One's Company: A Novel
by Ashley Hutson
Different But Sad (6/3/2022)
I am glad I read this book. It was a very different view on the aftermath of tragedy along with the impact of winning the lottery. Opposites - the first brought pain, fear, anger and sadness into her life while the second afforded an opportunity to completely escape into a world that she created and controlled. That world was isolated and lonely which was a different kind of pain. Would recommend.
Flesh & Blood: Reflections on Infertility, Family, and Creating a Bountiful Life: A Memoir
by N. West Moss
Graphic / Relatable (9/3/2021)
I very much liked the writing style and descriptions of people (her husband in particular) and situations. I could relate to some of her experiences but don't feel that's necessary to connect to the book. Readers should be aware that the descriptions about excessive bleeding are graphic. I will watch for more from this author.
Everybody: A Book about Freedom
by Olivia Laing
Thought Provoking (5/25/2021)
This is a serious and not quick to read and absorb book. It takes time, concentration, thinking and sometimes rethinking to get through it. That's not a bad thing though - it's well researched and well-written with a relevant topic. I will read it again at some point to peel off more of the layers and wrap my thoughts around some of the topics. It would be good for a book club discussion.
He Started It
by Samantha Downing
Attention Grabber (2/17/2020)
This book grabbed my attention from the opening through to the closing sentences. The road trip was an interesting way to bring estranged siblings together, forcing them to be cooped up in a small space allowing tensions to build and flaws to be revealed. As the characters start to form, you realize they are all despicable in their own ways. These siblings are clever liars, cheaters, manipulators and rightfully suspicious of each other. The payoff anticipated at their final destination added to the tension and mistrust. I really enjoyed the book until the final showdown, which I thought was just a bit ... disappointing. Just a bit though. Overall a good read.
Listen to the Marriage
by John Jay Osborn
Peek Into Marriage Counseling (7/18/2018)
Overall I enjoyed the book. It's quick read and the main characters deal with some common marital issues. I liked 'watching' the counseling sessions unfold, 'hearing' two people learning to really be open and talk to each other and the interactions with their counselor. Emphasis on the importance of communication in a relationship carries throughout the book. However, something about the tone occasionally put me a bit on edge.
Meet Me at the Museum
by Anne Youngson
Thoroughly Enjoyed (5/3/2018)
One of my favorite advance reading copies as a BookBrowse member. The 'Meet Me at the Museum' tag taped to the intro letter was a clever touch.
The story is solid and the characters are very well-done. It was lovely to read about adults reflecting on life choices and life paths in such an open manner. Their correspondence draws you in, making you feel connected to Kristian and Tina, as if you are peeking into their lives through their letters and watching them progress from strangers with a tentative common interest to ultimately friendship. I liked the slower pace of this novel which aligns with the slower pace of writing and posting handwritten letters instead of the more immediate forms of email or texting. The gentle reminder to take time to step out of your daily routine, look around, listen and reflect upon the world around you was refreshing. Definitely will recommend to my reading circle!
Anatomy of a Miracle
by Jonathan Miles
What to Believe? (2/8/2018)
The concept was interesting and the author successfully kept all of the pieces together throughout the story. The characters are well-developed. However, I really wasn't captivated by the story and it was a 'slow read' for me.
Home Sweet Home
by April Smith
Descriptive (1/21/2017)
I enjoyed this book. I thought the descriptions of places, people and circumstances were well done and the story held my interest as it moved from beginning to end. Decisions have consequences - good or bad / right or wrong, but once out of control, it can be difficult to return to normal. I thought the author did a good job of bringing that element to life in this story.
Irritable Hearts: A PTSD Love Story
by Mac McClelland
Mixed Feelings (2/15/2015)
My feelings about this book are mixed, mostly because the book was a struggle for me to read. The author was open about what she's been through, and I learned a lot about PTSD and have an improved understanding about the impact it can have on someone.
Accidents of Marriage
by Randy Susan Meyers
Family Dynamics (7/16/2014)
A good read overall - the storyline felt real, even though it was hard to 'like' some of the characters. Makes you want to pay more attention to relationships and be more aware of what could be going on around you. I also thought about how people start to compensate for and/or excuse behaviors that would set off alarm bells if you weren't so emotionally involved. While walking away isn't always a solution to solving relationship issues, confronting the situation could have made a difference. Not always easy to do, but ... maybe a better choice in the long run.
Doing Harm
by Kelly Parsons
Average Thriller (11/16/2013)
Doing Harm is a quick read, mostly from a typical thriller perspective. The storyline is a little predictable, but entertaining. The medical and technical information is presented very well but the characters just didn't really grab/keep my attention - could not quite connect with their motives. Overall, it was good for a first novel though. I'll watch for other books by this author.
Song of the Spirits: In the Land of the Long White Cloud saga
by Sarah Lark
Good Sequel (9/11/2013)
When I found out I was receiving this book, I quickly read the first one. While Song of the Spirits could stand alone, it was good to know the family history. Lifting the hefty book out of the package and checking how many pages there were was a bit intimidating, but it's a pretty quick read with lots of interesting information about England and New Zealand, the lengthy travel experiences, settling in new territories, unease between natives and settlers, how importing animals changes the environment, etc. Very descriptive - at times I could almost visualize the people and landscape. A bit on the romance side and there is violence towards women, but overall a good vacation read. Recommend having a pencil handy to make note all of the characters!
Golden Boy
by Abigail Tarttelin
Golden Boy (2/2/2013)
I found this book to be a fast and easy read. The storyline was different and held my interest, but I thought the characters could have been a bit more developed, especially the parents. There wasn't much layering to their relationships with each other and their children, making their interactions feel superficial to me, but perhaps that was the author's intention. The book does make you think about a topic that is not commonly discussed.
The Edge of the Earth
by Christina Schwarz
What Was She Thinking? (11/27/2012)
Throughout most of the book I kept asking myself what was Trudy thinking when she chose to marry Oskar? A 'love is blind' situation with a bit of parental/societal defiance thrown in and she is launched into a life she is not prepared for with an unreliable and almost untrustworthy partner. However, Trudy manages to take her circumstances and turn them into something almost grand as she becomes aware of the flora and fauna in her remote surroundings on the California coast. She starts a business, gains independence and finds a place in the world that connects her to who she was before meeting Oskar. Overall I enjoyed the book, but did feel it was a bit disjointed.
The Mark Inside: A Perfect Swindle, a Cunning Revenge, and a Small History of the Big Con
by Amy Reading
Fool Me Once... (7/8/2012)
This book provides an enlightening overview of the history of confidence men and their plots and schemes to fleece people out of their savings. The author did a lot of research for this book and it shows through the explanations of the history of the con-game and the psychology of how it works which I found very interesting. Overall, this book is different, well paced, well written and I learned something. Good read.
The Voluntourist: A Six-Country Tale of Love, Loss, Fatherhood, Fate, and Singing Bon Jovi in Bethlehem
by Ken Budd
Wanderer (5/9/2012)
I enjoyed most of the book - the author has a good sense of humor and can tell a story. I also believe he had good intentions with his 'voluntourism' activities. He does wander a bit more than necessary in telling some of the stories though. I also struggled with some of the more personal aspects that seem rather self-centered on the author's part. He's sad and decides to take off volunteering and doesn't really seem to consider the impact on his existing relationships. However, having recently lost my father, I could relate to the feeling of wanting to make a difference somehow.
A Partial History of Lost Causes: A Novel
by Jennifer duBois
Struggled (1/3/2012)
I struggled between a 3 or 4 rating, but finally chose a 3. This is a well written story with a lot of detail about politics, places, people and how circumstances impact life. However, it read a bit slow and the overall tone was rather melancholy which made it difficult for me to engage with any of the characters or care about what happened to them. I am normally a fast reader, but it took awhile to finish this book.
The Darkening Field: A Novel
by William Ryan
Action & Intrigue (11/11/2011)
The characters were interesting and the plot has lots of twists and turns adding to the suspense. The author has a descriptive writing style that helps envision people and places throughout the book such as the extreme cold and the barren landscape of the steppes. He also does a good job with the dialogue - exposing the intrigue of an environment where you can't say what you really mean and must express yourself carefully to survive. I did feel the wrap-up was a bit long. Overall a good read - I will look for his first book to catch up on the adventures of Alexei Korolev.
The Orphan Master's Son: A Novel
by Adam Johnson
Bizarre but Captivating (10/22/2011)
I was completely engrossed in the story from the opening pages and remained captivated until the end. Very descriptive passages of life in a country where everyone lives in fear, there is no such thing as truth and survival means finding a place deep within yourself to escape what is really happening around you. Torture, murder, starvation, lies, propaganda and disappearances are accepted as normal and for the most part ignored because to call attention to any of those things or question them might mean you disappear as well. The main character led a completely bizarre life - from orphan to impostor - with many adventures in between. The other character that resonated was the prison camp photographer and what becomes of her photographs. There are a few 'over the top' areas, but they aren't too much of a distraction. I read the final paragraph several times. Highly recommend.
Low Town: A Novel
by Daniel Polansky
Descriptive / Characters Need More Development (6/28/2011)
First thought - Interesting concept that lacked overall cohesiveness. The locations and people were described very well. However, there is an underlying storyline that is alluded to but left unexplored, leaving a lot of 'why' questions and the feeling that the storyline / characters could have been more fully developed to really draw the reader in. Also thought it was a bit slow to get started although it picked up towards the middle.
Power Reviewer
