Terri_C

Evelyn in Transit is not a book I enjoyed reading. Typically, I can find positive things to say and for this book, I do believe the writer can write and hence I will look to read his best selling book called Snow Falling on Cedars. As for this book, every time I returned to pick up where I left off, it just constantly felt like a lot of very disjointed paragraphs rambling on chapter after chapter. This book felt like a very odd combination of characters and events that went beyond not holding my attention, I actually had a strong dislike for the characters and more to the point, the actions and thoughts the author wrote about as he was describing to the reader who each person was as they entered and left quickly in every chapter. It read like a weird collection of thoughts and events that did not add up to much in terms of action or plot. I did not like the characters as they were presented as individuals who said odd things and had strange thoughts. Another example of feeling uncomfortable the more I read was how the author described Sateen's illness, the student's behaviors at the Matrix, Evelyn's colleagues at the various jobs she had described in various paragraphs outlining interactions in the first half of the book. Overall, I wanted to like the book but I could not overcome the feeling of reading a bunch of disjointed memories randomly written down to fill up pages, chapters and eventually a book about people's interactions and thoughts that I did not care for. I will be interested in seeing how others feel after reading it and seeing what perhaps I missed by not being able to overcome the bad mood reading this book put me in every time I picked it up. I look forward to listening to an author interview with David Guterson at some point to hear his perspective about the characters and what was described as their desire to lead a good life. My desire was to read a book I could not put down and that took me to another place and time and introduced me to people I was interested in. This, sad to say, was not that type of book for me.

The book "What We Can Know" felt more like a "what we can't know" by the time I finished. This book was not what I would call a page turner until part 2 but it was definitely a book I would recommend to others and will read a second time. It's a book to keep coming back to, a book to enjoy the writing, to ponder the questions that bubble up as you read, to luxuriate in the writing and themes, to let yourself ponder what resonates and what that says about you that you can relate to key sentences or descriptions. This book is a futuristic look back in the beginning, a climate sci-fi, characters from a literary set that provide good conversation and settings, it's a love story, wrapped with a lifestyle of affairs and suddenly you find yourself in the middle of a murder mystery. In the first half of the book, there are loaded paragraphs and sentences that are engaging and thought provoking but overall, not much is happening. The focus seems to be on a dinner party the book opens with and a poem written and read by Frances Blundy. Descriptions and details go on for a long time, page after page after page. But dear reader, you must be persistent and get to part 2 where things pick up, surprises unfold and suddenly, you finish with the satisfaction of having read a good story where the characters stay with you and you appreciate how good the writing was. For those in book clubs, this is a gold mine. So many themes to explore, ideas to go deeper into, concepts to look up, and questions to ask such as " what were some key sentences or paragraphs that made you pause as you read?" If you are looking for a book to read slowly, to take your time and just enjoy what is being described without expecting to be entertained by a fast moving plot, a book that is a bit harder to read as the topics at time seem random and unrelated, if you are open to finding a new way to experience the pleasures of reading, then invest your time and attention and enjoy this book is my recommendation. I am delighted at the time I invested even if it took me longer than usual to get through it. I see this as a sign that I wanted to pause and consider how what I was reading was impacting my senses, my emotions, my cerebral experience overall. This is going on the list of another good read in 2025!

This was a book I could not put down from the first page to the last. The plot was good, the characters were captivating, and the writing was delicious. Capturing life at the Tiller house with "the modern furniture, vases of fresh flowers and always a bowl of fruit for anyone to enjoy" versus the burden of poverty that clung to Zora from morning to night in the home she grew up in with her alcoholic father who stopped working and her siblings her Mom worked hard to support. "The smell of blooming flowers in the air, rather than the stink of damp and overgrown underbrush and rotting tree stumps that littered my neighborhood" and the description of downtown "filled with people wanting things they didn't need and shouldn't have". But to Zora, she was in "in awe of the streetlights, the lit-up signs and even the traffic lights- there were so many. The headlights on the many cars shone like a constellation of starts, the rear lights sparking red like fireworks". Imagine the description of her experiences in the Jazz Clubs, listening to jazz music for the first time, seeing the beautiful dresses of the dancers in the cabaret show with all the fringe and the beads...so sparkly, and meeting Harley Aldridge. This is one of the best books I have read so far this year and highly recommend it to all my friends and family. Run right out and read it- you will not be disappointed!

Red Letter Days by Sarah-Jane Stratford was well worth the time invested to read. This book delivered exactly what I look for when reading historical fiction! A great storyline, well developed characters and a much better understanding of what life was like in the early cold war era in New York City and London during the Red Scare and the impact of the McCarthy Era investigations on people's lives and political views. In addition, add in the eye opening reminder of what it was like for career oriented women when the women's rights movement was just beginning and you have all the makings for a book that delivers in all the ways a reader enjoys when choosing a historical fiction book to read!

A story that one hopes will never happen to them but keeps the reader engaged with the transitioning narratives from the wife's perspective then the husbands. At times I felt myself predicting the events but still enjoyed the book.

The summer wives by Beatriz Williams was an excellent read gorgeously written and worth the time invested as I was transported to another place with friends I came to know and love. The author is truly talented and I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging read during those precious summer moments when we seek out time to do what we love most. For me, that is relaxing with a great, well crafted book. This qualifies as a must read!

The author has an engrossing writing style that keeps you feeling like your right in the middle of the storyline every step of the way. The reading experience is often more than the story itself and I appreciated Jonathan Miles ability to captivate my mind as well as my interest as each chapter unfolds to weave a story well told. I would recommend this to anyone looking for your next great read!

This book was definitely a page turner- I loved the plot, the characters, the writing- it hit high marks across all three! And I learned about a country and era and history that were unfamiliar to me before reading this book. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for for a good book or for book clubs as there are so many topics to be discussed as a result of reading this. Best book I have read in 2017 so far!

I enjoyed reading this book as the plot was good and the writing was wonderful. It was an enjoyable read- a book I looked forward to picking up and sitting with to unwind, relax and enjoy. Great writing and insights into everyday life made precious. Best one sentence description is indeed "Majestic and rich with the textures of life" as stated by Paul Yoon. I found that sentence to perfectly describe my reading experience of this novel.

From the minute I read the first few pages I was in love with the writing style and luxuriated in reading through each page. Oh and yes, the storyline was good but the writing, now that was to die for. The story plot is not something I would have normally picked -"Two very different individuals ending up on the same remote island because of a common dream" the author writes. And the main female character, Sophie, is not someone I enjoy, but I am delighted I read this book as the author is so very talented. I ended up enjoying it immensely and will definitely read anything else by this author.

This story captured the human spirit to rise above the difficulties and challenges life often presents as we meet Cara and her four children Drew, Roman, Jada and Hope as they seek to rebuild a normal life after living in a home where domestic abuse was the norm in their early years.

Fortunately, few of us have experience with domestic violence but are brought to an understanding of the horror and scars that may remain long after as the author takes us through the day to day thinking that goes on in the minds of the abused long after the abuse has stopped. Yet it is a story of resilience and strength to overcome that is told, giving us hope that where there is a will to not only survive, but to thrive, we will see people rise above their circumstances and become what we are intended to be. Our best selves always prevail if we honor the truth within and cultivate the desires and dreams of the future we seek.

A well written book that left me more compassionate towards people who have lived though experiences I have not. Reading this book will make me a better person more able to connect on a level that previously I did not have the sensitivity or knowledge needed to be capable of understanding what a life of domestic violence can do on the day to day impressions of life moving forward from the wreckage of the past.

Cruel Beautiful world is a story of love as exhibited in Iris as her marriage is described, her taking in Charlotte and Lucy and watching how when we set aside ourselves, our small desires and needs, and extend ourselves to another by surrender of self in the moment, what we bless becomes a blessing in our lives. Contrast Iris with Lucy and we see how a pursuit of what we believe will satisfy and complete us often results in exactly the opposite. Putting our selfish needs and desires before the needs of others leads to despair, loss and more longing as we continue to pursue what we long for. The author delights us page after page with tender insights into longing, love, and heartaches with the most endearing encounters occurring as the story closes. One of the most inspiring reads this summer- a real delight with nothing in the plot expected as the story unfolds all the way to the last page.

The storyline of a successful women who decides to leave Wall Street in search of a life that really makes her happy was a hook that caught me and drew me in as Jane Green beautifully knitted together a soothing, wise, well written story. We quickly find ourselves falling in love with Emma as she finds herself falling in love with her new life in a small cottage in a beach town, and following her passion in both choice of men as well as manner of earning her income. With exquisitely well -chosen words, the author takes us through dialogue that details what dating and relationships can look like all too often. Then with just a few strokes of the pen, she gets it exactly right as she scripts the feelings and thoughts of how it feels when real love strikes, as well as the struggles and considerations that may come along with it. In addition to the plot which takes some expected, and not so expected twists, is the backdrop of action and dialogue that includes references to current events such as the desire to see the play Hamilton, brand names of clothes and possessions in style today, and best stores to shop when decorating for a luxury look on a budget. This tactic ensures the reader becomes gently yet diligently entwined and involved in the main character's lives as to invite us to eagerly look forward to turning the pages until suddenly and all to soon, we arrive at the final fall to quickly and abruptly as we seek to prepare for the ending, the book draws to a close. As we close the book, we reflect on the title and suddenly, it has new meaning. With a smile, we know we are putting down a well crafted, enjoyable read, published just in time for our summer reading pleasure!

The fair fight follows the lives of Ruth Webber, born in a brothel and a commoner who is thrust into boxing and finds her strength and love of her life, both in vocation as well as in a man who steals her heart, and of Charlotte who was scarred by smallpox and treated poorly by her bother and lost several family members to smallpox as she tries to live into her station/position in life all the while rebelling inside and barely holding down the pent up anger and frustration found in the day to day living of her life until she meets Ruth and is exposed to boxing.
The male characters, George, Granville, and Perry all are exposed as having desires that drive them in various ways as they attempt to live life within the confines of society's expectations while finding ways to satisfy the heart's desire at the same time. From George,a gambler who liked to wager the outcomes of bets, and was not particularly interested in pugilism except for the pleasure that might be found in the outcome "I have never considered myself a fighter; call me, instead, a gaming man- a far merrier mode of living" who was entangled in a love hate relationship with Perry, his first roommate from college to Granville, his other college friend who desires to gain acceptance of the elite society by which he has the money to earn his way into but is looking to solidify with marriage to the right women while he secretly lusts after mollies of the dock at the young age of 15 and Dora in the brothel as an adult married to a society wife, all three men struggle with the illusion of who they want to be with the reality of who and what they are. This story is an excellent read written with language that grips you as you absorb the sentences and come to know the characters and perhaps see a little of the struggles they undergo in the common bonds of humanity within you regarding of the time or place we find ourselves in.