A Beautiful Loan: A Novel
by Mary Costello
Boring (1/6/2026)
This book failed to provide a real story or plot. The main character was unlikeable and too much in her own head. She didn't seem to have any sense of herself and spent her life aligning with and completely being the person someone else wanted her to be, and then being unhappy about it. She didn't know how to be a functioning person without someone else setting the parameters. I'm glad it was such a short book because otherwise I wouldn't have finished it. I would not recommend the book.
Evelyn in Transit: A Novel
by David Guterson
Disjointed (12/1/2025)
I really looked forward to reading this book because I have enjoyed others by this author. I was very disappointed however. I felt it was disjointed and confusing. Evelyn is likeable enough for her quirkiness and Cliff is precocious and lovable, but the other characters are too strange for my taste. Maybe I'm just not smart enough to get the point of the story.
The Wilderness: A Novel
by Angela Flournoy
Interesting (10/19/2025)
I was so looking forward to reading this book but after finishing and thinking about it for over a week, I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I liked the characters (some more than others) but sometimes the switching back and forth between them was confusing and distracting. The background social and cultural issues over the 50 year span of the story is a good history lesson. I would like to read something else by this author to decide if I could enjoy her writing more.
The Original: A Novel
by Nell Stevens
Interesting story (6/5/2025)
I enjoyed this book because it has a little of everything: family drama, classic art, forgery, and a bit of suspense/mystery, and turn of the century lifestyle. It would be a good pick for book clubs because there are lots of talking points.
