Paris in Love: A Memoir
by Eloisa James
Paris In Love (3/16/2012)
I love Paris but did not love this book. The style- written as a blog, was somewhat disjointed. Okay for a beach book.
Three Weeks in December
by Audrey Schulman
A good read..... (1/12/2012)
At first, this book struck me as- oh no- a biracial Aspergers scientist in the jungle with gorillas? And the other story about a repressed gay man in the jungle in the late 1800's. I thought it was all too much. This turns out to be a well written story about love, friendship, loss, science - it is all that. I enjoyed it and would recommend it for book clubs - especially to learn more about what is happening to the gorillas and about Rwanda. The ending is slightly contrived but overall an very interesting read.
Across Many Mountains: A Tibetan Family's Epic Journey from Oppression to Freedom
by Yangzom Brauen
Across Many Mountains... (8/24/2011)
Three generations of women over a century before and after the Chinese occupation makes for a fascinating account of escape, oppression, religion and family. At times a little long and the writing a bit flat, but highly recommend for those interested in the culture of Tibet.
Snowdrops: A Novel
by A.D. Miller
Snowdrops- Underground in Moscow (12/19/2010)
Highly recommended - a quick interesting read by a first time author (who writes for the Economist). I felt the author must have experienced something close to this - a very real and fascinating portrait of underground doings in Moscow.
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives: A Novel
by Lola Shoneyin
A modern day tale of polygamy in Nigeria (6/29/2010)
I loved this book. Beautifully written - I felt like I was in the house with all of these fiercely protective women and their children. Love, loss, independence, servitude - its all here in a wonderfully written, "couldn't put it down" book.
The Girl Who Fell from the Sky
by Heidi W. Durrow
Girl Who Fell from The Sky (3/9/2010)
Over all I would say this is a good read for high school level students. An easy read, although a bit confusing at first, and lots of messages pertinent in today's world regarding biracial children and bullying.
The Aunt and Grandmother's character development were excellent. I read that this is somewhat autobiographical. If so, I am surprised there is not more anger at what happened to the main character and her family.
Serena: A Novel
by Ron Rash
Serena (9/16/2009)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Beautifully written, a story of murderous greed set against a backdrop of timber farms in the Smoky Mountains, in what is now a national park. I highly recommend ths novel- it was hard to put down.
Baking Cakes in Kigali
by Gaile Parkin
A Tale in Rwanda (6/24/2009)
I appreciate that this is a first novel for this author and the premise and basis of the story is more than valid. The writing was average and this would be a great book for high school students trying to understand what happened in Rwanda in 1994.
An easy read, divided into sections and characters, where the main character Angel, reaches out to neighbors, friends and strangers, by baking cakes for special occasions in her new world. She tries to create hope in a land that was torn asunder by horrific circumstances.
I felt the characters were underdeveloped and that she tried to pack a lot in, but overall a good summer read.
