He Started It
by Samantha Downing
Engaging Thriller (2/13/2020)
He Started It is a fast-paced thriller with plenty of unexpected twists. With a better ending, it would rank 5 stars for sure. These are characters you love to hate as their unlikely story unfolds. I enjoyed the smartly written dialogue and road trip details as the family crossed the US. Just wish there had been a more definitive ending.
The Big Finish
by Brooke Fossey
The Big Finish (10/1/2019)
This debut novel is the charming story of a diverse cast of characters who find their lives entwined in an assisted living center. Duffy, the elderly protagonist, is likable and very sharp in his senior years. This is a very enjoyable read, quick but smartly written, with many bits of humor and heartfelt moments interspersed throughout. While a straightforward story, there's plenty of book club fodder and opportunities for discussion. A very enjoyable read!
Yale Needs Women: How the First Group of Girls Rewrote the Rules of an Ivy League Giant
by Anne Gardiner Perkins
An Enlightening Look at History (7/20/2019)
I was particularly interested in reading this book as I also found myself an unlikely pioneer in college......among the first women attending Washington and Lee University in 1985. We numbered only 100 of 1600 undergrads on campus. I found many similarities, not all of them positive, between my experiences and those of the women of Yale in 1969. This book is well-written and easily engages the reader with the lives of 5 women as well as many other figures at the university at that time. There are some fascinating details, including the shadows of the civil rights movement and the Vietnam war protests, looming among these students battling for equality in their secondary education. I think this book is a must-read for those interested in the evolution of university coeducation as well as women's rights. We must study history, not ignore or destroy it, in order to learn how to better ourselves for the future. This is a great study in the history of American education.
The Last Collection: A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel
by Jeanne Mackin
Colorful Lesson in History (2/27/2019)
I enjoyed The Last Collection, a novel weaving together high fashion and politics with a love story thrown in for good measure. While it seemed contrived in a few spots, overall the book had an interesting and very readable take on the rivalry between high fashion designers in the WWII era. I found the fashion and political details more intriguing than the love story but it all came together as a cohesive read. Would be excellent for book club discussion......or a field trip to Paris!
The Last Romantics
by Tara Conklin
Wonderful Read (12/7/2018)
Overall, I very much enjoyed The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin. The sibling relationships were well-developed and it was interesting to watch the various relationships ebb and flow, after a difficult time in their lives that they refer to as “the Pause”. The novel has a sad overtone throughout and yet remains very readable. A page turner even. I would have easily given it 5 stars if not for the occasional unusual moments of storytelling in 2079. This admittedly small part of the novel felt confusing and unnecessary. Otherwise, a terrific story. I would definitely recommend it for book clubs.
A Ladder to the Sky: A Novel
by John Boyne
A Long Ladder (9/20/2018)
This novel failed to impress me like some of Boyne's former works. I struggled to find redeeming qualities in the protagonist and simply never came up with anything. The plot tended to ramble with the extensive character development of Maurice Swift and his "acquaintances ". I found myself often losing interest and longing to skip ahead to the end. The sexual overtones felt somewhat forced and lent themselves to the unpleasant character who is Mr. Swift. Overall, a decent read but not one of my personal favorites.
Our House
by Louise Candlish
A Tangled Web (6/24/2018)
This novel is an ongoing web of tangled webs that cross eventually in the end. I enjoyed the format, very readable as told through Foona's podcast and Bram's Word document. It did seem to drag a bit in the mid section but picked up pace again at the end. I longed for a prologue to learn if the outcome was as expected or if additional twists could be expected. This would make an excellent book club choice, lots of discussion points to be made and characters to sympathize with or not.
Only Child
by Rhiannon Navin
Only Child (12/24/2017)
This is a fabulous debut novel from Rhiannon Navin. A story with many similarities to the tragedy in Sandy Hook, the novel unfolds from the perspective of six-year old survivor, Zack Taylor. His family struggles with so many emotions, encompassing grief, anger, and disbelief. Hard to read and yet so compelling, the author allows the innocence, and sometimes even humor, of Zack's voice to shine. I would highly recommend this book. Book clubs will have hours of discussion topics. I loved it!
Sometimes I Lie
by Alice Feeney
A Tangled Web (11/15/2017)
This is a great debut psychological thriller from Alice Feeney. It's a real page turner that twists and turns right to the finish. I found the major plot twist to be a bit confusing in its delivery but otherwise, thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not surprised to see tv rights have already been secured. A dark, entertaining read!
The French Girl
by Lexie Elliott
A Promising Debut (9/11/2017)
I enjoyed this whodunit surrounding a decade-old murder that has resurfaced among college friends. I especially appreciated the constant appearance of the title character, who provided a silent but effective addition to the novel. While the ending was not completely satisfying, I enjoyed the tangled relationships, deceptions, and ultimate realizations of what happened that fateful evening 10 years ago. I would recommend this book to book clubs and mystery lovers. A quick read.
Extraordinary Adventures
by Daniel Wallace
Slow but Engaging (2/14/2017)
This novel is a sweet story of an innocent man "coming of age" after winning a free beach vacation that required a companion. Edsel worked at his budding relationship and eventually grew by leaps and bounds. This book was slow at the beginning as Edsel's quest for a companion seemed hopeless. However, it gained speed as it went on, leaving the reader anxious to discover the ending. The characters were well-developed and there are some terrific themes for book clubs to discuss. Nicely done!
I See You
by Clare Mackintosh
Engaging Thriller (11/12/2016)
Wow, I did not see this ending coming! I See You is a well-written psychological thriller that builds beautifully to its surprising climax. Don't skip the very last page or you'll miss a lot! The premise is hauntingly believable and I could definitely see this becoming a movie, not unlike The Girl on the Train. Would love to see this become a series with these multi-faceted characters. Loved it!
Cruel Beautiful World
by Caroline Leavitt
Cruel Beautiful World (8/23/2016)
This novel has great potential to be more of a psychological thriller but the story line is kept too shallow for that to happen. The plot is interesting and keeps the reader turning pages. I would have liked more insight into what different characters were thinking throughout the story. Would also love to know what happened to the characters after the novel ends. It has good potential, just scratches the surface of this phenomenon in American culture.
Falling
by Jane Green
Great Beach Read (6/20/2016)
I brought this book to the beach and what a great idea that turned out to be! This is perfect chick lit with a plot twist to keep things interesting right to the end. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books from this author.
Darling Days: A Memoir
by iO Tillett Wright
Sad Memoir (4/16/2016)
I'm not sure if memoir is the word since the book ends with the author only in her 20s but iO certainly tells a heart-wrenching story of her childhood. This is a timely account of gender identity issues, questionable (at best) parenting skills, and a never ending quest for personal happiness. This would make a good book club choice, given all the psychological issues that iO faces in her troubled youth.
The Widow
by Fiona Barton
Creepy Good (12/5/2015)
The Widow is a well-written psychological thriller. I really enjoyed the in-depth character development and the author's smooth writing style. The book keeps you guessing and asking dark questions about the relationship between Glen and Jean. This would generate good club discussion; I would definitely recommend it to friends.
Every Anxious Wave
by Mo Daviau
So So Sci Fi (10/19/2015)
So this book was a bit out of my reading comfort zone but I thought I'd give it a try. Unfortunately, it did nothing to improve my opinion of science fiction, wormholes, time travel, and the like. I found the characters uninteresting overall and wondered most about Wayne, who was absent for the majority of the novel. The romantic relationship seemed forced and unnecessary; I found myself scanning pages in search of the main plot again. I would not recommend this book to my book club friends although I'm sure there is an audience out there who will enjoy it.
The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs
by Matthew Dicks
Whose Comeback is it Anyway? (6/4/2015)
This is a light and easy read. While I enjoyed the ease of reading, I found the high school incident requiring a "comeback" to be fairly insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Something a bit more traumatic might have triggered such a response but I had trouble buying that this mom went to such great lengths to find revenge against her former best friend. And honestly, she didn't even want the revenge as it turned out. Her daughter should get full credit for the perfect comeback, not Caroline herself. I thought the dialogue between mother and daughter was well-written, especially coming from a male author. Overall, an easy read that could spark some deeper conversation but not well enough developed in plot or character.
A Good Family
by Erik Fassnacht
Long and Wnding Story (5/14/2015)
I found this book overly long and rambling at times. The story is told from the viewpoints of different family members and I often found the chapters to be so unrelated that they didn't seem to be from the same book. I found Barkley to be the most interesting character and wanted to learn more about his life, often skimming other chapters in favor of those about him. This book seemed disjointed and I would not recommend it to friends or my book club.
Dangerous When Wet: A Memoir
by Jamie Brickhouse
What a Ride! (3/8/2015)
This memoir of a young gay man's struggle with multiple addictions kept me intrigued to the end. It's a psychological self-study of the downward spiral he faced, while keeping readers both entertained and heart-broken with his decisions in life. Mama Jean was a larger-than-life mother figure who loved Jamie to the end but may have done unintentional harm with her undying devotion. I really enjoyed this book and wish Jamie much success in his future endeavors.
