Susan_W1

Generally I enjoy historical fiction, either because I'm able to connect with one of the characters, whether they are real or fictional or because I'm drawn in by the plot, the time period, or the setting. Unfortunately The Paris Bookseller did not provide any of these for me.

I think fans of James Joyce might enjoy seeing him from Sylvia's point of view. As most of the characters were real people, I suppose accuracy was more important than color. It was well written but lacked enough imagery for me. Book clubs may enjoy this book.

This is a compelling read, both because of the subject and the author's fine writing. Having two storylines, one in the past and one in present day, keeps the action moving forward and helps explain a lot, however I was disappointed in the completion of the present day narrative. It did not match the back story's richness. While it answered questions, it lacked emotional clarity.

Take My Hand is sure to generate a lot of discussion for people unfamiliar with this event in American history as well as continuing the conversation about the syphilis study at Tuskegee. While this is considered to be a work of fiction, it is historically accurate.

I loved this book. The character development of the quirky people who live in this neighborhood is great. They are all very believable; they are compelling. I appreciate the light the author shines on mental health without being preachy. From Rae to Lettie to Rae's mom, everyone's reactions to the people in their lives affected so many lives. Will the trajectory of their lives change, or will they fall back into old habits and patterns? Are "the million things" events, thoughts, memories? I'm not sure. I find myself thinking about the people in this book, wondering what happens to them after the book's end. That is one of a million things that made this a memorable book for me.

I rarely give a "five star rating" to a book, but I have not enjoyed a book this much for quite some time. The Personal Librarian is a treasure. It was as captivating as a good novel, and at the same time I was learning about the J. P. Morgan Library and its librarian. I had never heard of Belle da Costa Greene, so I enjoyed learning about her life; it was a pleasant coincidence to do so during Black History Month.

Sometimes books with two authors have awkward moments. This book did not. The passages that were obviously nonfiction, such as descriptions of art, books, or architecture, fit into the narration seamlessly, and even though I was often not familiar with the information, I was not bored. The Epilogue was the only part of the book that felt inconsistent to me. It seemed stilted, not so true to Belle's voice, although it might have been my own discomfort with the politics around me that colored my interpretation of it as I read.

I would highly recommend this book to a reader who doesn't necessarily enjoy nonfiction as strongly as to someone who enjoys reading about history.

If ever I needed to read a book that would make me laugh, now was the time. Admittedly, it might not have been fair to begin reading in this mindset. In fact, I wasn't completely sold in the first 100 pages. I felt like I was reading the author's stand-up material, and maybe I was. The problem was that I wanted more; each chapter felt too short to me. But then I fell into the rhythm of the writing. I laughed at the situation or stopped to remember a similar time in my life.

It was somewhat confusing to sort out the many relationships. There's a lot of material covered here, and it led me to compare Loh's writing to David Sedaris'. I think she easily has enough material here for a second book, if some of the early chapters were expanded. Simplicity goes a long way. My other thing to think about is the title; I'm not sure it does the material justice.

Anyway, long before the last page, Loh turned me into a fan of her humor. As a mother, 60 survivor of the last century, recently anointed Grandmother, and an American born Chinese retiree, I enjoyed this book on many levels.

In general I am a sucker for a novel with quirky characters, or even better, a thriller with a quickly moving plot that ultimately ties up its loose ends. Unfortunately, Catherine House disappointed me.

Initially it felt more like a young adult novel to me; the plot, setting, and characters seemed to speak to a younger audience. I currently work part time in an independent school's middle/upper school library, so I've read more than my share of ya books. I thought the plot line would really appeal to our students, however, the character development fell short, and the plot dragged.
At the end of the book I felt cheated. The narratives were inconsistent; most did not really add to the flow of the book. I could not identify with any of the characters or even feel sympathetic toward any of them. That was probably what made the book "average" instead of "good" for me.

I suppose if you were captivated by the students tangled up in the plot, you might be able to overlook the weaknesses of the book, but it was not really for me.