characters living in an NGO compound on the border between North and South Sudan. I was quickly drawn into the story as their relationships develop and they face political uncertainty and societal differences in their village and country. As chaos reigns around them and upends their lives, they overcome their cultural and personal differences to form lasting bonds and care for each other. I also learned a lot about recent history and culture of Sudan. Book clubs will find many topics to discuss.

Dinosaurs: A Novel
by Lydia Millet

People in glass houses (9/24/2022)

I really enjoyed this quiet, thoughtful novel. The main character, Gil, is looking for a new start and for purpose in his life, having no need to 'make a living.' Along the way he exemplifies his humanity in his daily life with his neighbors and others. He cares for the desert birds, the surviving dinosaurs, and we're asked to wonder if they can survive the changing world. Gil doesn't see violence as the answer to conflict, but rather it's relationships that give us life and freedom. Beautifully written. Would be great for book clubs.

The Immortal King Rao: A Novel
by Vauhini Vara

From India to Seattle (4/16/2022)

I recommend this book highly to science fiction fans. What happens when IT is unchecked and the Algorithm controls society? Technology that was designed to connect us and make us equals has led to greater divisiveness. And then there's Hothouse Earth as we failed to solve climate problems.
The contrast of King Rao poor youth in India with his large extended family with his success in high-tech Seattle is well done. I wish the other major characters had been more fully developed. There's plenty of satire here, too, which is fun.

Activities of Daily Living: A Novel
by Lisa Hsiao Chen

Life and art in time (1/12/2022)

What an interesting and unusual novel!
There are two story threads. Alice is struggling with her Taiwanese Father's decline into dementia and his need for more and more help. The descriptions of her father's experiences in care facilities seem very true to me.
In her spare time Alice is researching a famous (but not to me) performance artist in NYC. The stories are connected by the details of Alice's life and her thinking about life and art. She uses the idea of the Project to explore these ideas, whether or not the project is ever completed, or ever seen or appreciated by anyone else. The many digressions into history, philosophy, etc, enhance the story. This is a thought provoking novel with sympathetic characters.

The Fields: A Novel
by Erin Young

Great crime story ! (10/26/2021)

The Fields is a compelling crime story with many layers. It's a police procedural with a sympathetic and flawed detective (and her family). The author takes on Big-Ag vs, small farmers, political corruption, drug abuse, and the societal challenges of the rural Midwest, including the Iowa State Fair. It all adds up to a great read. I look forward to the next Riley Fisher story!

Morningside Heights: A Novel
by Joshua Henkin

Blood is thicker than water (4/13/2021)

Morningside Heights is an easy and engaging read which explores themes of family dynamics over the time of a long marriage. This is primarily the story of Pru's marriage, although we do at times get the story through the eyes of the daughter and stepson. As her husband, Spence's health deteriorates, Pru, and the children deal with family expectations, acceptance, grief, and loss. As a subplot we have the primary caregiver and her son mirroring their parent-child relationship.
Overall, I think this is a sympathetic and somewhat predictable portrayal of a family coping with challenging times.

Smalltime: A Story of My Family and the Mob
by Russell Shorto

Mobsters in the Family (2/21/2021)

I enjoyed this book a lot. Shorto begins the story of his grandfather's years as a smalltime racketeer in PA by tracing his family back to their Sicilian roots. The 20th century Italian-American experience is central to this story. Shorto engages the reader by framing the story with his journey of learning about his grandfather, his father, and ultimately, himself. Highly recommended.

Stories from Suffragette City
by M.J. Rose, Fiona Davis

Votes for Women (11/1/2020)

I was drawn to this short story collection because of both the centennial of the 19th amendment and the 2020 presidential election. Stories from Suffragette City did not disappoint!
There are 12 loosely connected, all enjoyable, stories. They are by contemporary fiction writers, half new to me, and half long time favorite authors.
The NYC suffragette march of October 23, 1915 sets the stage as each story centers on a young girl, or older woman responding to the day's events. Some have been working for women's rights for years; others are just awakening to the cause.
Progress towards a more inclusive society has often required prolonged struggle. In these stories we see women with the courage to act and the faith to believe in a better future for all women. They were not perfect..now we can see that women of color should have been included as equals, as we see in, "American Womanhood."
We do well to remember these stories as we face the challenges of our own time. Highly recommended.

Migrations: A Novel
by Charlotte McConaghy

Perilous journeys (4/6/2020)

Migrations is an ambitious novel taking on large themes with a strong main character. Bird and animal extinction caused by climate change is major story line. The protagonist, Franny, is compelled to follow the migration of arctic terns from Greenland to Antarctica. It takes most of the novel for us to understand why she pursues this perilous journey. She needs healing, and undergoes her own migrations to find a way to survive. Some of the plot devices did not seem to me to be consistent with their characters, but overall this is a compelling story, and mystery. We're not told how far into the future the story is set, but the dire consequences of climate change should concern us all.

The Mountains Sing
by Nguyen Phan Que Mai

The Mountains Sing (1/21/2020)

This beautifully written historical novel tells the 20th century Vietnamese history of conflict, famine, and corruption, through the lives of a resilient and loving grandmother, born in 1920, and her granddaughter, born in 1960, who long for a world without war. Their struggles to survive, and stay a family, portray the impact war can have for many generations. For those of us who grew up during the American war in Vietnam, it is powerful that this story is told from the perspective of a family in North View Nam. There are moments of kindness and generosity in the midst of devastation which help sustain the Tran family. Huong, the granddaughter remains hopeful: "Somehow I was sure if people were willing to read each other, and see the light of other cultures, there would be no war on earth." Perhaps this story can inspire us to greater understanding and acceptance of each other.

American Dirt: A Novel
by Jeanine Cummins

The story for our time (12/3/2019)

This is an amazing novel! We all have heard stories, or known people who have made the dangerous journey to cross our southern border. This novel makes us feel for these migrants with such compassion. Cummins humanizes the people who make this terrifying choice in order to save their lives, facing overwhelming danger. This book is compelling, frightening, heartwarming, and unforgettable. The migrants can trust no one and yet they find hope, and the courage to keep living, and to love. Lydia and Luca are beautiful characters.

Reviews by Lynn D. (Kingston, NY)

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Reviews by Lynn D. (Kingston, NY)

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